Emily Skeels

Director and PM4K Teacher

This will be Emily’s 19th year teaching in the Edgerton District. She taught kindergarten and first grade at the elementary school for many years and came to Central Lutheran as a 4K teacher in 2020. She has a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from UW-Whitewater and a Master’s Degree in professional development from UW-LaCrosse. She also has a yoga teacher certification from Breathe for Change. 

Emily is a huge advocate for developmentally appropriate practices and learning through play. She loves nature and animals, incorporating both into the 4K curriculum each year. Her goal is making a child’s first school experience so enjoyable that they are disappointed when it’s not a school day!

Her family includes Ben, her spouse of 20 years, and their children Henry (15), Charlotte (13), and Hannah (13). They live in the country outside Cooksville with LOTS of pets, including dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, guineas, and whatever else her kids can talk her into getting.

In her free time, Emily enjoys doing everything outdoors with her family: working in the garden and on landscaping projects, swimming in the pond, and going for walks and bike rides. She also loves doing yoga and is an avid reader.

Contact:

Emily.Skeels@edgerton.k12.wi.us

(608) 480-9199 (Call or Text)

Christa DeVoll

Assistant Director and Preschool Teacher,

PM 4K Assistant Teacher

For Christa, becoming a preschool teacher seemed to happen by fate. She began as a parent sub, and when a position opened to be a co-teacher in the preschool classroom, she jumped at the opportunity. She is happy to be back in the classroom for her 12th teaching year.

Over the years, Christa’s teaching philosophy has grown. Her classroom approach is influenced by Reggio Emilia and she feels strongly that young children are capable and competent. The confidence and self esteem that comes from completing tasks without the help of a grown up lights a fire inside a child and is a joy for Christa to watch. 

A lifetime resident of Edgerton, Christa’s family includes her husband of 22 years, Mark, and their children, Charles (20) and Natalie (15). Both children attended Central Lutheran Preschool & 4K. Charles is a United States Marine currently stationed in Georgia and Natalie is a freshman at Edgerton Senior High. They also have three girl dogs, Marty, Louie and Stevie; and a leopard gecko, Wilbur. 

As a family, they enjoy time with friends and family, baseball, dance, swimming, visiting the ocean and historic cities of the south. During her freetime, Christa enjoys gardening, walking dogs, and changing things up around the house. 

Michele Ninmer

AM 4K Assistant Teacher

This will be Michele’s first year as a 4K assistant after subbing in the preschool and 4k classrooms last year.  Michele has a degree in social welfare and has spent the last 22 years raising her three children and doing at-home daycare for many other families. 

Michele’s family consists of her husband Derek, her daughters, Leyla (22, currently a student teacher in Alaska and will graduate with a teaching degree from UW Stevens Point in December), Paige (20, will be a junior at UW Eau Claire), and Gracey (17, will be a freshman at Northwestern University).  In her freetime, Michele loves enjoying art, music, and nature.  Michele enjoys gardening at the family farm, spending time with her girls, and just being outside as much as possible.

Michele has spent the last 22 years encouraging children in her care to be kind, curious, helpful, observers of nature and the world around them, and learn constantly through play and interactions in their environment and with others. Michele spent many years taking her kids and kiddos in her care to the library, parks, museums, and other playgroups and storytimes.  She helped in starting the playgroup currently still going on as a cooperative with the school district that is held at the United Methodist Church and was on the preschool board when her daughter Gracey attended preschool and 4K. 

T/TH Preschool Assistant Teacher

Marie will be starting her third year as Assistant Teacher in the preschool, and she's excited to be working with Christa again! Marie's educational background is in Early Childhood Education, (as well as Creative Writing) and she's worked with children in many different capacities. Currently, she hosts an outdoor seasonal playgroup for young children and their families and facilitates a "Baby Storytime" program at Evansville's public library.

Marie lives with her husband, Gary, on a farmette outside of Evansville. They have lots of animals! She is also mom to two adult children, Jesse and Sophie, and feels very blessed to be grandma to a sweet little toddler named Felix! She grows flowers, writes, and is an advocate for children.... and she loves children's picture books!

Marie feels very fortunate to be at Central Lutheran. She believes the environment here is such a good one for children and especially appreciates the respect, kindness, and play (by which children learn best!)  that happens here. She considers it an honor to get to spend time with children (and learn from them too!) and can't wait to meet this year's new class and their families.

Doreen Johnson

AM 4K Teacher

This will be Doreen’s first year as a 4K teacher; however, she has been with the Edgerton school district for the past 17 years. Her roles included teaching in kindergarten, first grade, second grade and most recently, she was a reading teacher, which was her passion!  She had just retired at the end of the 2023 school year after 27 total years in education (10 were in IL) when she heard about this awesome opportunity to work part-time at Central Lutheran with 4- and 5-year-olds. She’s very excited to be a part of this program as she feels very strongly that independence and play should be at the forefront of early childhood education. 

Doreen’s family includes her husband, Lee (who was surprised she came out of retirement so quickly), and her 3 children: Brad (40), Ryan (36), and Bridget (34). She is also Mimi to 4 grandchildren, whom she adores!  She is a lover of animals and has 2 dogs, 5 cats and 20 fish!  Doreen is the second oldest of eight and has 16 nieces and nephews. 

She is looking forward to this great opportunity and can’t wait to get started!

Contact:

Doreen.Johnson@edgerton.k12.wi.us