Johnston enjoys working with preschool students

By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

As summer wraps up and the school year begins, Trinity Lutheran Church in New York Mills has welcomed a new teacher to their preschool classroom.

Morgan Johnston will be filling the role that was left after Tammy Peeters retired last spring and is excited to get to know her students.

“I’ve always enjoyed young kids and watching them learn and grow,” said Johnston. “I like the preschool age group. They’re the most fun, I would say, in early childhood.”

Johnston, as well as her 13 students, will be starting their school year on Sept. 11 in a newly refurbished classroom. The old tile flooring was torn out and a combination of vinyl flooring, as well as new carpet was installed this year.

A storage room on the south end of the building was also cleared out and refurbished into a nap room after a fresh coat of paint and new carpet was added to the room. Cots will be added to accommodate the napping students as needed throughout the school day.

Johnston was present for part of the last school year and has experience in childhood development.

“I was here from mid-April through the end of the school year, being in the classroom with Tammy and Teresa,” she said. “Before that, I worked at the Verndale Christian Academy, I worked there for over a year. I also was a para at the Bertha-Hewitt School.”

Johnston is a Wadena native and also graduated in Bertha-Hewitt. She went on to get an Associate of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Minnesota State Community and Technical College in Detroit Lakes.

“I’m looking forward to helping the kids, watching them grow, especially in their relationship with God,” said Johnston. “The lightbulb moments are always the best.”