New people join staff at preschool

By Tucker Henderson

Reporter

When the 2024-25 school year started in New York Mills, it began at two separate campuses located in town. As students got off the bus to start their school year at the NY Mills Elementary and High Schools, likewise, students were brimming with excitement as they started their very first day of school at Trinity Lutheran Preschool.

The preschool program recently underwent some changes and additions with a full staff of an educational director, full-time teacher, part-time teacher, and teacher assistant. The program needed an expanded staff after the school went from two days a week to an option of up to five days per week of classroom instruction.

“It is up a lot due to the fact that instead of having just two days a week, it’s five days,” said director Bev Witt. “In the past it was only two days and this year we decided to go to five days and give the parents the option if they wanted full- or half-time and most of our students come full days.”

Witt is formerly a paraprofessional at the NY Mills School and also has a number of years of experience teaching Sunday school prior to her position as the director of the preschool program at Trinity. The program has had 20 students in the school building at one time during most days, which for a time was the full capacity the state allowed for.

“That was our capacity,” said Witt. “The Fire Marshall came though one week and the licensor said that we could up it to 24 now, so that’s why we have open enrollment right now, which is wonderful.”

Witt said that there aren’t the same 20 students in class everyday, but instead alternate between Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays with some full-time and some Fridays mixed in.

“It’s kind of confusing because we have some half-day kids, some full-day kids, so the parents got to pick and choose what days they wanted to send them,” she explained. “We have three teachers and a teacher assistant. I’m part-time director and part-time teaching.”

Alongside Witt, who starts her first year teaching at Trinity, is part-time teacher Morgan Johnson in her second year on staff, as well as full-time teacher Harley Wurst and teacher’s assistant Anna Tharaldson, who are also first year staff members.

“I am super excited because I actually get to teach the kids and I’m excited to learn this new role because I did know some of it when I worked at the school and I’m learning a lot more,” said Witt. “As I learn more about it, I’m excited because I’m hoping that eventually we’ll be able to have a summer program here. That’s one of my goals because I know it’s a need for parents.”

For parents who are interested in enrolling their child in the preschool program, it’s as easy as stopping by the church office or calling (218) 385-2450 and speaking with either Witt or church secretary Kim Imsande to learn more or fill out the necessary paperwork for enrollment.

“I think it is going to be wonderful for the community,” said Witt. “It is a mission that they’ve been working on and now that I’ve taken over, to just keep expanding it, which has been amazing already this year, having 20 kids when last year we only had 10-12 kids. We have about 36 kids total enrolled right now, it’s almost tripled, so you definitely can see there’s a need out there for kids to get the education that they need and also to learn about God, because it’s very important.”