Staff

Director

Kathleen Floberg

Preschool Teachers

Addie Nelson

Annie Brenny

Tara Rocklin

Toddler Teachers

Kortney Kuehl

Audrey Jewett

Infant Teachers

Kari Podominick

Allison Reineke

Mary Wenner

Aides

Maggie Ament

Gretchen Baum

Director

Kathleen Floberg

I grew up coming to Ely every summer with my family and to attend camp. I worked seasonally in Ely during and after college until I finally made the move full time while working for Camp Widjiwagan. I have worked for youth programs ever since I was a teenager and love helping young people grow and thrive.

When I became a mother, I decided to open a small in-home daycare in Ely. Many of my friends and I were all struggling to find consistent daycare in Ely, so I left my job to take care of all our little ones! An unexpected career shift turned into an amazing journey. Happy Days asked me to be their director when they decided to expand their preschool program to also include a toddler and infant room. I am so grateful to be part of Happy Days and find the work immeasurably rewarding!

My daughter and I love to adventure in the woods, fill our house with glitter and stickers, and bake yummy treats. We both love Ely and the community we have found here.

"Now so much I know that things just don't grow, if you don't bless them with your patience." -First Aid Kit

Preschool

Annie

Tara

Addie

I first discovered my love for working with kids as a camp counselor in my 20s. Since then, my teaching journey has encompassed a wide range of age levels in a variety of classroom settings as well as abroad a few times. The threads of heart-led compassion, genuine connection & engaging creativity have been woven through it all. And now I consider it a privilege to be counted as one of the many teachers who have served children & families at Happy Days over the years—& literally at the “end of the road”! My favorite thing about preschoolers is their natural wonder & awe about everything around them! Additionally, working with a great team of teachers is a daily source of inspiration to me!

I also love to invest in all things related to my family, friends & faith—for all of this, Happy Days included, I am extremely grateful!

I am starting my third year working for Happy Days! My family and I moved to Ely three years ago and I had previously worked as an instructional assistant in an elementary school and also a special education assistant at an early childhood center. I loved my previous jobs so after we moved to Ely, I immediately started asking around about preschools and ended up at Happy Days. I also simultaneously worked on obtaining my CDA (Child Development Associate) credential for Preschool and completed that last November. I enjoy working with this age group because they are so much fun and they are always excited and curious about learning. I love working with such a great team at the new center and really enjoy what I do.

I have been working in Early Childhood Education for five years. Originally from Northfield, MN, I decided to move up north when I discovered HDLC was looking for teachers!

I am passionate about helping the youngest of learners thrive, and love incorporating music, art, and nature within my teaching whenever I can.

When not working, I love to spend as much time as I can with my lovely boyfriend, Sam. I can also be found tromping through the woods in search of wildflowers, re-watching Gilmore Girls, and starting new hobbies that I may or may not keep up with.

Toddler Room

Kortney

Audrey

I found out about Happy Days very serendipitously, on my drive up to Ely last summer, in search of a job so I could relocate to Ely! I had been wanting to move to Ely for some time, but the pieces fell into place when I was offered a position at Happy Days. I grew up visiting Ely every summer and exploring the BWCA with my cousins and aunt and uncle. I had been living in Chicago working with early education and outdoor education for several years and wanted to continue that work in one of my favorite places on earth, Ely!

I’m so grateful to be able to share my passions for the outdoors and so many other things with the toddlers at Happy Days. One of my favorite parts about my job is watching the toddlers seek out a developmental goal, work diligently at building the skills necessary to achieve their goal, and their exuberant pride and joy when they accomplish their goals.

Infant Room

Kari

Mary

Kari was born and raised in Ely and has lived most of her life here. She is married, has a daughter, son-in-law, and two grandkids. Kari has always enjoyed working with kids. When her daughter started Kindergarten, Kari started working for Headstart in Ely. Kari then worked for the Ely schools as a paraprofessional for 10 years while completing a degree in Psychology. She then worked for Range Mental Health Center’s school based mental health program- ADAPT. Now, she is very happy to work with the babies at Happy Days Learning Center! She has worked with kids of all ages

I am a mother of 3 and a grandma of 4. My husband and I moved to Ely 2 years ago. I really enjoy caring for and nurturing children of all ages and being a part of their lives as they grow, learn and develop.

"No one stands taller than when they stoop to help a child" ~Abraham Lincoln

Allison

Allison recently moved to Ely from southern Minnesota with her 3-year-old son, Grant. They love spending their time together outdoors enjoying nature! Allison came to work at Happy Days Learning Center because she enjoys working with infants and hopes to make childcare a great experience for everyone.