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Meet our Teachers

KV staff at zoo_1.jpg

Kristen Tonda

Director of Kinder Village

 

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Education:

Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis on pre-primary education from Minnesota State, Mankato.

Experience:

  • 10 years experience in early childhood.

  • Two years elementary experience.

  • 11 years working as a CNA in nursing home and assisted living. 

Fun Facts: 

  • Three daughters: Natalie, Charlotte, Macy

  • is powered by coffee and chaos! 

 

Ihya Toure
Assistant Director and Older Infant Teacher

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Education: Bachelors of Science degree in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Experience: 

  • six years at Kinder Village 

  • two years working as a part-time social worker

  • volunteer experience: U of MN Masoic Children's Hospital, People Serving People, YMCA literacy mentor

Fun Facts:

  • French is my 1st Language!

  • I love everything banana flavored.

 

Kayla Urbano  

Toddler Teacher

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Education: 

Degree in Individualized Studies, where I combined my skills of Graphic Design with Early Childhood.

Experience:

  • 4.5 years at Kinder Village

  • As long as I can remember, I have worked with children in some form. I began as a helper in my mom’s family child care center. I eventually became her assistant teacher.

  • I have also taught church school, assisted with bible camps, and have been the nursery coordinator since 2014.

Olivia Callaway
Young Infant Teacher

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Meet our Teachers

KV staff at zoo_1.jpg

Kristen Tonda

Director of Kinder Village

 

00158.JPG

Education:

Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis on pre-primary education from Minnesota State, Mankato.

Experience:

  • 10 years experience in early childhood.

  • Two years elementary experience.

  • 11 years working as a CNA in nursing home and assisted living. 

Fun Facts: 

  • Three daughters: Natalie, Charlotte, Macy

  • is powered by coffee and chaos! 

 

Ihya Toure
Assistant Director and Older Infant Teacher

00115.JPG

Education: Bachelors of Science degree in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Experience: 

  • six years at Kinder Village 

  • two years working as a part-time social worker

  • volunteer experience: U of MN Masoic Children's Hospital, People Serving People, YMCA literacy mentor

Fun Facts:

  • French is my 1st Language!

  • I love everything banana flavored.

 

Kayla Urbano  

Toddler Teacher

00140.JPG

Education: 

Degree in Individualized Studies, where I combined my skills of Graphic Design with Early Childhood.

Experience:

  • 4.5 years at Kinder Village

  • As long as I can remember, I have worked with children in some form. I began as a helper in my mom’s family child care center. I eventually became her assistant teacher.

  • I have also taught church school, assisted with bible camps, and have been the nursery coordinator since 2014.

Meet our Teachers

KV staff at zoo_1.jpg

Kristen Tonda

Director of Kinder Village

 

00158.JPG

Education:

Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis on pre-primary education from Minnesota State, Mankato.

Experience:

  • 10 years experience in early childhood.

  • Two years elementary experience.

  • 11 years working as a CNA in nursing home and assisted living. 

Fun Facts: 

  • Three daughters: Natalie, Charlotte, Macy

  • is powered by coffee and chaos! 

 

Ihya Toure
Assistant Director and Older Infant Teacher

00115.JPG

Education: Bachelors of Science degree in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Experience: 

  • six years at Kinder Village 

  • two years working as a part-time social worker

  • volunteer experience: U of MN Masoic Children's Hospital, People Serving People, YMCA literacy mentor

Fun Facts:

  • French is my 1st Language!

  • I love everything banana flavored.

 

Kayla Urbano  

Toddler Teacher

00140.JPG

Education: 

Degree in Individualized Studies, where I combined my skills of Graphic Design with Early Childhood.

Experience:

  • 4.5 years at Kinder Village

  • As long as I can remember, I have worked with children in some form. I began as a helper in my mom’s family child care center. I eventually became her assistant teacher.

  • I have also taught church school, assisted with bible camps, and have been the nursery coordinator since 2014.

Olivia Callaway
Young Infant Teacher

00106.JPG
PXL_20210630_165250544.PORTRAIT.jpg

Kristen Tonda

Director of Kinder Village

 

00158.JPG

Education:

Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis on pre-primary education from Minnesota State, Mankato.

Experience:

  • 10 years experience in early childhood.

  • Two years elementary experience.

  • 11 years working as a CNA in nursing home and assisted living. 

Fun Facts: 

  • Three daughters: Natalie, Charlotte, Macy

  • is powered by coffee and chaos! 

 

Ihya Toure
Assistant Director and Older Infant Teacher

00115.JPG

Education: Bachelors of Science degree in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Experience: 

  • six years at Kinder Village 

  • two years working as a part-time social worker

  • volunteer experience: U of MN Masoic Children's Hospital, People Serving People, YMCA literacy mentor

Fun Facts:

  • French is my 1st Language!

  • I love everything banana flavored.

 

Kayla Urbano  

Toddler Teacher

00140.JPG

Education: 

Degree in Individualized Studies, where I combined my skills of Graphic Design with Early Childhood.

Experience:

  • 4.5 years at Kinder Village

  • As long as I can remember, I have worked with children in some form. I began as a helper in my mom’s family child care center. I eventually became her assistant teacher.

  • I have also taught church school, assisted with bible camps, and have been the nursery coordinator since 2014.

Kristen Tonda

Director of Kinder Village

 

00158.JPG

Education:

Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis on pre-primary education from Minnesota State, Mankato.

Experience:

  • 10 years experience in early childhood.

  • 2 years elementary experience.

  • 11 years working as a CNA in nursing home and assisted living. 

Fun Facts: 

  • Three daughters: Natalie, Charlotte, Macy

  • I'm powered by coffee and chaos! 

 

PXL_20210630_165250544.PORTRAIT.jpg

Kayla Urbano  
Toddler Teacher- Downstairs Assistant Director

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Education: 

Degree in Individualized Studies, where I combined my skills of Graphic Design with Early Childhood from Metro State University.

Experience:

  • 4.5 years at Kinder Village

  • As long as I can remember, I have worked with children in some form. I began as a helper in my mom’s family child care center. I eventually became her assistant teacher.

  • I have also taught church school, assisted with bible camps, and have been the nursery coordinator since 2014.

Fun Facts:

  • I love anything Disney and Superheroes!

  • I love being a toddler teacher.

  • I enjoy reading books. 

Ihya Toure
Young Infant Teacher

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Education: Bachelors of Science degree in Family Social Science from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Experience: 

  • 6 years at Kinder Village 

  • 2 years working as a part-time social worker

  • volunteer experience: U of MN Masoic Children's Hospital, People Serving People, YMCA literacy mentor

Fun Facts:

  • French is my 1st Language!

  • I love everything banana flavored.

 

Asia Owens 
Young Preschool Teacher- Upstairs Assitant Director

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Education: 

Early Childhood Education major at Northwestern, MN. 

Experience:

  • 9 years experience in early childhood

  • 10 years experience coaching soccer

Fun Facts:

  • Proud dog mom!

  • Played soccer in college.

  • I love caffeine and sweets! 

Jennie Torres 
Preschool Teacher

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Education: 

Working on completing her CDA

Experience:

  • 2.5 years at Kinder Village

  • 2 additional years of early childhood experience 

Fun Facts:

  • Bilingual in Spanish and English and currently learning French

  • I love to collect coffee mugs from places I've visited

  • I am a plant enthusiast! 

Mark Magnuson
 Young Preschool  Assistant Teacher

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Education: 

Currently working on his CDA

Experience:

  • 1 year early childhood experience

  • youth hockey coach

  • children's book illustrator 

Fun Facts:

  • I love anything and everything hockey!

  • I enjoy buying and collecting records and vinyls

Hannah Utke
Preschool Teacher

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Education: 

Currently attending St. Paul college pursing an associates of science in public health.

Experience:

  • 3 years experience in early childhood

  • 1 year as a general ed. paraprofessional in an elementary school

Fun Facts:

  • I like football

  • I was a competitive dancer for 13 years 

  • I am afraid of gorillas

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