St. Paul's Childhood Center
Providing nearly forty years of excellence in early childhood education.
SPCC teachers are experienced professionals passionate about the field of early childhood education. Teachers design and implement curriculum infused with art in order to: help build confident learners through self-discovery, develop social/emotional skills through learning to express one's self in many positive proactive ways, develop cognitive learning and problem solving skills through abstract thinking processes stimulated during arts intensive projects. Out teachers also value building early literacy skills, exposure to music and other languages, sensory oriented play, and large motor oriented play.
Executive Director~Sue Marusic
Sue received her B.A. from the University of Minnesota. Sue has served children in a variety of
settings ranging from home daycare to
corporate sponsored early learning centers. Sue has many years of experience in
roles from Director to Teacher. Sue loves to
travel and has been to Norway five times, including spending a term at the
University of Oslo. In March 2009, Sue visited Mexico for the first time and
loved it! Sue lives in Andover with her husband Craig and their three children
Brynna, Calvin and Addy. Addy is three and in Room D at SPCC! Contact Sue at: smarusic@myspcc.com
Tina has been with SPCC for eight years.
She studied early childhood education and development at St. Paul Technical
College and has experience working with infant through preschool age groups. Tina
has been in the field of education for twelve years, has been an active member
of NAEYC (National Association for the
Education of Young Children), and is devoted to public policy/advocacy
issues pertaining to early childhood education. Tina has a strong interest in
the Reggio Emilia philosophy and early childhood education research. Tina lives
in the Grand Avenue area with her partner Scott and their four children (Safa,
Sinead, Miles and Magdalene). Her son Miles is an SPCC graduate and is
currently a fourth grader at Linwood A+ Elementary, while her daughter Magdalene
is in the Preschool Program at SPCC. Tina is currently attending the College of
St. Catherine, working towards degrees in Philosophy and English.
Jeanne is a teacher in our Toddler Program (Room A) and has been with SPCC for ten years. Jeanne has spent most
of that time working with infants and toddlers. Jeanne has an A.A. in Child
Development from Lakewood Community College and has also studied early
childhood education at St. Paul College. Jeanne lives in downtown St. Paul with
her husband Tom and their two cats. Contact Jeanne at: Jeanne@myspcc.com
Sarah is a teacher in our young Toddler Program (Little Angels). Sarah has been at SPCC for nearly six years, and has a B.A. in Spanish from the University of Minnesota. Sarah lives in St. Paul with her husband Chrystian. Sara and Chrsytia
n are proud parents of baby
Diego Giovanni; born 11-29-08! Sarah is full of enthusiastic energy
that engages the children and adults she works with. Sarah loves to cook, read,
laugh, say random movie quotes and engage in thought provoking conversation. She
also initiated “Spanish Fridays” where Spanish speaking staff, as well as
Spanish learners tries to communicate to each other all day in Spanish. Sarah’s
fun ideas and ability to think “outside the box” make her an interesting person
to work with and learn from!Contact Sarah
at: Sarah@myspcc.com
Mariel is our morning school age teacher and a floating teacher. Mariel has been with SPCC for nineteen years. Mariel loves working with children and says they keep her young! Mariel and her husband have been married for fifty-three years, and have seven children of their own, eleven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Contact Mariel at: Mariel@myspcc.com
Diane is our full-time
resident Art Specialist. Diane has been teaching at SPCC for three 
years but has been
familiar with SPCC since her own children attended the center! Diane and her
husband Eddie live in St. Paul with their three children. Diane has a BFA
degree in Art (specifically Illustration) and is currently attending graduate
school pursuing a degree in Psychology/Marriage and Family Therapy, in order to
become a licensed Art Therapist. Diane describes her dream as; “to help
children and teens who have undergone traumatic experiences express themselves
through art.” The center is equipped with an art studio where Diane conducts
classes with small groups. Diane is an invaluable asset to our program, as she
expands everyone’s perspectives through art!
Contact Diane at: Diane@myspcc.com
LaTisha is one of our toddler teachers in Little
Angels. LaTisha graduated from 
Rasmussen College with an Early Childhood
Education Certificate, and plans to further her education in the field of early
childhood education. LaTisha was born and raised in St. Paul, and is the oldest
of ten siblings! LaTisha has a two year old son, and a five year old step-son.
LaTisha has spent her entire life caring for and then working with children;
and expresses the joy it gives her to participate in the amazing developmental
phases that occur in the first years of a child’s life. Contact LaTisha at: Latisha@myspcc.com
Mary previously worked at SPCC for eight years and returned to us this past summer. Mary is a teacher in our infant program. Mary received her
Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Fox Valley Technical
College. Mary is from Appleton, Wisconsin, and currently resides in Roseville
with her son Dimitri. Dimitri is an SPCC alumna, currently attending fourth
grade and Hancock-Hamline Collaborative Magnet School. Mary’s more than twenty
years of experience span infancy through school age children, with the wealth
of her experience being with infants. We look forward to seeing Mary and
Dimitri at SPCC this summer!
Kelsang is a teacher in
our Infant Program. Kelsang has been with SPCC for ten years. She has a Child
Development Associate Certificate. Kelsang is nurturing and loving, and loves
teaching the babies some sign language and is hoping to learn more to teach them!
Tina is our Infant Program Coordinator. Tina has been with SPCC for four years. She has over seven
years of experience in the field of early childhood education. Currently Tina
is pursuing a degree in Human Services Administration from Metropolitan State
University and occasionally helps out on an administrative level at the center.
Tina lives in the Macalester-Groveland area with her partner; Matt and they are
the proud parents of Stella born on 2-08-09! Tina always comes to work with a
smile on her face and loves helping the children become successful learners! Tina
serves as an inspiration to all of us with her enthusiastic attitude! Contact
Tina at: TinaD@myspcc.com
Les is our Pre-Kindergarten Program Coordinator. Les
received his BA in English Literature 
from the University of Minnesota and
studied the Hip Hop Culture in the Master of Liberal Studies at the University
of Minnesota. While in graduate school Les taught basic writing at the General
College at the University of Minnesota. Les, his wife and daughter live in the
Macalester-Groveland area. Les has been with SPCC for two years and is full of
energy, enthusiasm, and is known for the in-depth, creative projects he plans
for his classes. Les also makes an effort to work with the St. Paul School
District in order to stay current with standards and expectations for incoming
Kindergarten classes, to better prepare
parents and our Pre-Kindergarteners for the exciting adventures of elementary
school! Contact Les at: Les@myspcc.com
John is our center cook;
he has been with SPCC for ten years. John has previous childcare center
cooking experience and worked as a Lead Teacher for twelve years. John
graduated from St. Cloud State University with a B.A. in Psychology and Speech.
On weekends John works at Murphy’s Landing playing different historical
characters. Contact John at: John@myspcc.com
Ashley is our Room A
Coordinator (older toddlers). Ashley has with SPCC for a year. She received her
B.A. in English Writing from St. Laurence University; she also studied Fashion
Design at FIT in New York City. Ashley and her husband Geoff recently purchased
their first home in the Crocus Hill area! Ashley enjoys playing tennis, yoga,
reading, cooking and playing with her puppy Henry. Ashley loves reading aloud
to the toddlers, always walks in with a smile on her face and her calming,
nurturing ways make her a very special teacher to some of our littlest friends.
Ashley is going to be a wonderful mommy to her precious little one due in
October! Ashley is currently on maternity leave and plans on returning to SPCC with her baby boy this winter! Contact Ashley at: Ashley@myspcc.com
Nils is a
teacher in our four year old preschool room. Nils has been at SPCC for
three years. Nils joined SPCC straight out of college graduating from the
University of Minnesota with a degree in Journalism. Nils grew up in
Hutchinson, Minnesota; where he met his wife (high school sweetheart) Kristie. Kristie
was once a wonderful teacher at SPCC herself and now works at the nearby Hot
Mama as a manager and has an acute sense of style. Nils and Kristie recently purchased their
first house and are proud puppy parents to Atlas, who makes frequent visits to
SPCC. Nils and Kristie will also be proud parents to their first baby this summer! Nils has the just the right mix of easy going personality and biting
sense of humor that make him a fantastically fun co-worker and teacher.
Sheila is a teacher in our Infant Program. She has been with SPCC for four years. Sheila received her B.S. in Early Childhood with an emphasis in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Sheila has experience working with infants through school-aged children. Contact Sheila at: Sheila@myspcc.com
Ingrid is a teacher
in our Infant Program. Ingrid has been with SPCC for seven years. Ingrid also has
experience working with the Boy Scouts of America and E.C.F.E. (Early Childhood
Family Education). Ingrid is from
Guatemala and spent much of her youth in California before coming to chilly
Minnesota. Ingrid and her husband have three boys; Fredy, Isaias and Arnie.
Ingrid is incredibly nurturing and has a special gift when it comes to babies!
Ingrid is a treasure to our Infant Program; family after family remark on what
a caring, exceptional and wonderful caregiver Ingrid is! Contact Ingrid at: Ingrid@myspcc.com