Laurie Wiegand
Minneapolis,MN
Summary
Dedicated and passionate childcare professional with 26 years of experience in school-age childcare programs. Proven leader known for creating fun, engaging, and safe environments for children to learn and grow. Skilled in staff coordination, program development, and fostering positive relationships with families and teams. Eager to bring strong leadership and a deep commitment to child development to a managerial role.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Program Instructor
Wayzata Kids/ Wayzata Public Schools
Plymouth, MN
11.2024 - Current
- Assist with the daily operations of the program
- Manage daily operations of the program in the absence of the Site manager
- Manage administrative responsibilities
- Mentor new hires, resulting in stronger staff development and increased productivity.
- Create and develop lesson plans to engage students before and after school
- Plan and implement SEL activities, crafts, and STEM activities to engage students before and after school
- Communicate frequently with parents, students, and staff.
Program Instructor
Wayzata School District
Plymouth, MN
09.2022 - 11.2024
- Manage daily operations of the program in the absence of the Site manager and/or Lead Program Instructor
- Provide support and resources for students facing challenges, promoting success and personal growth
- Plan and implement SEL activities, crafts, and STEM to engage kids before and after school
- Communicate frequently with parents, students, and staff to discuss students
- Meet with students and parents to address and resolve students' behavioral issues and progress
Inclusion Lead PI
Wayzata School District
06.2022 - 08.2023
- Support and coach staff on the team approach and their responsibilities as support staff
- Leading staff meetings with support staff and having difficult conversations when necessary
- Create behavior plans for students
- Assist when needed to deescalate students
- Create friendship groups for students that need support managing friendships
Preschool Assistant
Wayzata Kids
Plymouth, MN
09.2011 - 06.2023
- Collaborated with lead teacher to prepare and implement age-appropriate lesson plans and activities.
- Supervised and ensured the safety of children during indoor and outdoor activities, including playtime, mealtime, and nap time.
- Assisted children with personal care routines such as handwashing, toileting, dressing, promoting independence and hygiene.
- Prepared and organized classroom materials and resources.
- Observed and documented children's developmental progress and behaviors, providing valuable insights to the lead teacher.
- Communicated effectively with parents regarding children's daily activities, progress, and any concerns.
- Interacted with children one-on-one and in groups to support learning.
- Prepared for lessons by gathering educational materials and setting up equipment.
- Encouraged social-emotional growth among students by modeling appropriate behaviors and guiding conflict resolution.
Lead Pre-school Teacher
Wayzata Public Schools
Plymouth, MN
09.2001 - 08.2004
- Developed weekly lesson plans and activities to engage children and promote learning.
- Developed strong relationships with parents, providing regular updates on their child''s progress and addressing any concerns proactively.
- Maintained an organized, fun and interactive classroom to help children feel safe.
- Designed creative lesson plans that incorporated hands-on activities and interactive learning experiences to foster curiosity and engagement in young learners.
- Ensured a safe and nurturing environment for all students, adhering to health and safety guidelines in the classroom.
- Strengthened communication skills among preschoolers through daily dialogue practice during circle time sessions.
- Observed children to identify individuals in need of additional support and developed strategies to improve assistance.
- Collaborated with teachers, parents and administrators to facilitate positive outcomes for students.
Special Education Para
Wayzata School District
Plymouth, MN
01.2001 - 06.2003
- Support students in and out of the classroom, create daily schedules to help them be successful.
- Develop a strong rapport with students by demonstrating empathy, patience, and understanding during daily interactions both inside and outside the classroom setting.
- Manage challenging behaviors using de-escalation techniques to maintain a safe and productive learning environment for all students involved.
- Assist in the implementation of effective behavior management techniques, resulting in a more focused and positive classroom environment.
- Collaborate with teacher to create customized classroom environment integral to students' needs.
- Monitored student classroom and outdoors activities to promote student safety.
- Maintained positive attitude and affirmatively communicated with each student.
- Offered student support through special accommodations, extra assistance, and assessments.
- Encouraged students to participate in school activities and programs to promote well-roundedness and increase confidence.
Supervisor
Wayzata Kids
Plymouth, MN
06.2001 - 08.2002
- Assist with the daily operations of the program
- Manage daily operations of the program in the absence of the Site manager
- Manage administrative responsibilities
- Mentor new hires, resulting in stronger staff development and increased
productivity. - Create and develop lesson plans to engage students before and after school
- Plan and implement SEL activities, crafts, and STEM activities to engage students before and after school
- Communicate frequently with parents,
Education
School-age Childcare Certificate - School-age Childcare
Concordia University
Saint Paul, MN2005
Skills
- Driven
- Empathetic
- Relatable
- Reliable
- Fun
Timeline
Lead Program Instructor
Wayzata Kids/ Wayzata Public Schools
11.2024 - Current
Program Instructor
Wayzata School District
09.2022 - 11.2024
Inclusion Lead PI
Wayzata School District
06.2022 - 08.2023
Preschool Assistant
Wayzata Kids
09.2011 - 06.2023
Lead Pre-school Teacher
Wayzata Public Schools
09.2001 - 08.2004
Supervisor
Wayzata Kids
06.2001 - 08.2002
Special Education Para
Wayzata School District
01.2001 - 06.2003
School-age Childcare Certificate - School-age Childcare
Concordia University