Each classroom is headed-up by a lead teacher who holds a Bachelor of Science degree, and a Minnesota Pre-Kindergarten teaching license. These lead teachers are assisted by University practicum students and/or participants in the college work-study program.
Debra Carlson
Director
Debra has been the director of Lindgren Child Care Center since 1980. Her goal has always been to continually improve the center, or “keep polishing the gem that we have”, as she says. Current improvements focus around answering the following general question: when children and families in our program grow up and think back on their time at Lindgren, will it be with fondness, warmth, and connection? We especially try to emphasize elements of beauty and nature in those improvements. Ms Carlson holds a Minnesota Pre-K teaching license, and has a Master's Degree in Management of Public and Non-Profit Organizations from the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
Lucy Lang
Infant Teacher
Lucy has worked in the early childhood field for about 30 years. Her experiences include teaching Head Start, being a parent educator in ECFE programs, and teaching college courses in the Child and Family Studies department. Lucy has been the preschool teacher at LCCC prior to being the infant teacher. She has been the infant teacher since 1998 and finds that working with infants is one of the most satisfying things that she has ever done. Lucy holds a Master's Degree in early childhood, the parent education and pre-kindergarten licenses and a bachelor's degree in Home and Community Service and Art. Lucy's family consists of a retired husband and teenage son, and two step-daughters and their families. In her free time, Lucy enjoys flower gardening, theater, painting, reading non-fiction, and creating a nurturing environment in her home.
Amy Krystosek
Toddler Teacher
Amy obtained a Bachelor of Science degree here at St. Cloud State University along with a minor in Early Childhood Education. She holds a Minnesota PreK-6 th grade teaching license. While in college she was a work-study student here at the center. After graduating, she worked one year out in the early childhood field, and then returned back to Lindgren Child Care Center in 1990 as the Toddler Teacher. Amy provides a classroom environment that is safe, positive and homelike. She is married to her husband Joe, and they have two sons, Elijah and Simon. In her spare time, Amy enjoys gardening, traveling up north with her family, watching old Andy Griffith shows and cooking.
Dennis Mergen
Preschool Teacher
Dennis is in his tenth year here at LCCC as the lead preschool teacher. He has worked in the Early Childhood field for the last fifteen years. Previously Dennis has taught in the St. Michael/Albertville school district. Before teaching at STMA he obtained a B.S. from SCSU in Applied Psychology. He also received minors in Human Relations and Child and Family Studies with a Minnesota Early Childhood Teaching Licensure. Dennis lives in the Albany area with his wife Ginny and son Marcus who is now nine years old. They enjoy playing and watching baseball games, fishing if they are biting and tubing if they are not.
Staff
These lead teachers are assisted by University practicum students and/or participants in the university work-study program.
