Katie Barnhart
Katie truly enjoys working with children and seeing the world through their eyes. She has worked with children for many years in many different roles as a bus driver, lunch/recess para, transportation safety supervisor along with countless opportunities through the local church. Currently, she enjoys taking tennis lessons, collecting unique pottery, reading, having one-on-one conversations, taking a Body Pump fitness class and doing just about anything outside. It is a joy and pleasure to get the chance to learn and grow alongside the kids this summer! Katie has two children in elementary school and a wonderful, loving husband, Bryan.

Kelly Buchner
Kelly is a current member of Ridgewood Church and has loved serving the church community through Sunday School and Fam Jam this year. By profession, Kelly is a licensed teacher and currently teaches 5th grade in the Orono School District. Kelly is passionate about her students and finds great joy in spending time with the younger children at church. She is married to Phil, and together they have a three-year-old daughter named Harriet. Kelly has fond memories of her own childhood church summer programs and is excited to continue God’s work by helping create meaningful experiences for her daughter and for the children in the church community.

Isabel Casey
We are delighted to have Isabel as an assistant teacher at Ridgewood Preschool. She came here from Arkansas and is an experienced assistant teacher who has worked with children since she was 14, including babysitting, volunteering as a Sunday School teacher, and teaching at Head Start. She is currently working towards her CDA in Preschool and Early Childhood Development and is looking forward to learning more in the early childhood field.She loves children and their creativity, enthusiasm and joy for learning and for connecting with each other, and is excited to work at a preschool that is Christ-centered and focused intentionally on the kids and their social, emotional, and spiritual development.

Chris Jurek
Chris is a teacher at Ridgewood Preschool. She loves learning, laughing, and sharing the love of Jesus with the children. Chris graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the College of St. Benedict. She went on to earn a certificate in lay ministry at the University of St. Thomas. She’s walked in faith with children ages 3-16 years old at her church for the past 30 years. Chris and her husband, Russ, have two college-aged children. She’s beyond grateful for the joy and blessings experienced each day at preschool!

Krista Joy Olson
Krista Joy is extremely excited to summer camps at Ridgewood! Krista, a licensed music teacher, loves to share her passion for Jesus, music, storytelling, playing games and being silly! She loves chickens, knitting, her two girls and her husband, gardening and playing. Krista Joy was an elementary music teacher for 22 years and now gets to teach from her home, church and in the community. Any time she gets to use movement, puppets, music and books, she’s a happy gal!

Ashley Richter
Ashley is passionate about kids knowing Jesus. She currently teaches in the elementary Sunday School class, directs MOPS Kids, volunteers at her kid's schools, and is the Ridgewood Awana program director. She is also a licensed math teacher who loves organizing, cooking, and crafting. She is married with three children ages 4-11.

Jackie Ramsay
Jackie is one of our beloved teachers at Ridgewood Preschool. She has a degree in Psychology from Michigan State University and has been a volunteer in the children's ministry for over 20 years. God has blessed her with the desire, abilities, and opportunity to foster the growth of young children not only in developmental growth but spiritual growth as well. She is married to Brian and they have 4 grown children.  Their twins that have graduated from Grand Canyon University, their 3rd daughter currently attends Iowa State University, and their youngest is currently attending Grand Canyon University.

Hana Ryman
Hana has loved teaching kids of all ages in academic, church, and coaching capacities. Preschoolers have become extra special to her as she has had the privilege to substitute teach at Ridgewood this year. Hana is extremely extroverted and loves connecting with lots of different people and getting her competitive juices flowing playing board games. She is married to Matt and has 4 kids ranging from age 8-14.

Kaitlyn Sarna
Kaitlyn is an assistant teacher at Ridgewood Preschool.  She lives with her husband, dog, and three cats.  Kaitlyn loves being around kids. She started babysitting at an early age. Kaitlyn has an incredible knack for thoughtfully engaging kids and for encouraging them to always do their best.  Kaitlyn graduated from cosmetology school, but continued to nanny and babysit for multiple families. When the teaching opportunity at Ridgewood came up, it affirmed for Kaitlyn that her true, God-given gift to work with kids would be so appreciated here. Kaitlyn loves coming into work at Ridgewood Preschool to connect with the kids and find sweet pockets of time to honor each student daily.

Kiah Sorensen - Summer Camp Administrator
Kiah Sorensen serves behind the scenes for Ridgewood Summer Camps, managing registrations and helping coordinate the many details that make camp run smoothly. She has always loved working with kids and serves in the children's ministry to share the love of Jesus with kiddos. She is grateful to support this incredible camp team and see all God has in store this summer!

Laurie Stay
Laurie is beyond excited about welcoming kids and their families to Ridgewood Summer Camps and sharing the love of Jesus with them! Laurie graduated with a degree in Elementary Education and later continued her education at Northeastern University in gifted education. Laurie and her husband, David live in Minnetonka with their two children, Matthew, and Madeleine. She loves working at Ridgewood Church as the Kid’s Ministry Director and looks forward to all God has in store for the summer camp program!

Matthew Stay
Matthew is currently a freshman at the University of Northwestern – Saint Paul, where he is pursuing a degree in Youth Ministry. This summer, he will be serving as an assistant teacher for Ridgewood Church’s summer camps. Matthew has a genuine passion for working with children and students, and he strives to reflect Christ’s love in all he does. Above all, he is dedicated to serving others and helping them grow in their relationship with Jesus.