Emily Kleist is an experienced educator in the world of early childhood education and is stepping back into the classroom after staying home for the last four years to be with her two young boys. Prior to having children, Emily spent 8 years as both the director and the lead teacher of a licensed faith-based preschool. She holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a K-6th Colorado Teaching License, but her passion for education lies in the younger grades. She believes that young children learn best through meaningful, hands-on experiences, and that they are capable of constructing their own knowledge through creative exploration and critical thinking. She believes a teacher's role is to be a guide and facilitator of learning and is secondary to and supportive of the role of the child's parents. 

 

Emily also serves part-time as the Children's Ministry Coordinator at Eternal Rock Lutheran Church where her husband Dan serves as the full-time Staff Minister. Emily, Dan, and their two boys love to explore God's creation by hiking, camping, biking, attending community events, or anything else that gets them outside. In any other free time she has, Emily enjoys curling up with a good book or catching up with friends over coffee. She is humbled by the opportunity to be part of the CCA team and is eager to get started! She can't wait to meet her students and to partner with their families to provide high-quality, faith-based education and care.