Donna Elmquist
Director:
I have been a director of Lutheran preschools for the last 19 years and taught preschool 9 years before that. I received my Early Childhood Education Degree at Edmonds Community College. I joined the staff at TVLCP in February 1994. My husband and I are members of the Church. Don and I have been married for 38 years. We have 2 children: Todd is married to our beautiful daughter-in-law, Susan. They are also the parents of our only grandchild Dillan. She just had her fourth birthday last May. Our daughter Sarah is living in Tucson. She works and enjoys her time swimming and reading. I love to read, hike and walk the dog.

Mari Eklund
Assistant Director and Owl's (Pre-K) Teacher
Mari is beginning her 23rd year at TVLCP, after working in a Lutheran preschool in Albuquerque for 2 years before moving here. She grew up in Minnesota, attended Mankato State University and was a Dental Assistant for 5 years. Mari came to Tucson 23 years ago, loved it here, and stayed. She has 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Her daughter and son-in-law live in Illinois with their two boys and one really beautiful little girl. She has a son who lives here in Tucson with his wife and two boys and another son and daughter-in-law in Atlanta. Mari has been a member of TVLC for 23 years, having been involved in youth ministry, choir, handbell choir and Sanctuary Caregivers. She loves gardening, reading, walking, and especially her ‘work’ here at the preschool and kindergarten.

Jan Meckstroth
Office Assistant
Jan is the Office Assistant at TVLC Preschool & Kindergarten. She is excited about returning for her third year! Jan and her husband, Doug, have lived in Tucson and have been members at TVLC for almost 16 years. They have 4 children and 2 grandchildren. Jan has in the past, been involved in various aspects of Christian Education and has served on various church committees and boards. She currently plays hand bells with the Reformation Ringers. She also enjoys playing games, especially Scrabble, and she and her husband enjoy riding their tandem bicycle. Her favorite thing to do, however, is to spend time with her family, and she is really looking forward to having her 2 grandchildren move here to Tucson sometime this coming year.

Judy Bachman
A.M. and P.M. Bunnies (3 year old) Teacher
I have been a member of the TVLCP staff since September 2000. I moved to Tucson from Texas where I taught in both preschool and the public schools for several years. I attended Kirkwood College. My husband Dennis and I have been married for 35 years and have two sons a daughter. My husband works for Raytheon. Our oldest son Greg and his family live in Dallas, Texas, where he is employed by the Department of Juvenile Corrections and the U.S. Army. Tom is in the Marine Corp. and is stationed in San Diego, California. Our daughter Beth just recently got married to he husband Brad this past summer. They are both attending graduate school in Texas. She is studying to be an audiologist and he is attending law school. I have two beautiful grandchildren, Haley and Hayden. We are members of Pantano Christian where we are both involved in the kitchen ministry and various other activities. I enjoy traveling, music, crafts and especially spending time with my family.

Kathy Braucksick
A.M. and P.M. Giraffe (4 year old) Teacher:
I am happy to say this is my 19th year at Tanque Verde Lutheran Preschool. I was born quite a few years ago in Lima, Ohio. My Dad was a Methodist minister and is now deceased. My Mother still lives in Xenia, Ohio with my sister, Mary Lou. I met and married my husband, Art Braucksick in Cincinnati, Ohio. We have been married 40 going on 41 years in November. He is the chief estimator for JB Steel Co. We have two children Our daughter, Tracey Crane, is an RN in Labor and Delivery, and is married to Bryan. Our son Arthur is an RN living with his wife YooRi in Sacramento California. My schooling has been in Early Childhood Education at Pima College, and also Central Arizona College. My hobbies are walking, cooking, going to craft shows, and Uof A basketball games. My husband and I also sing in Christ Community Church's Choir. I look forward to a fun year with your children at the preschool.

Margaret Casolari
Bunnies ( 3 year olds) A.M. Teacher
Giraffe ( 4 year olds) AM Teacher
Kids Club Assistant Wed.
This is Margaret’s 17th year on staff at TVLCP and her 21st year with the program. She attended San Jose State and Mission Valley College. Margaret and her husband, Michael, have been married for 28 years. They moved here 25 years ago with IBM. Their two children attended TVLCP. Nick is now a 6th year Senior at the U of A studying architecture. Elizabeth is a Senior, also at the U of A, studying primary education. They are members of TVLC. She spends free time outdoors hiking, walking or at the gym. Mike and Margaret also enjoy country-western dancing.

Jackie Meiner
M/W/F Morning and Afternoon Giraffe Assistant
T/TH Morning and Afternoon Bunny Assistant
This is my seventh year as an assistant for TVLC Preschool. This year I will be working as an assistant in the morning and afternoon Bunny and Giraffe Classes. I have been volunteering for 13 years at my own children’s preschools and elementary schools. I am a member of the Tanque Verde Lutheran church. I have a 17 years old daughter, and a 11 year old son who is an alumni of TVLCP! I enjoy music, sports, walking and crafts.

Barbara Rovner
M/W & T/TH AM/PM Lamb (2 year old) Teacher
Barbara Rovner is a former TVLCP parent and starting her third year as our lead teacher for the Lamb's class. She grew up in Michigan but moved to Tucson in 1978. She belongs to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. She's been married to Barry for 21 years and they have two children, Lindsay, almost 18 and Jeffrey almost 15. Barb likes to cook, read and most of all spend time with her family.

Lesley Pinelli
Monday-Friday, Kid's Club Teacher
This will be my fourth year of teaching Kid’s Club. I have enjoyed working with the children and watching them grow socially and academically in this fun environment. I received my BBA in Business Marketing from Pace University in New York and worked in the advertising field for 9 years. I relocated to Tucson from New York 11 years ago. We joined Tanque Verde Lutheran Church 10 years ago and I taught Sunday Morning Life for about three years. My husband Michael and I have been married for 21 years and have 2 children, Jon (age 14) and Emily, a TVLCP alumni, (age 9). I enjoy swimming, exercising, reading and volunteering in Art Parent Partnership at my daughter’s school.

Jackie Upson
M/T/W/TH AM AND PM Lamb (2 year old) Assistant
This is my fifth year on staff. I have lived in Tucson Since 1987. I worked many years in the clerical field and then stayed home to raise my family. I was a teacher’s aid in the Tucson Unified school district. My husband and I have 2 children, our daughter is a student at the University of Arizona and our son is in middle school. I enjoy the outdoors, taking walks and working in my yard.

Pam Grimwood
Monday - Friday Morning, Bunny and Giraffe Assistant
This is my fourth year on staff and I am thrilled to be a part of a wonderful program with such great people! After many years in the Active duty Air Force my husband, Dan, decided to take a job at the Arizona Air National Guard. We have lived in Tucson for eight years and love it! I received my degree from the University of Minnesota – Duluth. I was a substitute teacher before taking many years off to be a stay at home mom. Lots of time was spent volunteering in our children’s classrooms over the years. I worked for TUSD from 1999 until 2004. Dan and I have been married for 24 years and we have three children. Heidi is a senior at the U of A, Laura is a Junior at ASU and Erik is a Sophomore at Sabino. My hobbies include, walking, swimming, traveling, hiking and reading.

Nancy Stat
Owl (Pre-K) Assistant
I am originally from northeastern Pennsylvania. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education. I taught fourth grade before I married. My husband and I raised two sons in upstate New York. We also have 2 terrific grandsons. During that time I taught ages two, three, and four at a Christian pre-school and volunteered in the Boy Scouts, marching band, PTA and Sunday school. In 1993, we moved to Tucson. That year I became a lead teacher in the Pre-K class at TVLP and I also assisted in the two’s playgroup. In August 1999, due to my husband's employment, we relocated to Florida. Fortunately we returned in January 2005 and I am now the assistant teacher in the Pre-K class. I am looking forward to many more loving years at TVLP.

Susan Curnalia
Kindergarten Morning Lead Teacher
Michael and I have been married 23 years, and for the past 21 years, we have had the privilege of raising our 3 children, Kristin, Jason, and Jeremiah. During that time, I have been involved in positions working with children - AWANA, MOPPETS, Vacation Bible School teacher, Sunday School teacher, Girl Scout leader, classroom volunteer, etc. My most recent position was working as a Children’s Ministry Preschool Assistant at El Camino Baptist Church. Our family is currently attending Pantano Christian Church. With our two older children in college this year, we are learning about cell phone family plans and texting! Our younger son, Jeremiah, keeps our weekends filled with soccer, track, swimming and chess tournaments. When we do have some free time, we enjoy evening walks, hiking, ready and camping.

Tracy Walrath
Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
I have enjoyed working with children for many years. Most recently for the past 6 years as the TVLC Nursery Director. I was very excited to join the TVLCP/K staff in 2006 working as the Kindergarten Assistant Teacher. My husband and I are members of TVLC where I enjoy leading a mother’s Bible study and have volunteered to help organize past congregational events. Bill and I have been married for 12 years and are blessed with 2 children. Both of them are graduates of TVLCP! Jake is 10 and loves swimming, riding his bike and playing catch with his dad. 5 year old Emma is learning to read and loves drawing and singing. I love watching my children grow and spending time with my family and friends!