My name is Tina Valek. I joined the St. Croix Daycare Center and Preschool board in 2005, one year after moving to Stillwater and enrolling her daughter in the school. Prior to their move, both of Tina's children were enrolled in a large, franchised daycare facility where there was little room for parent involvement. She welcomed the opportunity to play a more active role in shaping the educational experience and environment for her daughter and other young children in the community.

Tina works part-time for a public relations and advertising agency. Her daughter currently attends both the daycare and preschool programs at the center. Tina and her husband Matt, a fellow board member, also have a grade school-aged son.

My name is Matt Valek. I am a IT Manager with CMS Direct, a Twin-Cities-based marketing services firm. I live in Stillwater Township with my wife Tina, and our kids Nick and Anna. I joined the Board because I felt I had something to offer, both as a parent, but also as a business leader. I look forward to moving forward and ensuring that our Daycare and Preschool continue to offer the best care and teaching in the area.

My name is Karl Nickeson-Ranum I am a parent of two lovely children – one now entering kindergarten directly from and fully loaded with all the benefits of two years in the care and tutelage of the St. Croix Daycare Center and Preschool [and I can’t imagine him being any better prepared] and the other now entering second grade. I’m a practicing attorney in the St. Croix Valley and live in Stillwater, and have, for the past 35 years.

I joined the board of St. Croix Daycare Center and Preschool after experiencing firsthand the quality and dedication of its teachers and staff. It was a very simple commitment to make. They are truly a joy to work with and clearly and always place the interests and needs of the children first.