Each of the speakers listed below are parents first and professional second. While we want to bring in the expertise of this diverse group of individuals, we are all united in the bond of raising children to the best of our abilities.
Pastor Michael Behm of Real Life Covenant Church in Waseca will be opening the evening's discussion with a humorous look at parenting. As a parent of an infant, he's already figured out that he doesn't know it all.
Moderating the discussion will be Shane Roessler who is the director of Waseca County Off Campus and Pastor Chris Meirose from First Congregational Church in Waseca. Shane has 2 children ages 5 and 8 and has been working with students in grades K-12 in a variety of ways and over several types of settings since college. Pastor Chris has a 2.5 year old child who excels at keeping him humble. Pastor Chris worked for the Boy Scouts of America prior to entering ministry and has been working with primarily 4th-12th grade students since 1997 in a variety of capacities.
The panel will consist of:
Doreen Oelke - Mrs. Oelke was the Waseca Waseca Education Association’s 2010 Teacher of the Year. She ismarried to Mark, Sons are Brady (24) and Connor (19). Mrs. Oelke is in my 26th year of teaching with experiences in grades K-3. She is currently the Title I @ Hartley Elementary and she coordinates the Kids Academy afterschool and summer program Mrs. Oelke has a BS from Minnesota State Mankato, MS from the University of Minnesota. She enjoys cooking & baking in her spare time.
Cheri Lewer - Mrs. Lewer is the Director of Public Health for Waseca County. Cheri moved to Waseca and began her work with Waseca County 19 years ago as an Environmental Health Specialist. She is a native of Green Bay, Wisconsin and earned her BS in Biology and Education from Carroll University and attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota. The discipline of public health assesses its community and tailors its programs to meet the needs of its population through the lifespan. Family Health services include prenatal and postpartum visits, WIC nutrition program, immunizations, Healthy Start Home Visiting, and Follow-Along. Cheri is married to David and they are the parents of three sons, ages 10-16. In her spare time she enjoys gardening at the Waseca Community Garden, reading, exercise, travel and attending school events.
Sam Gullickson - Mr. Gullickson is a school counselor for the Waseca Public Schools with responsibilities in both Hartley Elementary as well as CIS. He is married to Beckie and they have called Waseca home for 32 years. Together they have raised 4 children all of whom went through the Waseca Schools. As a counselor Mr. Gullickson has worked to "Be a voice" for children. His areas of interest are brain development of young children and the effect of media on their development. He also believe in the motto, "Our children's mental health is our communities health".
Sara Stensrud - Mrs. Stensrud is wife of 1 for 34 years, mother of 3, mother-in-law of 2, and soon-to-be grandma of 1. Graduated from Iowa State University with a B.A. in Child Development and a preschool teacher's license. Employment outside of the home has focused on early childhood. Positions have included early childhood parent education through ECFE, home visiting, and currently coaching child care providers through Child Care Resource and Referral. A member of the Early Childhood Initiative in Waseca County. The mission statements of the organizations worked for align with the personal passion of "positive beginnings for all children in order for them to grow and develop to their full potential.
Brandi Embacher, LSW - Mrs. Embacher is a licensed social worker providing in-home family based services to families within Waseca County. She works specifically with families that have involvement with Child Protection and/or Children's Mental Health that are at risk of the children being removed from the home. Mrs. Embacher has been in this role for the last 9 years and has been a licensed social worker for 12 years. She meets with the families on a weekly basis or as needed to provide education on different parenting strategies and techniques that the family can use to obtain control and safety in their home. A customize plan is then created that matches the family's abilities and values system. The services is a strength based approach to deal with everyday parenting and life struggles. She is working on obtaining a Master's at Minnesota State University - Mankato and will be completed in July 2012.
