Education Team
Our Dedicated Team Inspiring Young Minds Every Day
Our teaching team is made up of an eclectic, creative, professional, and skilled community of individuals with a passion for what they do. All of our classroom teachers have native or near-native fluency in German. With backgrounds in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Art, Music, German Studies, Psychology, and Special Education, we are fortunate to enjoy and benefit from their many areas of expertise and experience that enrich our classroom environment.
All teachers meet education and experience requirements appropriate to their position, as required by the Child Care Licensing Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The Germanic-American Institute regularly conducts professional development training for teachers. Our staff maintains current certification in pediatric First Aid and CPR. Criminal background checks are completed on each employee.
Emily Ruggles
Kinderstube Director
Emily joined Kinderstube in 2018. She fell in love with the German language and culture during a high school exchange program, then again while teaching in German schools in Hamburg, Germany. She loves to play the violin, collect plants native to Minnesota, raise Monarch butterflies, kayak, and engage in messy craft projects with her children, Lukas and Anneliese. Her favorite aspects of working at Kinderstube are coaching teachers and planning professional development, supporting families, and, of course, being immersed in the joy and wonder preschoolers bring to the world.
Emma Naragon
Lead Teacher
Emma joined Kinderstube in 2013. She spent time living in Marburg, Germany as a child and spent a high school exchange year there. She also worked as an au pair in Kassel for a summer. She enjoys playing piano, eating good food, traveling, being in nature, and reorganizing her bookshelves. She loves singing and making music with her students, having conversations with them and hearing their thoughts, and joking and being silly with them.
Jenna Dietsche
Teacher
Jenna joined our St. Paul team in 2021. Her love of music sparked her interest in German, and she studied Flute Performance and minored in German Language at the University of Minnesota. During her semester abroad in Munich she loved experiencing the different pace of life, the amazing food, and spending her weekends hiking in the mountains. Some of her hobbies include making pottery, baking, being outdoors, and discovering unique facts and stories through books and podcasts. She has taught music lessons for many years and is inspired by the creativity, curiosity, and humor of her students.
Olivia Jones
Teacher
Olivia joined Kinderstube in 2022. She began learning German in high school and went on to major in it at St. Olaf College, where she also studied Education and Linguistics. Aside from teaching, she enjoys pottery, painting, swimming, hiking, watching Jeopardy and pretending to be a film critic. She loves helping students cultivate their sense of curiosity and self esteem, especially when she can play and crack jokes with them at the same time.
Theresa Spielmann
Teacher
Pia Sektnan
Teacher Aide
Pia joined the Kinderstube team in 2024. She grew up in Munich. Bavaria is her beloved Heimat and she loves sharing her culture with everyone who is interested. Having lived in Hawaii for many years, she is very happy to experience four seasons again. She enjoys going on outdoor adventures, traveling, books, music, arts, playing with kids, talking with animals and sharing good food with family and friends. A mother and grandmother herself, Pia loves to nurture the wide-eyed curiosity of preschool children who find ‘treasures everywhere’.
Theresa joined the Kinderstube team in 2026. She moved to Minnesota in 2022, and is originally from Munich, Germany. She first came to the U.S. as an au pair in Washington, D.C., where she met her husband, who is originally from Minnesota. She is a proud mom who loves working with young children, supporting their growth through play, curiosity, and connection. She enjoys being part of the GAI community, where she can share her language and culture while making a meaningful impact. Theresa loves spending time with her husband and son, traveling, discovering new places, and spending lots of time outside. She is a very active person who enjoys long walks, time at the gym, and outdoor activities with her friends and family.