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 Johnson
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.
Olivia Jones
Assistant 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.
Aspen Cooper
Assistant Teacher
Aspen joined Kinderstube in 2026, and feels truly honored to be part of such a special learning environment at the GAI! Although her family is from southeastern Pennsylvania, she grew up in Minnesota and has a deep love for her community here. She first fell in love with the German language at the GAI when she was 17, and since then has spent much time immersed in German life and even lived in Tübingen for two years while studying archeology. Germany has been a central part of her life, and she is so happy to share this with the GAI community. As an anthropologist with a love for linguistics, art, agriculture, and human behavior, she enjoys engaging in all these topics with young learners. Outside the classroom, she loves making music—playing drums, piano, mandolin, and viola—and is always happy to work on folk crafts like woodworking, pottery, and fiber arts or just go for a walk in the woods. She feels grateful to be an educator and to help young people discover what brings them joy.
Teacher Aide
Theresa Spielmann
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.