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Circle Pines

Create. Laugh. Learn.

Linda and Kris Center Director of EFC Circle Pines

Linda Burck
Bridget Doyle
School Directors
EFC Circle Pines

 

 

Welcome to the Especially for Children Circle Pines Child Development Center. We serve families with children ranging from six weeks old up to five years old. At Especially for Children, your child will experience a caring, educational and developmentally appropriate learning environment. Read more about our play-based curriculum here. Our location, just off of Lake Drive, provides convenient access for families in Circle Pines, Blaine and Lexington.

 

We have a well-rounded staff, with six staff having a total of over 100 years working for the company! The physical spaces at our school promote learning and growth in children. The children also love to spend time outside on the playground. They spend many enjoyable hours under the shade of the oak trees. Please feel free to stop by for a visit. We would love to get to know you and your family.

 

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Hours and Map
ADDRESS:

2 H South Pine Dr.
Circle Pines, MN 55014

 

HOURS:

6:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., M-F

Meet Our Teaching Staff

Director

Linda Center Director of EFC Circle Pines
Linda

Hi, my name is Linda and I have been the director at our center in Circle Pines since 1995. I truly enjoy coming to work each day to all the smiling young faces. I love working with families and watching children grow and learn new things. I have had the pleasure of seeing many children grow up here and become outstanding young people – some of the children we taught in preschool now bring their children to our school! Outside of work, I enjoy running, biking, skiing and lifting weights.

 


Bridget

My name is Bridget, and I joined EFC in 2022. With more than ten years of experience teaching early childhood through sixth grade, I am extremely excited to begin a new chapter in my life as the co-director at Especially for Children. I am extremely passionate about the importance of a strong educational foundation starting early on, in order to pave the way for life long success. I also enjoy painting and creating art through various multimedia formats. I am extremely close with my family and love spending time with them. As a lifelong learner myself, I look forward to growing professionally and personally as I embark on this new journey!

 

Infant Teaching Staff


Hailey

Hello! My name is Hailey. I began working at Especially for Children in December 2022. I am currently attending Anoka Ramsey Community College working on my degree in Social Work. My experience with children includes working at a Montessori school for 2 years and having 16 nieces and nephews! I love watching the children grow and watching their personalities develop over time. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time doing activities with my son.

 


Trista

Hello! My name is Trista. I began working at Especially for Children in September 2022. I have my Associates Degree in American Sign Language from St. Paul Technical College. My experience with children includes having a licensed home childcare and many years as a special education para. I love working with children because I am a kid at heart and I love that I get to play and interact with children all day. In my spare time, I enjoy walking and spending time with my family.

 

 


Jenni

Hello, my name is Jenni. I began working at Especially for Children in July 2019. I have an Associates degree from Century College in Interior Design. I have had experience with children through babysitting and volunteering with the Girl Scouts.
I enjoy working with the children because I love watching them grow and learn new skills. In my spare time, I enjoy drawing and spending time with friends and family.

 


Mariah

Hello, my name is Mariah. I have been nannying since 2016 and love working with children! I am currently enrolled at Concordia in St. Paul where I am finishing my Bachelors degree in psychology. After graduating I plan on going back to school for Child Development. In my free time, I love to travel, play video games, and play with my cat, Maxx.

 

Toddler Teaching Staff


Linnea

Hello! My name is Linnea. I began working at Especially for Children in October 2022. I am currently working on my Child Development Associates Degree. My experience with children includes working with children in high school through the early childhood education as well as babysitting. I love working with children because I love how fun and silly they can be. In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music, drawing, painting, and spending time with my family.

 


Kayla F

Hello, my name is Kayla F. I began working at EFC in December 2021. I have a bachelor’s degree from St. Could State in Special Education and Community Psychology. I have had experiences working in the elementary schools, working with all ages with disabilities and I also worked at EFC back in 2009 and 2011! I love working with children and watching them learn and grow each day! In my spare time, I like to travel and spend time with family and friends.

 


Cathy

Hi, my name is Cathy. I have been at Especially for Children’s Circle Pines center since 1996. I enjoy working with children as they grow and develop from an infant to a kindergartener. I completed my Child Development Associate degree with an emphasis on infants and toddlers. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family.

 

Preschool/Pre-K Teaching Staff


Macy

Hello! My name is Macy. I began working at Especially for Children in September 2022. I am a high school graduate and looking to start a Child Development Associates degree. My experience with children includes working with children in high school through the early childhood education program, teaching Sunday school at church, and babysitting. I love working with children because of all the smiles and hugs all day long! In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with family and friends.

 


Rebecca

Hello! My name is Rebecca. I began working at Especially for Children in October 2022. I am currently working on my Child Development Associates Degree. My experience with children includes working in other centers for three years. I love working with children because I love the way they think and enjoy learning. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and baking.

 


Kathy

I am Kathy B. and have been a teacher at EFC since 1980! My favorite thing is to watch children learn to read. They feel such a sense of accomplishment. Each day provides unlimited opportunities to capture a child’s sense of wonder and imagination. Outside of work, I like to spend time at the lake with my husband where we enjoy boating, fishing, biking and relaxing. I also enjoy participating in 5ks with my husband, Dean.

 


Kris

Hi, my name is Kris. I began working at Especially for Children in 1994. I have experience working in childcare since 1987 and was a director at EFC Coon Rapids and EFC Circle Pines before I transitioned back into teaching. I studied Early Childhood Education and Child Psychology at the University of Minnesota. My favorite thing about children is their curiosity to learn new things and watching their excitement as they develop new skills. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, reading, baking, sewing and scrapbooking.

 

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Circle Pines Parent Stories

  • Thank you for taking such wonderful care of our daughter. Starting as an infant, your staff has been so responsive to our needs and most importantly, to her needs. We have been so very happy with Especially for Children.

    John and Heather

  • I just wanted to send an enormous heart-felt ‘Thank you’ for taking such spectacular care of our kiddos. Your passion and patience everyday with teaching them not only reading, writing, and math, but also kindness, manners and discipline are so much more than my husband and I could’ve asked for. Our little ones truly feel like they are part of “another family” at school and, it’s because you’ve made them feel so safe and so special. We thank you so much for each and every day you’ve spent filling their little minds with knowledge and re-enforcing values. We are simply blessed to have such a phenomenal place for them to grow. Linda, our kiddos and your staff are so lucky to have you. We will never be able to thank you enough for what you and your team have given our family.

    Tanya

  • Linda, You and your staff have played incredible roles in our lives. Jim and I have been able to go about our work lives confident that our children were receiving high quality care. Matt and Becca have felt loved, challenged, important, special and happy. You’ve helped them to thrive, and I know the foundation you’ve help them to build will serve them well all their lives! As I have told you many times, we are very pleased with the positive, educational environment that you have created and continued to maintain for our boys and the other children at EFC. We always know they are safe and nurtured, challenged and motivated to do their best, entertained and inspired to use their creativity. I look forward to coming every night to get them to see what adventures they had that day.

    Circle Pines Parent

  • As an educator, I am very aware of the need to meet the social, physical and educational needs of young children. The Circle Pines EFC works very hard to create the needed balance of all three areas. My son participated in developmentally appropriate social and academic areas. I believe the teachers work very hard to meet the individual needs of all the children.

    Jen