Alma Guzmán
Director
Rachel McGill
Assistant Director
EFC SW Minneapolis
SW Minneapolis
Create. Laugh. Learn.
Now Open!
Especially for Children has opened a new location in Southwest Minneapolis! The SW Minneapolis EFC, located in the King Field neighborhood at E 39th Street and Stevens Ave., is just three blocks off Nicollet Ave. S.
Along with high quality, play-based programming and dedicated and caring teaching staff, the center features a large indoor gym and access to a dynamic local park space. An expansive and engaging nature-based playground will be built over the summer. Newly remodeled classrooms are filled with natural light, creating a bright and warm space for children to grow and thrive. The center has close access to convenient commuter paths and the nearby energy of the city but is tucked back into the neighborhood, providing a quiet and calm environment.
We are currently enrolling in all age groups! Please call 952.857.1100 or fill out our Contact Form for more information about enrollment.
Director
Alma
Hola! My name is Alma, and I am the director at our new Especially for Children location in SW Minneapolis. I recently started at EFC after discovering their vision and philosophy without a doubt EFC matched my values and principles. I am a Social Worker and over the years I managed to direct my career and combine it with my Early Education Teacher certification. I have worked different roles in my career and enjoyed being a teacher of all ages, being an assistant to a director, and for a long time being a director. I have taken the opportunity to train myself every year in different areas and thus be able to continue learning about how to support children in their development. I never imagined how much we can help children if we are good role models. I am certainly looking forward to working with this community and being able to establish a great bond. When I am not here, I really enjoy quality time with my family. Something that we love in the summer is traveling in canoes. I teach some people the Spanish language as it is my first language, and we are also animals lovers, so you should know that I have 2 dogs and 4 chickens. Lastly, I really love art and creating things out of vinyl and resin.
Assistant Director
Rachel
Hello. My name is Rachel, and I am the assistant director here at Especially for Children in SW Minneapolis. I graduated from St. Catherine University with a BA in Psychology in 2020. Since then, I have been fortunate enough to learn more about child development, challenging behaviors, and children with special needs and have used that knowledge to support the children and staff I work with. I have enjoyed working with children for as long as I can remember, and I am so happy my journey led me to Especially for Children. Before coming to EFC, I worked as a Pre-K teacher, an Assistant Director at Soccer Shots, and a Parent Aware coach. I am excited to bring my experience here! When I am not at work I enjoy hiking with my dog, spending time with family at the cabin, and traveling to football stadiums with my husband.
Teaching Staff
Ingrid
Hi! My name is Ingrid and I have worked with kids aged 6 weeks to 12 years old since 2021. I received my bachelors degree from the University of Minnesota in developmental psychology and Spanish studies. I have lived in Minneapolis since I was 5 years old and love walking and biking around all the different neighborhoods. In my free time, I also like to cook, bake, read, and try new food at all the great restaurants in the Twin Cities.
Amy
My name is Amy Blythe and I have several years (well, decades) of experience working with children. Most recently I worked at the Minneapolis Public Schools with three year olds on the Autism Spectrum. I hold a Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology and have taken many specialized trainings in curriculum development for young learners. I especially enjoy working with PreK students who will be entering Kindergarten in the Fall. I sing and play guitar leading sing-a-longs with kids and I facilitate many fun art and science activities. In my free time I paint in watercolor, do photography and hang out with my friends. I have a lovely cat named Mooch who meows so cutely and eats a lot.
Sasha
Greetings! My name is Sasha and I am eager to introduce myself as a new teacher at EFC! Education and caregiving have been a passion of mine that has continued to develop and flourish, only strengthening throughout personal endeavors and lifestyle adjustments. My experience in Early Childhood Education started in 2013 at Lexington Kids Christian Childcare Center. In the 6+ years of working there, my professional responsibilities consisted of various duties within every developmental age range. I also completed a term of on-site Reading Corps while leading their Pre-K classroom. After a leave of absence post spinal surgery Fall of 2021, I resigned from my position as Lead Teacher and took time to adjust, recover, and reintegrate newfound skills and needs into my personal life. Since doing so, I have continued to teach Yoga and engage in personal interests such as furthering education and practices in healing arts, utilizing nature-based opportunities, and supporting ongoing mental health efforts by prioritizing living presently. Since receiving my 200YTT in 2020, Hatha Yoga has become a major passion and life practice that I enjoy bringing into every space for those ready to receive. I look forward to bringing the many skills I’ve gained within this “time off” to environments that may be new to me in some aspects, but familiar in so many others. I will be starting school Fall of 2023. I am excited to continue my education journey. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my son, Jules, spending time outdoors, and creating art in my free time.
