Wish List
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Angel Berry

Angel Berry
Executive Director, Co-Founder

After 10 years of providing childcare in her home, Angel is proud to step up to the role of Executive Director and help create a kind and warm environment for families in need of care and support. Angel is nearing the completion of her Registry Administration Credential at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, adding to her continuing education. She was recognized three years running at a National Parent Support Convention as a Parent Leader (2003-2006) and continues to be an advocate for children and healthy families. Angel has volunteered with the Youth and Family Project in West Bend and provided parental support and education for over 20 years. Angel is a proud mother of two grown sons and lives with her husband Matt in Sheboygan. Through her experiences as a mother of a child with special needs and a struggling single parent prior to meeting her husband, she learned firsthand how challenging parenting can be. Angel is fiercely dedicated to bringing this vision of a childhood education and care center to the county she had grown to love in the hope that every family has the support that they need to raise happy and healthy children.

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Natalie Balynas

Natalie Balynas
Lead Teacher

I have been teaching for 20 years. I have one son who is the light of my life. I enjoy going to care shows with my husband, love cooking and the outdoors. The best thing about teaching is to see a child's eyes light up when they are discovering the world.

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Breanna Crump

Breanna Crump
Lead Teacher

My name is Breanna Crump and I love working at A Million Dreamz. I'm 24 years old and was born in Chicago, IL. My family and I moved to Sheboygan in 2010 and I've enjoyed living in such a peaceful area. I graduated high school from Ideas Academy in 2016 and am currently enrolled in the Early Childhood Education program at Lakeshore Technical College. I live with my three foster children and 7-year-old cat named Minnie. I'm also a dancer and the coach of TeamNation here in Sheboygan. My Favorite Things ... Food: Sweet Potatoes
Color: Pink
Singer: Beyoncé
Animal: Cat
Dance Genre: Afro/HipHop
Musical instrument: Soprano Ukulele
Holiday: Kwanzaa Tagline - Broken crayons still color

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Ann Hess

Ann Hess
Lead Teacher

I like watching comedy movies, shopping, going out for coffee, playing card games, sitting around a bonfire, enjoying the weather during summer. I love interacting and watching the little ones grow so fast!

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Cindy Krolnik-Kelm

Cindy Krolnik-Kelm
Lead Teacher

Bio coming soon!

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Skye Morency

Skye Morency
Lead Teacher

Hello! I'm Skye. I'm 29 years old. I'm currently studying Early Childhood Education at Lakeshore Technical College with Jennifer Irish. I don't have any children of my own, but I do love, care for, and support other people's children as if they were my own. I'm currently a Manitowoc county resident, however, Sheboygan will soon be home again! I enjoy nature, camping, fishing, and photography in my spare time, along with traveling and reading. I also love to spend time grilling or enjoying a bonfire on a beautiful day. I spend a lot of time with my boyfriend and family. My ultimate dream is to become a 4K teacher. I'm always working towards that goal one day at a time! I love to positively impact children's lives. I can't wait to keep accomplishing that goal.

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Meg Peterson

Meg Peterson
Lead Teacher

After years of teaching middle school science, Meg has changed her focus to early childhood education. She realized this area must be improved so that future adolescents are better prepared, self-directed learners with critical thinking skills. In her spare time, Meg enjoys flower gardening. She is thrilled to be a part of AMD and to be advocating for children and families to get the support and tools they need to thrive.

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Tsion Purtell

Tsion Purtell
Lead Teacher

I'm 26 years old and I love working with kids. My two younger brothers and I were adopted from Ethiopia in September 2021. When I was attending South High School, I took a child development class and ended up loving it. Once I got my Assistant Teacher certification, I landed a job at New World Montessori School during my junior year. I also tutored youth at the Early Learning Center. I loved being with kids. Every day I went to work, I looked forward to seeing the kids. I wasn't just there to teach them, but I was also learning from them. Once I graduated from South High, I knew what I wanted to do. I got a full-ride scholarship to Lakeshore Technical College to study Early Childhood Education. I had the pleasure of learning from Jennifer Irish! My passion is to teach and help children grow and develop. Throughout the week, I work at Jackson Elementary School. I'm looking forward to working at A Million Dreamz!

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Amanda Schlueter

Amanda Schlueter
Lead Teacher

Amanda is a wife, mom and special educator. She has over 15 years of experience working with children of all ages. She loves spending time with her family which is made up of her wife, their four children, two teddy bear dogs and two cats. In her spare time, she enjoys coloring and reading. She is so excited to be making a difference as a member of the AMD family!

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Jamie Schlueter

Jamie Schlueter
Lead Teacher

Jamie is a nurturing person and caring for children is just part of who she is. She has a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and a master's degree in special education. Jamie has been an early childhood special education teacher since 1999 and has a strong background in applied behavior analysis. Jamie believes that all behavior is communication and she speaks nonverbal communication fluently and has extensive knowledge and skills in augmentative and alternative communication. Jamie knows that early childhood experiences from birth-age 8 affect the development of the brain's architecture, which provides a foundation for all future learning, behavior and health. Strong foundations helps children develop skills they need to become well-functioning adults and she can't wait to help your child(ren) on their path. No challenge too large, no victory too small.

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Sonia Smith

Sonia Smith
Lead Teacher

Hi. I'm Sonia, mom of 7, married to my best friend. I love Brewers baseball and NFC North football rivalry. My joy is seeing kiddos be so excited when they learn new things!

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Amber Venzke

Amber Venzke
Lead Teacher

Hi, I'm Amber! I'm first and foremost a mom of two (my son and bonus-daughter). I've worn the hats of mom, salon receptionist, hair stylist, school secretary, and now early childcare apprentice. I'll be pursuing my degree in early child care soon and coming from a long line of teachers, I'm beyond excited for this newest adventure! I believe kindness is a superpower and we're all capable of amazing things, no matter who we are or where we came from.

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AnnaMae Zabel

AnnaMae Zabel
Lead Teacher

My name is AnnaMae Zabel. I've been working in childcare all my life, in my own home and in a center. I have over 30 years of experience. I also have three children of my own, one with special needs. I have a heart for children and an excitement for watching them grow through love and encouragement that fits each child's personality. By working together, let's make every child feel comfortable and encourage them to be the best they can be. Let us be the rainbow in their cloudy days.

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Julia Saul

Julia Saul
Apprentice

I am a very imaginative and creative person. I love doing art and crafts as well as creating and sharing stories. I love dressing up and playing with imagination.

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Nevaeh Andrews

Nevaeh Andrews
Junior Apprentice

Hello, I may only be an apprentice now but I plan on staying. Children, and helping them, has always been a passion of mine. I look forward to all the relationships I create with the kids.

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Sophie Vanic

Sophie Vanic
Junior Apprentice

I'm a junior in highschool at Sheboygan Falls. I've worked in childcare the past four summers and love working with kids of all ages. I'm planning on going to college for early childhood education and want to be a teacher. I enjoy painting, hanging out with my friends and family, and traveling. I'm excited to be a part of AMD and am looking forward to learning and growing through this experience!

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Dana Yedica

Dana Yedica
Junior Apprentice

I am a senior at Sheboygan North High School. I plan to pursue Human Ecology or Social Sciences in college. While this is my first job in a childcare setting, Ihave loved volunteering for children in the past. In my free time, I enjoy reading, playing violin, and tennis. I am looking forward to my time at AMD!

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Kaylin Maas

Kaylin Maas
Assistant Teacher

I'm a mom to an amazing boy who keeps me on my toes. One of my hobbies is photography and I've been doing that for a couple of years now. Currently I attend UW Superior online and am majoring in K-9 education with a minor in early childhood. I have a background in early childhood education and special education. Being a part of children's lives and knowing I am someone helping build their bright future is something I take pride in.

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Rebbecca Vetting

Rebbecca Vetting
Executive Assistant

I'm a former hairdresser of over 25 years and love not being on my feet all day! My husband and I have 3 fur babies and enjoy spending time in Door County, going on motorcycle rides and eating good food.

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Jerome Wood Jr

Jerome Wood Jr
Building Maintenance

I'm excited to join the office team at AMD and to do my part in helping people access affordable, quality childcare. In my spare time I enjoy gardening an being in nature.

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Kamilia Nabbefeld

Kamilia Nabbefeld
Financial Coordinator

Kamilia joined the AMD team late in 2022. A graduate of Madison College, Kamilia is multitasking in the office as the financial coordinator. Working closely with the Executive Director and our Board Treasurer, Kamilia has quickly become an integral part of the operations of AMD. She says "I'm incredibly fortunate to work with a company that is trying to make a change in a much needed industry. If you aren't aware of the continued childcare and early childhood education crisis then you're severely out of the loop. Thankfully friends at A Million Dreamz are here ready to educate us on what we can do to support our community needs and make a difference in the standard of childcare provided to our future generations!"

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Ellie Kluwe

Ellie Kluwe
Program Aide

I love to engage with new little learners and help people out in my free time.

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Zahra Tollesfson

Zahra Tollesfson
Program Aide

I'm a recent high school graduate. I'm continuing my education at UW-Green Bay for Special Education.

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Makayla VanHelden

Makayla VanHelden
Program Aide

Hi, I'm Makayla! I'm a junior at Howards Grove High School. I love working with kids and plan to become an elementary school teacher. I also love my two dachshunds, Abby and Riley.

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Board Members

Carol Janssen

Carol Janssen
Treasurer

Recently retired from her position as CFO of Polyfab LLC, Carol had been a dynamic and integral part of developing a one-man shop into a manufacturing facility known worldwide. Her experience and expertise with financial matters, human resources, business planning and management are welcomed with enthusiasm. Carol is happy to be on board.

Joseph Voelkner

Joseph Voelkner
Legal Advisor

Joseph J. Voelkner was born and raised in Grafton, Wisconsin. Joe currently resides in Sheboygan with his wife, Melissa. Joe is a partner of Olsen, Kloet, Gunderson & Conway and presides on several non-profit boards throughout Sheboygan County.

Joe is an avid sports fan and tennis player, he enjoys playing tennis, golf, hockey, basketball, and softball and enjoys traveling at every opportunity.

Nena Bemis

Nena Bemis
Board Director, Co-Founder

Nena is a loving mother of four children. As early as she can remember Nena wanted to be a teacher. This emerging passion compounded with a high interest in the human psyche led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, which she followed up with a master’s degree in School and Community Counseling.

Through her studies, Nena found a particular interest in working with children who were struggling with mental health or crisis and children with special needs. She has volunteered with Rainbow Kids as an early childhood grief group counselor, lead small group activities with children temporarily housed at Safe Harbor domestic violence shelter, and served as a mentor with Big Brother/Big Sisters of Sheboygan for 10 years.

Nena’s studies and volunteer experiences lead her to a realization that often the special needs child population, as well as children struggling with mental health, get “left behind” in different venues of their lives. They often find an absence of quality services, including childcare, often resulting from lack of funding. This belief was further solidified as she encountered different obstacles while raising her oldest child, who has special needs. Because of this, her passion emerged to advocate for children in need and help their voices be heard, and to find ways to support the family as a whole in times of need by empowering them with proper tools. As she and her co-founder, Angel, agree: “Everyone needs a village “. This is where the dream of A Million Dreamz started … with endless possibilities for children of all abilities and their families.

Jennifer Irish

Jennifer Irish
Board Director

Jennifer Irish is the Early Childhood Education Instructor and Program Chair at Lakeshore Technical College. Over the last 20+ years, she has worked with young children in a variety of settings including licensed child care centers, public schools, and private schools. She now prepares and guides adult students to be leaders in the early childhood classroom focusing on positive guidance, anti-bias perspectives, and developmentally appropriate practices.

Jennifer earned her first bachelor’s degree in Rehabilitation Psychology from UW-Madison, gaining knowledge and experience working with individuals with differing abilities. She then earned her second bachelor’s degree, PK-6 teaching license, and master’s degree from Cardinal Stritch University. Jennifer’s passion is sharing her love of children and their holistic development with others to build a brighter future for all. Jennifer lives in Sheboygan with her husband and two children.

Steven Schmitt

Steven Schmitt
Ad Hoc Member

Fourth-generation to lead the Jos. Schmitt Construction Company, Steven is a Sheboyganite dedicated to his community. His philanthropic nature has led him to work diligently to help bring the ideas of others to fruition to benefit the entire community. Sheboygan County Humane Society, The Shaw Family Playground, and the Purple Octopus at Above and Beyond Children's Museum are examples of the wonderful things Steven helps to create.

A dedicated husband, father, and grandfather, Steven is paving the way to a brighter future for the citizens of Sheboygan County.

Employment Opportunities

Early childhood education professionals foster each child with learning opportunities, encouragement to grow, and support while core centers of the brain are developing. The first six years of life are the strongest in terms of brain development. Quality childcare sets a child up for future success in education, personal relationships and community involvement. Be a part of the important team helping our future leaders to grow!

A Million Dreamz is hiring qualified lead teachers to begin right away. We are also looking for Assistant Teachers and offer a pathway to qualification with our guided step-by-step education plan. Through this process, AMD staff will work with you to help you gain the qualifications needed to begin or continue your career in Early Childhood Education. Working with the state of Wisconsin Department of Children and Families and our local childcare resource and referral agency, Family Connections, we are able to help you access the classes and trainings to get started for little to no cost.

Working in Early Childhood Education is a rewarding experience in which you can help to shape the world of the children in your care, assist families with support and structure and make a difference that will ripple through the entire community. Whether you are a seasoned veteran in the ECE workforce or you are in the beginning stages of considering a career in the field, we are happy to help you through the process toward making your work meaningful in the lives of the families and children throughout Sheboygan County.

Get started in your career at A Million Dreamz today! Begin by filling out our online application form. Our list of positions and descriptions can be viewed here.

Employees at A Million Dreamz are required to pass a fingerprint background check. We are guided by the regulations of the Department of Children and Families of the State of Wisconsin. For more information regarding regulations and requirements, click here.

A Million Dreamz415 Euclid AvenueSheboygan, WI 53083Phone: 920-287-3092
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