Meet the Learn & Grow Team!
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Here at Learn & Grow we are so proud of our staff. Each and every one of them brings something special to our team. Many of our staff has chosen caring for children as their lifelong career. One thing our staff members all have in common is their love for children!
Owner/ HR/ Maintenance
Kody Elvidge
"Hi, my name is Kody! I am co-owner of L&G with Allie as well as many other roles. I always joke and say I'm the jack of all trades, master of none. My family has run childcare centers since the 80's. I grew up watching my mother and grandmother run childcare centers and once I found a wonderful woman (Allie) who loves children and the idea of helping shape the community through guiding our community's children as much as I do, I knew It was time to carry on what has become my family's legacy."
Owner/ Director/ Teacher
Allie Bachler
"Hi, my name is Allie. I am the owner, director & a teacher all rolled into one. I have four beautiful children that keep me busy outside of the daycare along with 2 siberian huskies and 2 cats. Kody & I have been together for just over 4 years and we bought the daycare from his grandparents who ran this location for over 45 years. I have had the pleasure of working at this location for 2.5 years and started my teaching career alongside my mother-in-law at her child care center a few miles south on Hwy. 65. I grew up in a huge family, surrounded by 20+ cousins for every birthday, holiday and general get togethers so I always knew I wanted a large family myself and I am so happy i got started when I did. While my children bring me a different type of love and happiness at home, I couldn't imagine a better job than walking in and being greeted by all of the children in our daycare and helping each and every one of them learn, laugh, and grow every day they come in." Allie has been the director of L&G since 2022 and she really does a wonderful job. She does everything within her power to make sure this center operates safely and smoothly. This daycare is such an enormous part of her life.
Kathy has been around longer than any of us at L&G! We are so proud to have Kathy with us. Her experience is priceless. She really does well running the infant room, the babies just adore her. Working with 4 or more babies for 8 hours a day can be very hard as many of you probably know, and she does it with ease! We hope Kathy stays with us until the day she retires!
Lead Infant Teacher
Kathy Lammers
"Hi, my name is Kathy! I am the Lead infant room teacher here at L&G. I have been with L&G for over 30 years!! I have watched generations of families come through this center. I really enjoy getting to know both the families and the children that I care for. Besides a childcare teacher, I am a mother and a grandmother. Kids have always been a huge part of my life! My favorite parts of working in the infant room are connecting with the babies and watching them learn and grow, hitting all the special milestones that babies reach in the first 16 months of their lives. It is so special to watch each baby learn at its own pace to walk, use their voice, sit up, crawl, and so much more!"
Lannea is an amazing toddler teacher. She goes out of her way to make each day special for the toddlers! She takes time outside of the classroom to come up with new fun art or sensory projects. She also does an amazing job decorating the room with the children's art so all the parents can see what their child and their child's friends have created. We are so fortunate to have her on our team as she truly makes this center a better place! We hope she stays with us for years to come!
Lead Toddler Teacher
Lannea Nordby
"My name is Ms. Lannea, I am the lead toddler teacher here at L&G! I have been working in childcare coming up on 5 years now! I also have my certificate to own my own daycare. I love what I do and wouldn't change it for the world! One of my favorite things to do with the kids is art and I love to show off their work!"
Hannah has become an essential part of our team. She is a very kind and gentle with the children and we are very proud to have her run our preschool room in the morning to mid afternoon!
Lead Preschool Teacher
Hannah Olson
"Hi, I'm Hannah! I've been with L&G Child Care since August 2022 and I am one of the Lead Preschool Teachers. I have been working in childcare for about 4 years now and i am currently on my fifth year of teaching. I am also currently enrolled at Rasmussen University to obtain my associate degree in child development. I hope to earn my bachelor's degree and open my own in-home daycare one day! My favorite activity is leading and planning arts and craft projects with the children! I really enjoy seeing them be creative and turn their imagination into art! I also enjoy leading our morning group in preschool."
Tiffany is an awesome preschool teacher! She brings a fun exciting energy to the classroom! The kids love her playful attitude. She is good at helping maintain the children's interest or attention when needed and we look forward to many more years of her being a part of Learn & Grow!
Assistant Preschool Teacher
Tiffany Lucas
"Hi, my name is Tiffany! I started working with Learn & Grow in March 2025. I am a mother to two beautiful children, Jackson who is five and Savannah who is eight! I have been working in childcare for about three years now. I love all children but I love being in the preschool room where I get to interact with the older children and watch them learn and grow. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my children as well as family and friends!"
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Kylie has been such an amazing staff member at L&G. She is primarily in the toddler room, but she often gets to work with all age groups, and they all love her. She is one of our most willing and flexible staff members as well as trusted, so trusted in fact that she has taken care of our house and dogs while we (Kody & Allie) have been out of town!
Teacher's Aide
Kylie Finco
"Hi, my name is Kylie. I have been working at L&G since April 2024! I've always loved being around kids and watching them grow up. I grew up in daycare and dreamed about being just like the teachers I had. My favorite part of my job is walking into work everyday knowing I get to see all the kids meet new milestones and see all the smiling faces! I graduated from Blaine HS in 2025 and my goal is to attend college and staying at L&G as long as I can!"
Preschool Teacher
Ariyanna Jerde-Erickson
"Hi, I'm Ariyanna (or Ari)! I have been with Learn & Grow since March 2025. I love working with kids and have been doing it since 2016! I have worked with all age groups, but my favorite is Preschool or Infants. When i am not at Learn & Grow, I love to read, craft, play video games, travel and do anything outside! I grew up in East Bethel and currently live in Coon Rapids. I have two pitbulls named Drogon and Azula and two cats named Tweek and Castiel."
Teacher's Aide
Gabbie Neu
"Hi, my name is Gabbie! I have been at L&G since June 2025. I love working with the children, I help out where I am needed and look forward to working at L&G for years to come!"
Preschool Teacher
Kelly Ranallo
"Hello, I'm Kelly, I have been with L&G since 1996. Starting out I worked only at the other location. The family that runs L&G has been so good to me. I even took care of one of the current owners when he was just a preschooler! I am a preschool teacher, which is the room that I enjoy the most, although I have worked with all the age groups throughout my childcare career. I love the preschooler's imaginations and getting messy with all kinds of projects! I enjoy doing arts and crafts and dancing books. I try very hard each and every day to learn something new and I love when the kids teach me something. I am also a house cleaner, and I work at the other L&G location in the mornings! I love to fish, play "bags", and being around people in general! My family and friends are important to me just like every child that I care for."
Teacher's Aide (Preschool)
Mady A.
"Hi, my name is Mady. I have been with L&G for 2 1/2 years! I work in the preschool room as well as prepare lunch for the center. I love getting to know all the kids and watch them grow. Preschool is a great age because the kids are really starting to get the hang of a lot of the fundamental skills, whether its talking clearly, walking and running carefully, reading/ writing and so much more!"
Founder/ Previous Owner/ Previous Director
Kathy Elvidge
"Hi, my name is Kathryn (Kathy). I am the previous owner/ director of L&G. I founded the daycare center in 1977 at another location in Blaine. We have watched this city come a long way since then! I am currently retired but from time to time I will help out around the center or simply just come visit. We sold the daycare to my grandson and our granddaughter-in-law in February of 2024. We grew this daycare from the ground up and we are so grateful to see our legacy continue for many years to come! Nowadays my husband Dennis and I are focusing on spending time with family, traveling and just simply enjoying the retired life. Dennis and I are so confident that this center will continue to help this community and its families while shaping today's youth to become well rounded young boys and girls!"
Teacher
Now Hiring!!!!
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