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Staff
Gina O'Malley
15 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Gina O'Malley
Director

My name is Gina O’Malley, and I have over 15 years of experience in early childhood education, with the majority of my career spent in leadership roles supporting children, families, and teaching teams. I earned my BA in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood Education from UW–River Falls. My experience includes serving as a Pre-K teacher, nanny, Education Manager, and Assistant Director/Director, providing me with a strong foundation in both direct child development and early childhood program leadership.

My passion for children began when I was nine years old and became an aunt. By age 12, I was babysitting, and during my senior year of high school, I completed an internship in a first-grade classroom at the same elementary school I attended.

I live in Woodbury with my husband, Tony, and our two daughters. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, going on walks, boating, cooking, and reading.

The first five years of a child’s life are some of the most important, and I feel truly blessed I get to spend those years with your little one(s). I love connecting with new families and building trusting relationships. I look forward to meeting you and being a part of your family’s early childhood journey!

Nikki Tschida
30 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Nikki Tschida
Education Coach

Hi! I’m Nikki Tschida, and I’m proud to be part of Primrose School of Lake Elmo. I’m originally from Oakdale, Minnesota, and I bring more than 30 years of experience working with children and families. I also hold my Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential.

I love creating fun, meaningful experiences for children and watching them learn, grow, and discover the world around them. Outside of the center, I enjoy crafting, beading, spending time with my girls Hope and Miranda, and being with our dog-Kenai.

One interesting fact about me is that I love to raise monarch caterpillars! I enjoy watching them transform into beautiful butterflies and then releasing them to continue their journey.

On the weekends, you’ll most likely find me camping at our family site in Wisconsin, spending time with my girls, and enjoying time with my extended family.

I’m excited to share my years of experience, creativity, and love of learning with the children and families at our school!

Brie Vanderbeek
19 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Brie Vanderbeek
Assistant Director & Lead Support Teacher

With 19 years of experience in child care, I have had the privilege of working with children of many different ages and stages throughout my career. Over the years, I have served as a classroom teacher, Assistant Director for two years, and Center Director for four years. These experiences have given me a well-rounded understanding of early childhood education, leadership, and the importance of creating a nurturing environment where children can learn and grow. I hold an Associate Degree in Business Management with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business with an emphasis in Health Care Management. I live in River Falls, Wisconsin, with my husband, stepson, daughter, and our black lab. Outside of work, I enjoy reading, working on all kinds of puzzles, game nights, camping, and, most of all, spending time with family and friends. I am passionate about building meaningful relationships with children and families and look forward to bringing my experience, enthusiasm, and love for early childhood education to my work.

Ms. Brandy Nessl
16 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Brandy Nessl
Infant Teacher
Ms. Sam Shanahan
6 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Sam Shanahan
Infant Teacher
Ms. Amdusa Yang
2 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Amdusa Yang
Infant Teacher
Ms. Grace Gammell
5 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Grace Gammell
Infant Teacher
Ms. Linda Chang
1 Year of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Linda Chang
Infant Teacher
Ms. Andrea Kong
1 Year of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Andrea Kong
Infant Teacher
Ms. Reese Madlem
20 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Reese Madlem
Toddler Teacher
Ms. Jennie Mangine
40 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Jennie Mangine
Early Preschool Teacher
Ms. Thei Soe
1 Year of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Thei Soe
Early Preschool Teacher
Ms. Karia Chang
5 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Karia Chang
Early Preschool Teacher
Ms. Ginger Payne
25 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Ginger Payne
Preschool Pathways Teacher
Ms. Destiny Bollmann
8 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Destiny Bollmann
Preschool Teacher
Ms. Tina Pelano
43 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Tina Pelano
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
 Ms. Jordan Southward
10 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Jordan Southward
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Ms. Rome VanBergen
25 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Rome VanBergen
Support Teacher
Ms. Claire O’Neill
6 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Ms. Claire O’Neill
Support Teacher
Chef John Edel
30 Years of ExperienceJoined 2026
Chef John Edel
Chef

Franchise Owners

Gina and Steve Dahlblom

Welcome to Primrose School of Lake Elmo!
We’re honored to bring high-quality preschool and child care to families in the Lake Elmo and greater Stillwater community.

Our own search for child care with our firstborn showed us how difficult it can be to find a program that offers a strong curriculum, character development, a nurturing environment, and a true partnership with parents. Although we fell in love with Primrose in a neighboring city, high demand kept us on the waitlist. As Lake Elmo and surrounding areas continued to grow, we saw the need for exceptional early education close to home—sparking our desire to bring a Primrose School to our community.

We have a long history and passion for our community as we both grew up here and graduated from Stillwater Area High School. After a short relocation to Charleston for Steve’s career, we came back to Lake Elmo to raise our family.

Steve holds a degree in Agricultural Business & Finance from the University of Minnesota and has built a career in global operations, leading international teams, building businesses and meaningful relationships across many countries and cultures. Gina graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire with a degree in Business Administration and has experience in corporate retail focused on planning, operations, and team leadership. She also spent meaningful years as a stay-at-home mom. Together, we also manage a small real-estate business in the St. Croix Valley. As a family, we love sports, traveling, boating on the St. Croix, golfing, and skiing.

Above all, we value long-lasting, trusting relationships—something we look forward to building with the children and families in our school. We feel grateful for the opportunity to support each child’s growth and development.

At Primrose, we believe who children become is as important as what they know. Our Balanced Learning® approach combines purposeful play with nurturing guidance to inspire curiosity, confidence, creativity, and compassion.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the Primrose family!
~ The Dahlbloms

Our family would love to meet yours.

Contact us to schedule a tour.
A child and teacher's hand on a bookA young boy playing with toysA young boy playing to the floor looking up at cameraA young boy smiling at cameraA young boy looking at cameraA child and teacher's hand on a bookA young boy playing with toysA young boy playing to the floor looking up at cameraA young boy smiling at cameraA young boy looking at camera
© 2026 Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. We will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable registration and disclosure requirements in your jurisdiction. Contact Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC, 3200 Windy Hill Road SE, Suite 1200E, Atlanta, GA 30339, to request a copy of our FDD.

*Study was conducted on a representative sample of Primrose Pre-Kindergarten students across twelve Primrose schools in nine states in the Spring of 2024. The Bracken School Readiness Assessment 4th Edition assesses children’s school readiness in terms of their understanding of concepts that are strongly related to early childhood cognitive and language development as well as early academic achievement.

**Based upon recent assessments of approximately 3,900 Primrose students aged 4 screened using the Ages & Stages Questionnaires®, Third Edition during the 2024-2025 school year. Ages & Stages Questionnaires® and ASQ® are registered trademarks of Paul H Brookes Publishing Co, Inc.