Our amazing teaching staff!
Cat Thisius (T/Th am / MWF Enrichments Teacher / Director)
Cat joined Rainbow School as a teacher in 2008 and became Director of Rainbow School in 2009. She has Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a minor in Early Childhood Education from Winona State University. Cat received her Child Care Administration Credential from St. Paul College. Cat and her husband Terry have two daughters, Anna and Sara along with 3 dogs and 2 cats. She enjoys playing roller derby, photography, and being outdoors with family. |
Stacy Freimuth (MWF am and pm Teacher)
Stacy is a teacher in the Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Gustavus Adolphus College and Masters from Winona State University. Stacy has taught preschool and first grade for 16 years in Rochester and St. Louis, Missouri. 2017-18 will be her 8th year at Rainbow School. Stacy’s husband, Bob, is a Ph. D at the Mayo Clinic and they have two boys in middle school. They live in Rochester and love being a part of the Zumbro Lutheran and Rainbow School families. |
Tammy Kraft (T/Th am / T/H pm Enrichments Teacher)
Tammy is a teacher in the Tuesday/Thursday morning class and afternoon enrichments. Tammy earned a Bachelor of Elective Studies from St. Cloud State University with an emphasis in Child and Family Studies. She is a licensed preschool teacher as well as an early childhood special education teacher. She has taught early childhood special education. She recently taught in combined special education and head start classroom with the Rochester public schools. Before that, she was at home raising her 5 children and operating her own home daycare for 10 years. Tammy and her husband are members of Gethsemane Lutheran church in Rochester. Tammy enjoys reading, scrapbooking, and bike riding with her family. |
Chris Cwikla (F am enrichment Teacher and Administrative Assistant)
Chris is a teacher in Friday Spanish/Science class and the Administrative Assistant in the office. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a Kindergarten Endorsement from Winona State University and her Masters degree in Education also from Winona State. Chris taught first grade in the Rochester Public Schools for many years before opting to be a stay-at-home mom. Chris and her husband have two boys, which they are raising in Rochester, where Chris also grew up. She enjoys photography/digital scrapbooking, running/biking, trying new recipes, and watching her sons play baseball! |
Tracy Tollefson (MWF am and pm Teacher )
Tracy has a Bachelor's degree in English and Communications Education from Mankato State University. She joined the Rainbow School staff January 2019 as a literacy enrichment teacher. Tracy and her husband Doug have 3 children, a dog, a c at, and a bearded dragon. Prior to teaching at Rainbow School, Tracy has been a stay at home mom and has been involved as a volunteer and past Rainbow School Board member, and Education Team member at Good Shepherd Church, and at her children's elementary school. Tracy enjoys reading, singing, and playing board games with her family. |