BOard Members
Laura Johnson grew up in Grand Island and attended Newell Elementary, Walnut Middle School, and Grand Island Senior High. She graduated from Hastings College with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and an Endorsement in English as a Second Language. While attending Hastings College, Laura took 18 hours of Spanish and lived in Oaxaca, Mexico for a full-immersion Spanish program. While in Oaxaca, she was not only immersed in the Spanish language, but also in the Oaxacan culture. She lived with a family who spoke no English and she too did not hear or speak any English during this full-immersion experience. Laura obtained her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. She is married to Josh Johnson, and is blessed with two children of her own- both boys and ages 2 and 8. She works for Grand Island Public Schools and has taught fourth grade (for 6 years), third grade (for 3 years), and English Learners (for 4 years). She has worked with every grade-level of students from kindergarten through fifth grade and taught the Reading Together program for a number of years to give extra support to struggling readers. She is an advocate not only for children and families learning English as their second language, but for ALL children. She recognizes the importance of PLAY as a teaching and learning strategy and can’t wait to provide the families in our community with a place where their children can grow, learn, and play together!
Shawna Senff grew up in Clay Center, Nebraska. She graduated from Hastings College with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and an Endorsement in English as a Second Language. Her teaching career started in Bellevue, Nebraska and 6 years ago she moved to Doniphan, Nebraska. She began teaching at Howard Elementary and currently is teaching EL at Starr Elementary. Shawna obtained her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Wayne State. She is married to Jed Senff, and is blessed with one son Maddox, who is 3 years old. Maddox loves to be outdoors and explore. Shawna has taught 3rd grade (for 2 years), 1st grade (for 6 years), Kindergarten (for 2 years) and English Learners (for 3 years). Shawna has taken many courses on early childhood development and is very passionate about the imperative benefits of play in the social, emotional, and cognitive development of a child’s brain. She is so excited to bring a children’s museum to Grand Island and provide families from all over the area with such a wonderful opportunity.
Diane Whelan
Giovanna Herrera
Katrina Wiles
Katie Durand
Sarah Rose
Jamie Finecy
Shawna Senff grew up in Clay Center, Nebraska. She graduated from Hastings College with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and an Endorsement in English as a Second Language. Her teaching career started in Bellevue, Nebraska and 6 years ago she moved to Doniphan, Nebraska. She began teaching at Howard Elementary and currently is teaching EL at Starr Elementary. Shawna obtained her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Wayne State. She is married to Jed Senff, and is blessed with one son Maddox, who is 3 years old. Maddox loves to be outdoors and explore. Shawna has taught 3rd grade (for 2 years), 1st grade (for 6 years), Kindergarten (for 2 years) and English Learners (for 3 years). Shawna has taken many courses on early childhood development and is very passionate about the imperative benefits of play in the social, emotional, and cognitive development of a child’s brain. She is so excited to bring a children’s museum to Grand Island and provide families from all over the area with such a wonderful opportunity.
Diane Whelan
Giovanna Herrera
Katrina Wiles
Katie Durand
Sarah Rose
Jamie Finecy