Testimonials
Please take a moment to peek at our many 5 star reviews on Google as well!!
We understand that choosing the right center for your child can be overwhelming and it can be difficult to decide just who will do a good job caring for and teaching your child. We'd like to offer you an opportunity to get to know a little bit about our founder, and read some parent testimonials written on her behalf.
About Our Founder
Mary Katherine Gibbs has made it her life’s work to provide excellent education and care to children. Each step of her career up to this point providing the experience, skills and industry expertise to run a successful childcare center.
Mary began her career by opening her own neighborhood and family babysitting business starting as a mother’s helper at the age of ten, advancing to Red Cross Certified Babysitter by twelve and becoming a part-time Nanny at 15.
As at 19 she took a position as a teacher’s aide at the prestigious Linden Hills Childcare Center. From there, Mary advanced to Assistant teacher and finally Head Teacher as she simultaneously earned her Bachelor of Arts in philosophy (with a minor in psychology) from Augsburg College. In addition to full time academics and part time teaching, Mary studied Industrial Organizational Psychology at The American Anglo College of Prague, played on the first ever women’s lacrosse team at Augsburg College, volunteered weekly with disabled youth youth at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church and was deeply honored to spend two summers as the Work Staff Coordinator at Cathedral of The Pines Camp working directly under Rev. Paul M. Youngdahl.
After five years working as a Head Teacher at LHCC, with the goal of opening her own center in mind, Mary set out to expand her skill set and ventured to Tampa, Florida where she enjoyed a successful career in sales, received a variety of awards and was quickly promoted into management. As a Manager she received additional training, multiple awards and the privilege of directing her own sales team.
Once Mary felt she had acquired the hands on management training she needed to make a successful employer she returned to Minnesota and was thrilled to receive a formal invitation to resume teaching at the renowned Linden Hills Childcare Center. While teaching Mary began formal development for The Mary Katherine School by partnering with the SBA, SCORE and Women Ventures while completing a 2-year mentorship program under Robin M. Anderson (Owner and Director, Linden Hills Childcare Center.)
Having successfully combined teaching and care experience with leadership and management skills Mary was ready to open The Mary Katherine School.
We are confident that under the hands-on leadership of our well-rounded founder we will be able to fulfil our mission and provide exemplary care and education to your child!
Testimonials
We got to know Mary as a teacher for our son at his previous daycare. In truth, we stayed because of Mary. She demonstrates a great mixture of love and engagement with kids, patiently encouraging them to be responsible and grow - all the while understanding that each child follows his or her own path to maturity and that, sometimes kids just need to have some fun. We would send our kids to The Mary Katherine School in a heartbeat!
-Jason
I am writing in support of Mary Katherine Gibbs. She was a day care lead teacher at Linden Hills day care while my young twins were enrolled there. She was their main day-to-day teacher and support system during their critical ‘first three years.’ I trusted her to treat them with the fine balance of nurturing and discipline required to build confidence and trust in very young children. And I personally witnessed her demonstrate this approach each time I visited the school.
Mary is uniquely sophisticated in her teaching style- mature and communicative while simultaneously providing the appropriate empathy to young children. I also found her discussions with parents to be rigorous, ultimately providing appropriate level of information for parents, allowing them to fully understand their child’s developmental status.
-Michelle
Mary has an ability to connect with her students through fun and games, but also through teaching them the importance of respect, discipline and hard work.
-Abby
Mary taught our 4-year-old son for approximately one year and Tyler and Mary had a special bond. Each day at pick up Tyler would give Mary a huge hug and then come running towards my wife or myself. We as the parents loved seeing how happy he was and it is easy leaving your kid for 8 hours a day but seeing how happy he was made it possible. Mary created a safe, fun and educational environment and Tyler benefitted from that. We saw his speech improve, how he interacted with other kids and when we picked him up he was tired from all the playing. We asked Tyler what he liked most about Teacher Mary and his response was ‘Her hugs, they were AWESOME! And she taught me numbers and letters.’
That is what we wanted to hear, a fun learning environment where he felt safe and loved by his teacher.
Sarah and I would love to endorse Mary and from we know about daycare facilities we know Mary will be an excellent leader.
-Sarah and Andy
About Our Founder
Mary Katherine Gibbs has made it her life’s work to provide excellent education and care to children. Each step of her career up to this point providing the experience, skills and industry expertise to run a successful childcare center.
Mary began her career by opening her own neighborhood and family babysitting business starting as a mother’s helper at the age of ten, advancing to Red Cross Certified Babysitter by twelve and becoming a part-time Nanny at 15.
As at 19 she took a position as a teacher’s aide at the prestigious Linden Hills Childcare Center. From there, Mary advanced to Assistant teacher and finally Head Teacher as she simultaneously earned her Bachelor of Arts in philosophy (with a minor in psychology) from Augsburg College. In addition to full time academics and part time teaching, Mary studied Industrial Organizational Psychology at The American Anglo College of Prague, played on the first ever women’s lacrosse team at Augsburg College, volunteered weekly with disabled youth youth at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church and was deeply honored to spend two summers as the Work Staff Coordinator at Cathedral of The Pines Camp working directly under Rev. Paul M. Youngdahl.
After five years working as a Head Teacher at LHCC, with the goal of opening her own center in mind, Mary set out to expand her skill set and ventured to Tampa, Florida where she enjoyed a successful career in sales, received a variety of awards and was quickly promoted into management. As a Manager she received additional training, multiple awards and the privilege of directing her own sales team.
Once Mary felt she had acquired the hands on management training she needed to make a successful employer she returned to Minnesota and was thrilled to receive a formal invitation to resume teaching at the renowned Linden Hills Childcare Center. While teaching Mary began formal development for The Mary Katherine School by partnering with the SBA, SCORE and Women Ventures while completing a 2-year mentorship program under Robin M. Anderson (Owner and Director, Linden Hills Childcare Center.)
Having successfully combined teaching and care experience with leadership and management skills Mary was ready to open The Mary Katherine School.
We are confident that under the hands-on leadership of our well-rounded founder we will be able to fulfil our mission and provide exemplary care and education to your child!
Testimonials
We got to know Mary as a teacher for our son at his previous daycare. In truth, we stayed because of Mary. She demonstrates a great mixture of love and engagement with kids, patiently encouraging them to be responsible and grow - all the while understanding that each child follows his or her own path to maturity and that, sometimes kids just need to have some fun. We would send our kids to The Mary Katherine School in a heartbeat!
-Jason
I am writing in support of Mary Katherine Gibbs. She was a day care lead teacher at Linden Hills day care while my young twins were enrolled there. She was their main day-to-day teacher and support system during their critical ‘first three years.’ I trusted her to treat them with the fine balance of nurturing and discipline required to build confidence and trust in very young children. And I personally witnessed her demonstrate this approach each time I visited the school.
Mary is uniquely sophisticated in her teaching style- mature and communicative while simultaneously providing the appropriate empathy to young children. I also found her discussions with parents to be rigorous, ultimately providing appropriate level of information for parents, allowing them to fully understand their child’s developmental status.
-Michelle
Mary has an ability to connect with her students through fun and games, but also through teaching them the importance of respect, discipline and hard work.
-Abby
Mary taught our 4-year-old son for approximately one year and Tyler and Mary had a special bond. Each day at pick up Tyler would give Mary a huge hug and then come running towards my wife or myself. We as the parents loved seeing how happy he was and it is easy leaving your kid for 8 hours a day but seeing how happy he was made it possible. Mary created a safe, fun and educational environment and Tyler benefitted from that. We saw his speech improve, how he interacted with other kids and when we picked him up he was tired from all the playing. We asked Tyler what he liked most about Teacher Mary and his response was ‘Her hugs, they were AWESOME! And she taught me numbers and letters.’
That is what we wanted to hear, a fun learning environment where he felt safe and loved by his teacher.
Sarah and I would love to endorse Mary and from we know about daycare facilities we know Mary will be an excellent leader.
-Sarah and Andy
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