The Inspirations Childcare and Preschool Center Board of Directors is excited to announce the hiring of two new staff members. The board had big shoes to fill following the resignation of long-time director Dawn Allbee, and they immediately went to work conducting a thorough search for qualified candidates to fill the open positions. Kim Van Heukelom has been selected as Inspirations’ new director. Van Heukelom is a native of Winterset and currently lives in Pella with her husband Walter and daughter Emary, who is nine months old and will attend Inspirations. Van Heukelom received her associate of arts degree in early childhood education from DMACC and has several years of childcare experience. She has served as a lead two-year-old teacher, and prior to becoming Inspirations’ director, Van Heukelom was a preschool teacher and curriculum advisor.
Van Heukelom looks forward to meeting the children and families of Inspirations and is excited to be employed by a Christian-based center. “My hope is to continue to better the center in any way that is necessary and stay true to the values of Inspirations,” said Van Heukelom.
Kim Van Heukelom of Pella will serve as the new director of Inspirations. She is shown with her family – husband Walter and daughter Emary.
The second open position to be filled by Allbee’s departure was the preschool associate and lead teacher of Inspirations’ blue room. The board has chosen Nicole Kiefer of Montezuma to fill these roles. Kiefer’s love for children and sharing the word of God make her a perfect fit for the faith-based center. When asked what she most looks forward to as an Inspirations teacher, Kiefer responded, “To finally do the two things that I love, full-time – share the Word of God with children.”
Kiefer is a 2010 graduate of Montezuma High School. Kiefer received her associate of arts degree in early childhood education from Marshalltown Community College in 2012. She has years of childcare experience, from baby-sitting as a teen to providing for children in a daycare setting.
Life-long Montezuma resident Nicole Kiefer is the new preschool associate and lead teacher at Inspirations.
Kiefer hopes to be an embodiment of Christ while serving at Inspirations, hoping to “let all the kids know they are loved and that Jesus loves and cares for them no matter what, and that we will love and care about them like Jesus does,” said Kiefer.
“Kim and Nicole both display an enthusiasm for loving and guiding children that appears to be a perfect fit for our faith-based center,” said Marlene Rozendaal, Inspirations board secretary.
Both Van Heukelom and Kiefer will start at Inspirations on Monday, Aug. 15. That day will also mark the last day for Allbee, who has been the director of Inspirations and a preschool teacher since it opened in 2007. Allbee will start as a special education associate within the Lynnville-Sully School District at the start of the 2016-17 school year.
Inspirations’ board vice president Scott Wilmesmeier said, "As a board member and parent, I am very pleased we were able to find Kim and Nicole to help fulfill the needs of the center starting immediately upon Dawn's departure. I feel Nicole will be great with our kids and with Kim as the new director, the center has a bright future!"
