About Us

St. James Lutheran Preschool was established in 1969 and serves the communities of St. James, Smithtown, Nesconset, Stony Brook and the surrounding areas. The preschool is a ministry of St. James Lutheran Church. We celebrate and teach all Christian holidays and invite families of all faiths to attend. Please call us to arrange a visit to get the "feel" of our school. Come see our bright, spacious classrooms, chat with our teachers and give your child the opportunity to experience play time.

WHY US

At St. James Lutheran Preschool, we are dedicated to making your child FEEL welcomed, FEEL loved, FEEL accepted, and FEEL cherished! When all those feelings occur with your child, amazing things happen like imagining, thinking, creating, solving, sharing, caring, and learning!  Each of our teachers has been blessed with a God-given talent of beautifully bringing out the best in each of our children. How our teachers obtain this level of learning within in each child on a day-to-day basis is best said by School Principal, Author and Speaker, Daniel Steele, 'The most important qualities of any educator are not adequately captured on a resume. It is hard to quantify passion, energy, dedication, patience, perseverance, and love… but in the classroom… those qualities make all the difference in the world.'  At St. James Lutheran Preschool, we know it's this difference that allows children to learn and to thrive in the classroom - we strive to make that difference every day. So, Why Us?  We are confident that your child will learn a great deal here! But, just as important, we are confident that your child will feel loved and cherished for exactly who they are during these precious and fleeting preschool years while at St. James Lutheran Preschool.

Misson Statement

"Since 1969, the mission of St. James Lutheran Preschool is to provide a loving and safe Christian environment where children develop their readiness for school and life through the guidance of a dedicated, passionate, and professional teaching staff."

Meredith Johansson

Meredith Johansson

DIRECTOR

"I have the privilege and blessing of being the Director at St. James Lutheran Preschool since 2016.


I am a member of the church and a second grade Sunday School teacher. As a graduate of SUNY Maritime College, I spent several years traveling to many countries around the world aboard a ship. This work and travel experience combined with family and church life have provided me with confidence to carry out the role of Director in a fresh and relaxed manner, understanding from first-hand experience that children are alike all over the world – full of wonder, curiosity, and given the opportunity, always ready to explore!

 

Together with a team of amazing and creative teachers, I am committed to providing your child with a loving foundation so that the joy of learning is nurtured from within. Here at St. James Lutheran Preschool, we know that play is a child's most important work – we look forward to 'working and playing' with your child!

 

When I'm not greeting our families at the door or popping into the classroom to say hello to the children and teachers, I enjoy spending time reading great books that enlighten my world and also spending time in the great outdoors camping and hiking with my husband and our four young adult children."

OUR STAFF

We are enormously proud of our dedicated and energetic staff. Our teachers' strong interest and passion for Early Childhood Education brings a natural professionalism to their classrooms. Combine these extensive working skills with their warm and enthusiastic personalities and our classroom environment becomes alive with happiness and joy! We look forward to meeting you and your family!

Pastor Neil & Carol Mittelstaedt

Pastor Neil & Carol Mittelstaedt

MINISTRY TEAM

Dawn Hatton

Dawn Hatton

BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR

Lisa Halloran

Lisa Halloran

LEAD TEACHER

Joanna Fennell

Joanna Fennell

Tiny Tots, Mommy & Me, and Lunch Bunch Lead Teacher

Faith Cook

Faith Cook

FLOATING TEACHER ASSISTANT

Maria Honnold

Maria Honnold

TEACHER ASSISTANT

Maria Honnold

Kristin Clinton

LEAD TEACHER

Maria Honnold

Christie Geary

LEAD TINY TOTS TEACHER

Maria Honnold

Kathleen Angell

TEACHER ASSISTANT

Maria Honnold

Sarah Carlson

TEACHER ASSISTANT

Maria Honnold

Corrine Dobies

TEACHER ASSISTANT

Maria Honnold

Dana Goodwin

TEACHER ASSISTANT

Maria Honnold

Ashlynn Naso

TEACHER ASSISTANT

Maria Honnold

Allison Sinisgalli

TEACHER ASSISTANT

Maria Honnold

Christina Winters

TEACHER ASSISTANT