Meet Our Team

Caregivers & Educators Committed to Your Child’s Development

Abby Lundborg, Director of Operations

Abby Lundborg is Children of Tomorrow’s Director of Operations who specializes in project management, training and development. She coaches the COT team through day-to-day challenges along with weekly, monthly and yearly goal planning. She brings her experience in quality care and education to help teachers and staff set and achieve their goals.

Before joining the Children of Tomorrow team, Abby worked for both a large corporation and a non-profit organization where she was a Center Director and Quality Team Lead of Education and Development. She also has experience in grant writing and is a member of the Minnesota Child Care Association, along with being a qualified trainer through the state of Minnesota.

She has a degree in Human Relations and Early Childhood Education and has also studied Special Education. She believes that Early Childhood Education sets the groundwork for a child’s future. We are responsible for creating a love and dedication to learning.

Abby lives just outside of Carver where you’ll find her spending time with her husband and three children. They enjoy spending time together playing outside or having pizza and movie nights.

Chanhassen Administration

Megan Mogen

Director

Megan graduated from Mankato State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in communications with a minor in psychology. Megan brings over 10 years of Early Childhood experience with her as both a teacher and assistant director. Megan is very passionate about children and seeing them accomplish new skills. She's eager to make stronger connections with the children, teachers, and parents. Megan enjoys running and biking. Her favorite season is summer and enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Waconia Administration

Kayla Bradt

Director

Kayla Bradt is the Director at Children of Tomorrows Waconia location. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Minnesota State University, Mankato and has been in the teaching field for over 15 years. She currently lives in Mayer with her husband Ryan, 2 daughters Kenzee and Oaklee and son Watson. As a family, they enjoy family meals, dancing, camping and spending time outdoors. She began her journey with COT in March of 2010. Over the course of her time at COT, she has been an after-school aide, assistant teacher, lead toddler teacher, Curriculum Manager, Assistant Director and now Director of Waconia. Kayla absolutely loves being a part of the COT family and being a part of so many families’ early childhood journey. She looks forward to learning with COT as well as meeting new families that become part of the COT family. Kayla looks forward to growing with your family!

Norwood Young America Administration

Erica Wagner

DIRECTOR

Erica has been with COT since 2017, Erica was a preschool teacher at COT carver before she came to Norwood in 2019 to be the program coordinator, then the assistant director, and became the facility director in 2021. She loves the relationships she is able to make with families, staff, and the children. Knowing how crucial the first 5 years of your child’s life is, learning, engaging play, socialization and quality care is makes Erica so proud to work for a company that strives off the importance in education, curriculum, care and FUN! Erica went to Concordia University St. Paul and received her bachelor’s degree in Child development. Erica grew up in New Prague, but now lives in Glencoe with her husband and daughter on a Hobby Farm. They have 2 dogs rocky and Charlie, horses, cows, chickens, and cats. Erica loves spending time outdoors with her animals, riding her horses and doing fun things with her daughter and husband.

Carver Administration

Taryn Smith

Director

Taryn is a graduate of Rasmussen College with her Child Development Associate Certification, specializing in Infants and Toddlers. Taryn brings over a decade of Early Childhood experience with her. Taryn was formerly an Infant Teacher, Toddler Teacher and Assistant Director. She is not only passionate about her own professional development in the childcare field but also encourages teachers to gain knowledge through professional trainings. Taryn enjoys music, trying new foods, spending time with friends and family as well as getting outside any chance she can! She has been married to her husband, James, since 2013 and had her son, Coleston, in January of 2022.

Contact Coral Iannone

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Contact Kayla Bradt

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Contact Aleta Mechtel

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Contact Abby Lundborg

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Contact Mara Habisch

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Contact Chelsea Lapham

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Contact Megan Kalal

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Contact Taryn Smith

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Contact Amber Joyce

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Contact Jessica Black

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Contact Chelsey Crosby

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Contact Carla Haberzettle

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Contact Erica Wagner

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Contact Anna Bachman

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Contact Lexi Stauffacher

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Meet Aleta Mechtel, Children of Tomorrow Founder & Owner

Aleta Mechtel, owner and president of Children of Tomorrow, has a life-long passion for education. Aleta knew she wanted to work with children from her first babysitting job.

Since Children of Tomorrow opened in Chanhassen in 2000, Aleta has guided parents in finding the right care for their children. Children of Tomorrow offers a wide range of programs for children that create a strong foundation, and a safe and educational experience before entering elementary school. Aleta believes in having a superior staff, focusing on exceptional academics, one-on-one interaction, and meeting each individual need of every child. Children of Tomorrow has been awarded “Best Childcare in Carver County, MN” multiple times.

After 13 years of experiencing the challenges of staffing a childcare center daily, Aleta opened Teachers for Tomorrow in 2012 to help staff classrooms when teachers are absent. In addition to Teachers for Tomorrow, Aleta is currently coaching and consulting many childcare directors and the owners of childcare centers on ways to establish exceptional childcare centers.

A big believer in Cancer Research, Aleta and Children of Tomorrow support numerous organizations and activities in this area including the Susan G Komen 3-Day for the Cure, Race for the Cure, personal donations, and Children’s Hospital Cancer Research.

Aleta is a mother of two beautiful children and is married to the most supportive husband. Aleta is a qualified educator graduating from Mankato State University with Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education with a Concentration in Kindergarten. Without the support of her family and her whole team, Children of Tomorrow and Teachers for Tomorrow would not exist.

Contact Fiona DeMario

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