Michelle Finholdt, Red Wing 2013 Outstanding Alumna

Michelle Finholdt graduated in 1994 from the Southeast Technical Professional Nanny program, now a division of the Early Childhood Education program. Upon graduation she created the non-profit childcare center, Under the Rainbow. They have grown from four children enrolled on day one when it was located on the Southeast Technical campus, to now, 180 enrolled in their new and expanded building on Technology Drive in Red Wing.

Finholdt says that there is always room for improvement. She is never satisfied with just maintaining the program. “It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been in the business, you are always learning,” said Finholdt. Each of her classrooms has an education plan suited for those students. The four to five year old program’s primary focus is to prepare the students for kindergarten. “Every year expectations are a little higher to enter kindergarten,” says Finholdt. “All these little ones learn in a different way.” In addition to preparing the children for kindergarten, Under the Rainbow focuses on language enrichment and literacy development.

Besides running a growing daycare center, Finholdt is very active in the early education community. Under the Rainbow serves as an intern site for Early Childhood and Nursing students from Southeast Technical; she served for six years on the Board of Directors for Child Care Resource and Referral which serves all of Southeast Minnesota; and currently serves on Southeast Technical’s Early Childhood program advisory council.