Laurel woman new Learning Center director
Trisha Benton Randolph Times
RANDOLPH – Lexi Gothier is settling down into her new nest as a Cardinal.
The Laurel woman has about one month’s experience under her wing as the new director of the Cardinal Kids Learning Center.
“I really like that it’s been very homey,” Gothier said. “Even though I’m an outsider and I’m not even from northeast Nebraska, coming into it, I’ve felt welcomed. It makes it fun.”
As the daughter of a school administrator, Gothier always had an interest in education while growing up in Crete. She earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood inclusive at Wayne State College. She then started her teaching career at Schuyler, working with newborns through age 5 as a special education teacher. She also worked for four years at Norfolk’s Little Panthers Preschool, doing home visits, coaching and special education instruction.
She worked a short stint at Rainbow World Childcare Center, Wayne, before deciding to stay home with her daughter, Maren, who is now 2 years old.
She decided at the last minute to apply for the director position at Cardinal Kids Learning Center and she was contacted the next day.
Fifteen staff members at CKLC have helped with the transition of leadership from Jessica Lueth, who had been the director for nearly four years.
“It’s about what I expected,” Gothier said. “There’s always some things you have to figure out, how the person before you did everything. It’s been a trial by error, trial by fire kind of thing. “
Flexibility is key, she said, as every day is a little bit different. “Having the school kids back will change the dynamic of everything,” Gothier said, and the center also caters to parents needing drop-in care.
The position is a good fit for Gothier with a good mix of administrative work and direct child care.
“I get to see some of the babies and some of the bigs, and that’s honestly one of the big perks for me. I am 112 percent not an 8 to 5 desk person. This is a good position where I can do both,” Gothier said.
Currently, the center serves about 60 families, she said. Preschool enrollment is at 23 4-year-olds, and 10 3 year-olds.
Gothier hasn’t planned any major changes to the center although the facility’s handbook will be updated and care rates will become more firm moving forward, she said.
She’s looking forward to her first CKLC golf tournament on Saturday, Aug. 17, with all profits from the golf tournament supporting the center. Along with the golf tournament, the Cardinal Kids Parent Group will be hosting a lemonade stand and bake sale, as well as fun and games for all ages.
The success of the annual fundraiser is just one example of the community support CKLC enjoys, she said.
“This is a very tight community and I like that,” Gothier said. “Everybody knows everybody. When we’re in a pinch and we need something or we need a guy to come do whatever, we have all these dads, farmers and grandpas. I love that we can find somebody.”
She is married to Andrew and they have three children: Jersey, 13, Jamison, 10, and Maren, 2. When she’s not working, Gothier enjoys golfing, horse riding, cooking and spending time outdoors.