I’d like to introduce Jessica Carlson, Director and Administrator of Grateful Hearts Childcare and Preschool. As many of you probably already know, Karen Hettenbach, Director of Christ Memorial Preschool, will be retiring at the end of May. After months of consideration, and learning of Grateful Hearts Childcare and Preschool and their need for a new space, we have decided to partner with Grateful Hearts. We are thankful for the opportunity to continue our tradition of Christ-centered, quality and compassionate care to the families in our community.
Greetings! My name is Jessica Carlson and I am the Director and Administrator of Grateful Hearts Childcare and Preschool. I live on the east side of Madison with my husband and 16-year-old son. I also have a 23-year-old daughter who is a music teacher at Hawthorne Elementary in Madison. I enjoy spending time with my family, attending my son’s various games and daughter’s concerts, walking my beloved coon hound, and reading. I was baptized and confirmed Lutheran, so the Church itself reminded me of my childhood church. I have been working here for 15 years and have worked in Early Childhood Education for 23 years. Working with our youngest learners, their families, and their teachers is my passion and my true calling. I believe the first five years of a child’s life are the most critical for social and emotional development. This is when we set them up for success in school and for life!
Grateful Hearts has a bit of a complicated history. In 2008, Heritage Congregational Christian Church opened a preschool, Little Pilgrims Christian Learning Center. In 2009, I began working at Little Pilgrims and shortly after became Assistant Director. In 2013 the Director moved and I stepped into the role of Director of Little Pilgrims. I asked Melissa Luther to join me as Assistant Director. She has become an invaluable member of our staff.
In 2020, Heritage Congregational Church decided to end their partnership with Little Pilgrims and sell their church building. I was told I could close the center or hope that the new buyers would want a preschool in their church. We were right in the middle of the Covid-19 Pandemic and the idea of closing broke my heart. I had many long-time families and staff that would have been without child care and work during a very difficult time.
Chapel Valley Church bought the church building and were willing to have a preschool in their facility. Since our license as Little Pilgrims was over we basically had to open a new center with DCF, going through all of the pre-licensing work again. We also opted to rename our center, officially becoming Grateful Hearts Childcare & Preschool in March of 2021.
While grateful for the use of the space at Chapel Valley Church, we realized that we were going to need to be on the hunt for a different long term space. I have been looking for a new space since 2021 and have just not been able to find the right fit. That’s when the Church seemed to fall into my lap – with lovely classrooms, an awesome playground, and a welcoming pastoral team. I do believe that this partnership between Christ Memorial Church and Grateful Hearts Preschool has been a gift from God and is meant to be.
Grateful Hearts Childcare & Preschool will move operations to the Church facility in June. We offer full time childcare for infants through 6 years old, with a robust preschool program integrated into the daily classroom routines. We are also a 4K site for both Madison and Verona public schools. I am looking forward to how God will continue to work in and through our center and our relationship with the Church. If you would like more information, you are welcome to attend an informational meeting on February 27 at 6pm or email me at [email protected].
