Meet the Team
Melissa Raad
Director of Children First
Hi, my name is Melissa Raad. I am the Director of Children First. I have been with Children First since we opened our doors on June 1, 2008. Working with children is my passion! Prior to coming to Children First I was co-owner and director of another preschool/childcare center for 10 years. I have taught preschool, kindergarten and 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 7th grades. I also taught the childbirth education classes at the hospital for 6 years, which I loved.
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I have been married to my best friend and favorite human, Dave, for 30 years and we have two beautiful daughters, Emily and Grace and a soon-to-be son-in-law Parker. My family (and all our animals), is the light of my life!
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Things I enjoy: being with my family, children, breakfast with my husband in my pretty backyard on a lazy Saturday morning, nature, hiking, biking, animals, music, changing seasons, sleeping late, boating, living in the beautiful Black Hills, reading and spending time spent with those I love.
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Working with children is not just my job, it is my passion, and it is an honor to work with such a fabulous group of women and to spend my days with your precious children! If we haven't met, please stop by the office and say hello!!
Sarah Hazledine
Childcare Supervisor & Preschool Teacher
Hello, my name is Sarah Hazledine and I am the 4 and 5 year old preschool teacher in the Butterfly Room. I am also the Childcare Supervisor here at Children First. I have been working at Children First for 16 years and I have loved every minute of it. I am married to Shane and we have two children Baylee (22) and Preston (19). They keep us very busy.
When I am not at Children First I enjoy working in my yard, camping, reading and spending time with my family in the beautiful Black Hills. I am looking forward to another fun school year at Children First.
Emily Culver
Preschool Teacher
Hi, my name is Emily Culver and I work in the 4 and 5 year old preschool classroom. I have been working at Children First since May of 2013, shortly after I graduated high school, and I have completely fallen in love with this job. I enjoy spending time with the children and watching them grow and blossom throughout the school year.
I grew up on a small ranch a few miles outside of Spearfish and have lived here my whole life. I am lucky enough to have my brother as a neighbor on one side and my mom as a neighbor on the other side. I love this town and couldn't imagine living anywhere else.
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I have been married to my high school sweetheart and best friend for 8 years now and we have two sweet boys, Wren (4) and Arthur (1) and our dog Nora. When I am not at work, I spend most of my free time adventuring outside with my family. I love camping and being outdoors. I am thrilled to be working with your children this year and look forward to seeing them learn and grow.
Angie Smith
Lead Toddler Teacher
Hi, my name is Angie Smith. I started working here at Children First in June of 2023. I moved here to the Spearfish area in August of 2020, as my mom's family is from here, after living in Ohio for 23 years and raising our children. I've been married to my husband, Gary, for almost 31 years. We have two children together Katelyn (29) and Jarrett (24). We also have Yvonne and Nick from Gary's previous marriage, who blessed us with four grandchildren, ranging from the ages of 21 to 9.
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I have worked in the early education field on and off during my career for over 12 years. I have been a toddler teacher, a Head Start co-teacher, and a preschool teacher. I have my Child Development Credential in Early Education, and love to spend time taking webinars and attending early childhood summits to continue to learn ways to best meet the needs of the children and families I work with.
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When I am not working, I enjoy being an active member of Spearfish UMC, participating as a Sunday school teacher. I also participate with the Children, Youth, and Family Ministry, helping out with events that take place throughout the year. I enjoy spending time with my family, going to see all the beautiful sites around this area! I also enjoy reading, baking, and listening to country music. I am so blessed to be a part of this wonderful organization! I look forward to getting to know the children and families here at Children First.
Kelsey VanderPol
Lead Waddler Teacher
My name is Kelsey VanderPol and I am from Geddes, SD. I will be graduating in December of 2024 with a degree in Psychology. I enjoy spending time in nature, hanging out with my pets, and watching TV shows. My greatest passion is children, and I love caring for kids at CF!
Grace Raad
Lead Infant Teacher
Hi there! My name is Grace Raad, and I am the Lead Infant Room Teacher. I was born and have been raised here in the Black Hills and I have no plans to leave! I have been working at Children First since the fall of 2018 and I have loved every minute of it. In the beginning I was just subbing, but I found myself here more and more. I now work full time while working towards a major in Cyber Operations online through Dakota State University. I love to learn, and that is one of my favorite things about working with kids. They teach you something new every day!
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I spend most of my free time with my dog Tommi, my family, and my fiance, Parker. I also love to dance, so I volunteer to help as often as possible at Black Hills Dance Centre. I do believe that we have one of the best jobs ever, and I am very excited to see what this school year has in store for us!
Your parent app connects you directly to teachers
The Brightwheel app is where you receive pictures and notifications about your child's day, so you stay in the know of your child's early learning and stay a partner in their school success.
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