Meet the Team
Rita Visintine
Preschool Director
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I have been a teacher in the 3's, 4's, and Jr. Kindergarten classes at Union Preschool since 2006. Before coming to Union, I babysat nieces and nephews in my home. I regularly volunteered at St. Joan of Arc Parish and School. I spearheaded many fundraisers and activity days involving children of all ages. My Children attended Union over 20 years ago. Their experience is what drew me back to be a part of a staff dedicated to nurturing the preschool child. In July 2021, I was honored to accept the position of Director at Union Preschool.
Office Administrator
This is my 20th year at Union Preschool. I began as a substitute teacher and later took over the Lunch Bunch Program. Two years ago I moved into the office as secretary. I thrive within nature and have always had a passion for exploring nature and sharing those experiences with children. I was fortunate to be part of the beginning of the Union Preschool Outside Nature Garden. It is pleasing to have now moved into the office where I get to keep all things organized
Angelica Hunyar
Teacher
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Hello! My name is Angelica Hunyar and this is my 4th year at Union!
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The Union community has welcomed me with open arms and I am grateful to have their support. I am excited to continue my teaching journey here. I have studied and worked in education for 6+ years and am enjoying every minute of it.
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Being part of a child's growth individually and socially is a special thing. I am proud to support their development and strive to help each child reach their full potential. I thrive on the energy and creativity the children bring to the classroom. I enjoy the challenge of taking the children on an adventure through their imagination and work hard to ensure a welcoming and stimulating environment.
Melissa Kornfeind
Teacher
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My name is Melissa Kornfeind. I am a 2005 graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a B.S. in Business Management. Upon graduation I moved to St. Louis and worked in the hospitality industry for seven years until I had my first son in 2012. At that time I decided to stay at home full time. Just two years later I had my 2nd son. Both my boys attended Union Preschool and had a wonderful experience. So when an opportunity presented itself for me to join the Union Team in 2021 I was thrilled to say yes. I have subbed in all age groups, taught the January 3s class and led Lunch bunch in my first year. I love watching kids learn through play. Sensory play, painting, and messy play are some of my favorite activities. I live in Northampton with my husband and two sons. We love living in South City, attending Cardinals games, eating out and exploring all that St. Louis has to offer.
Kelly Curry
Teacher
I am a certified teacher with over a decade and a half of classroom experience. I took several years off to stay at home with my son. He attended Union Preschool and loved it! When he started Kindergarten in 2015, an opportunity arose for me to join the Union Preschool staff and I couldn’t be happier. It is an absolute pleasure to work with your children. Guiding them to make discoveries about the world around them and become independent learners is my goal. It is a privilege to be a part of your child’s first school experience! In my free time I enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with my family.
Jenny Delf
Teacher
I am a 1998 graduate of Fontbonne University with a B.A. in Communication Studies. I worked in PR and Advertising for 10 years before switching career paths to allow for more time with my family. I started at Union Preschool as a substitute teacher in 2009 and joined the staff as Office Secretary in 2011. After several years, in the Preschool office, I moved to the classroom - and I LOVE it! As the first stop for children on their educational journey, I strive for a warm, welcoming, hands on classroom. If we have mastered walking in a straight line and sharing with our classmates, I consider it a successful semester! I am a wife and mother of 3 beautiful Union Preschool graduates.
Lauren Farrell
Teacher
Hi! I’m Mrs. Lauren Farrell, this is my 7th year as a teacher at Union Preschool. I subbed here previously and have worked at other children’s programs throughout the years. I was a stay at home Mom when I became interested in early childhood education, so I started taking ECE courses through the community college. Not only did the program help me grow as a Mom but it was then that I found my passion, teaching preschoolers! Not only do I love the process of child development but being a preschool teacher gives me an outlet for my creative side. I have three children, ranging from two to teen. My favorite things to do with them include; going to parks, riding bikes and swimming. One of our favorite “Saint Louis” places to visit is the Botanical Gardens. Things I like to do for myself are refinishing furniture, taking photos and reading.
Kathy Brockland
Substitute Teacher
Kathy is an experienced educator who has been teaching at Union Preschool for over 20 years. She strives to instill her own passion for reading in her students, and seamlessly integrates science, math, and other subjects into the daily activities and projects in her classroom. She believes in the value of developing personal relationships with each child in order to help them grow throughout the year, and fosters a sense of community among her students so they learn from each other. She wants her students to come away with a lifelong love of learning, and you can find her playing games, reading, and singing with her class.
Joan Landholt
Handwriting Teacher
Hi, I'm Joan Landholt! I'm a graduate of Cor Jesu Academy and St. Louis University. I've been teaching at Union Preschool for 16 years and I love it! It's so fun seeing and hearing about the world from the children's points of view. In my free time, I enjoy participating in Community Theater.
Michele Villa
Director Emeritus
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I am a certified teacher with a degree in Psychology and Special Education from St. Louis University. After working in Special School District and starting a family, I began teaching at Union Preschool where each of my children had attended. That was 1987. From the beginning, I have loved the preschool and here I’ve stayed. It has always been a warm, vibrant, happy place perfect for young families and children starting out. After becoming the director in 1997, I have strived to keep the supportive environment that honors the children’s sense of wonder and allows them to grow and learn through discovery and the wise guidance of my fantastic staff.