Our Story
For generations, St. Paul’s has been a place where children and families are welcomed, loved and supported in Christian community. What began as a church and school ministry has grown into a preschool where young children are nurtured in faith, friendship and learning each day.
St. Paul’s Early Childhood Development Center opened in 1985 after St. Paul’s Lutheran School moved to its new property down the street on Heim Avenue. With the elementary school in its new location, the original church and school site became available for a new ministry serving young children and families. From the beginning, the preschool was built on a spirit of dedication, volunteer support and a shared desire to provide a loving place for children to learn and grow. The program opened under the leadership of Director Kim Voelker and quickly became an important ministry of St. Paul’s.
Over the years, the program continued to grow and adapt to meet the needs of families. In 1999, the home next to the preschool was purchased and renovated to open an Infant Toddler Center, making St. Paul’s one of the first Lutheran schools in the area to offer care for infants and toddlers. This expansion allowed St. Paul’s to serve families from the very beginning of their child’s early years and further strengthened the preschool’s role as a trusted partner for parents.
St. Paul’s also continued to invest in the importance of outdoor learning. In 2018, plans were developed to transform and expand the preschool’s outdoor space into a natural, eco-friendly Outdoor Classroom. The vision included areas for gardening and nature, creative arts, water exploration, sand play, movement, music, gathering and bike-path play — giving children more opportunities to explore, imagine and create outside.
Throughout its history, St. Paul’s has been blessed by faithful leadership, including Kim Voelker, Kim Violette, Lynette Kniebeach and Esther Jow, who each helped shape the heart of the program. Today, St. Paul’s Lutheran Preschool continues that legacy under the leadership of Heidi de la Motte, who became director in 2022. In 2025, the decision was made to rebrand the school as St. Paul’s Lutheran Preschool, a name that more clearly reflects who we are and the families we serve today. While our name and programs have grown over time, our purpose remains the same: to partner with families, nurture children with love, and help each child grow in confidence, faith and joy.
At St. Paul’s, we believe preschool is more than preparation for the next step. It is a place where children are known by name, cared for as individuals, and reminded daily that they are deeply loved by God. Through intentional learning, meaningful play, outdoor exploration, Bible time, music, art and classroom community, children build the faith, confidence and skills they need for the years ahead.
We are grateful to be part of each child’s early story and honored to walk alongside families during such an important season of life. At St. Paul’s, we are forming faith, building a firm foundation and welcoming families into a forever family.