MEET OUR TEACHERS

ALISON HENNEN

owner / Director / Teacher

Alison created the Neighborhood Children’s House in 2004 to offer a preschool experience for three to five year olds in the community. She is passionate about engaging young children with many opportunities to play and learn in the classroom. After receiving a degree in Elementary Education, Alison joined the Peace Corps, spending two years in Africa. She then earned her Master of Education in Early Childhood with a Montessori credential. She raised three daughters in NE Minneapolis with her husband, Craig, and now loves to visit her granddaughter as much as possible in NYC.

CATHAN SOLSETH

TEACHER

Cathan has been teaching at NCH since 2006. She enjoys incorporating her love of science and nature into the classroom. With her degrees in Science and Mathematics, Cathan loves imparting the unlimited potential of our AMAZING natural world. Her creativity and great sense of humor adds a wonderful piece to the NCH team. Not to mention, knowing all the tips for helping fellow left-handers learn how to hold a pencil! In her spare time, Cathan adores reading, traveling, sewing and all things sparkly.

ELEANOR CLAUSEN

TEACHER

Eleanor has a degree in Family Life and Child Development and Psychology. She has been teaching preschool since 2006 and has been part of the NCH teaching team since 2014.  Every week she teaches American Sign Language to the class and incorporates ASL that can be used within a child’s daily life as well as signs that coincide with the school’s curriculum. Her teaching style brings a calm, patient and welcoming energy to the classroom.  When not teaching, Eleanor loves to stay active with her two boys, garden in the sun and enjoy the MN lakes with her family.