Meet Our Preschool Teachers!
Rana Holland
Preschool Director and Pre-K Teacher
Rana has been a teacher at Friend-Ship since 2016. She attended college in Bismarck, ND at the University of Mary where she received Elementary and Special Education degrees. After she graduated, she moved to Rapid City to be a Special Education teacher at Meadowbrook Elementary. Rana taught at Meadowbrook for four years and then decided to be a stay-at-home mom. Her husband, Gregg, works for the SD Army National Guard and they have three boys. All three of their boys attended Friend-ship Preschool. She enjoys reading, scrapbooking, hiking, kayaking, and camping in the beautiful Black Hills!
RANA HOLLAND
Preschool Director and Pre-K Teacher
Rana has been a teacher at Friend-Ship since 2016. She attended college in Bismarck, ND at the University of Mary where she received Elementary and Special Education degrees. After she graduated, she moved to Rapid City to be a Special Education teacher at Meadowbrook Elementary. Rana taught at Meadowbrook for four years and then decided to be a stay-at-home mom. Her husband, Gregg, works for the SD Army National Guard and they have three boys. All three of their boys attended Friend-ship Preschool. She enjoys reading, scrapbooking, hiking, kayaking, and camping in the beautiful Black Hills!
Julie Kokesh
Pre-K Teacher
Julie started teaching at Friend-Ship in 2018 and has been teaching Sunday School and VBS classes at SCLC for many years. She received a degree in the cardiovascular field from Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls and worked in that field until she decided to start a family with her husband, Thad. For the last fourteen years, she has been raising her three girls, ages 9, 12, and 14. All three of them attended Friend-Ship Preschool. Julie also enjoys being with her family, watching movies, camping, coaching, and spending summer nights at the softball field.
JULIE KOKESH
Pre-K Teacher
Julie started teaching at Friend-Ship in 2018 and has been teaching Sunday School and VBS classes at SCLC for many years. She received a degree in the cardiovascular field from Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls and worked in that field until she decided to start a family with her husband, Thad. For the last fourteen years, she has been raising her three girls, ages 9, 12, and 14. All three of them attended Friend-Ship Preschool. Julie also enjoys being with her family, watching movies, camping, coaching, and spending summer nights at the softball field.
Dawn Dockter
Three's & PE Teacher
Dawn joined Friend-Ship Preschool in 2023. Dawn’s youngest daughter attended Friend-Ship and remembers her Friend-Ship Preschool days with great fondness! Dawn was a dedicated substitute teacher for Friend-Ship before joining our teaching team. Dawn and her husband Shawn have lived in Rapid City since 2003 and have three children. Dawn earned her degree from the University of North Dakota. Dawn is adventurous and enjoys being in nature, outdoor games with her family, biking, hiking, “glamping” and vacations to the ocean.
Dawn Dockter
Dawn joined Friend-Ship Preschool in 2023. Dawn’s youngest daughter attended Friend-Ship and remembers her Friend-Ship Preschool days with great fondness! Dawn was a dedicated substitute teacher for Friend-Ship before joining our teaching team. Dawn and her husband Shawn have lived in Rapid City since 2003 and have three children. Dawn earned her degree from the University of North Dakota. Dawn is adventurous and enjoys being in nature, outdoor games with her family, biking, hiking, “glamping” and vacations to the ocean.
Laura Mason
Three's & Pre-K Teacher
Laura graduated from Oglala Lakota College in Rapid City with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught at Rural America Initiatives Headstart for fourteen years, Rapid City Area Schools for a school year, and Ellsworth Child Development Center for three years. She has two daughters, Merrick and Sawyer and a son, Grady. Her two older children attended Friend-Ship Preschool. As a family they enjoy hiking, rock climbing, camping and other outdoor activities. In her spare time she enjoys reading and cooking.
LAURA MASON
Pre-K Teacher
Laura graduated from Oglala Lakota College in Rapid City with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught at Rural America Initiatives Headstart for fourteen years, Rapid City Area Schools for a school year, and Ellsworth Child Development Center for three years. She has two daughters, Merrick and Sawyer and a son, Grady. Her two older children attended Friend-Ship Preschool. As a family they enjoy hiking, rock climbing, camping and other outdoor activities. In her spare time she enjoys reading and cooking.