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.
Lindsey Wellendorf
Three's & PE Teacher
Lindsey has been a teacher at Friend-Ship Preschool since 2021. She grew up in Rapid City and has been a member of South Canyon Lutheran Church her whole life. Lindsey attended Friend-Ship Preschool 2 years, graduated from Stevens High School and Salon Professional Academy where she received her esthetics degree. Lindsey started volunteering at SCLC as soon as she was old enough for the task, some of her favorite duties were group leader for vacation bible school in the summers and Kids Against Hunger packs. She has a pug shih zhu dog and enjoys hiking, dog parks, camping, baking and watching movies.
LINDSEY WELLENDORF
Three's & PE Teacher
Lindsey has been a teacher at Friend-Ship Preschool since 2021. She grew up in Rapid City and has been a member of South Canyon Lutheran Church her whole life. Lindsey attended Friend-Ship Preschool 2 years, graduated from Stevens High School and Salon Professional Academy where she received her esthetics degree. Lindsey started volunteering at SCLC as soon as she was old enough for the task, some of her favorite duties were group leader for vacation bible school in the summers and Kids Against Hunger packs. She has a pug shih zhu dog and enjoys hiking, dog parks, camping, baking and watching movies.
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.