Our Staff
LCC is staffed by a talented group of professionals each bringing a unique suite of skills and a shared passion to help children thrive in early childhood.
All teaching staff are expected to obtain, at a minimum, CDAs by the end of their second year of LCC employment. Program Directors are expected to hold or be working toward an MA in early childhood education, or a relevant field.
Teaching Staff
Sara Johnson
Sara Johnson has been teaching at LCC since 2001. Sara has a degree in Early Childhood Development and Education. She is the parent of triplets who are all LCC alumni. She brings consistent, positive energy to her classroom.
Anne Rodeck
Anne started her career with LCC twenty years ago in 2003 teaching both at our Leland and Northport sites. She also has experience as a guide at the Leelanau Montessori school. Anne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish from Hope College and a Child Development Associates.
Brigitte Middleton-Brown
Brigitte is from Northport and has worked in the early childhood education field for over 20 years. She worked with toddlers and preschoolers at the LCC Center in Northport for 15 years and most recently was the assistant GSRP teacher at Suttons Bay Public School. She has a Bachelor's of Science in Elementary Special Education and has four adult children and two grand-babies.
Agata Lubanski
Agata grew up enjoying summers in Leelanau County and is excited about the opportunity to make it her year round home. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education and has several years of experience working with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. She’ll be teaching at LCC while also completing her PK-3 teaching certificate through the Michigan Teachers of Tomorrow certification program. She is passionate about creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where all children can learn through play.
Heather Burns
Heather is an alumni of LCC! She graduated from Leland High School and has a teaching degree in K12 Art from Northern Michigan University. Her teaching experiences have taken her to Wisconsin and California. We are so fortunate that she decided to come home to Leelanau and return to her early childhood roots at LCC.
Support Staff
Food Program Manager
Lynne Brach
Lynne has an inspiring array of experience including serving as the Director of Food Services at the Leelanau School, a tour leader and cook for women's bike expeditions, and a basecamp cook at a summer camp in Ontario. Lynn attended Calvin College, College of the Atlantic, and NMC Culinary School. She is the parent of two grown children.
Administrative team
Heidi Kruse, Major Gifts
Heidi has deep roots in this community and comes to LCC with over 25 years of fundraising experience. A strong advocate for LCC's mission to nurture and empower young children and families, she builds capacity through collaboration with donors and community partners and is committed to ensuring the Center's long-term financial sustainability. Both of her children are LCC alumni.
Molly Grosvenor, Program Director
Molly grew up in Leland and attended LCC when it was in the church basement 50 years ago. She was a teacher at LCC for 10 years before entering the role of Program Director in 2006. She has two sons and two step-sons, all LCC alumni. Molly has a Bachelor’s degree from Evergreen State College and a Masters in Education degree with an emphasis in Early Childhood Instruction and Curriculum from Grand Valley State University.
Jen Reutter, Executive Director
Jen joined the LCC staff in 2022, bringing 20 years of business development and operations experience to the organization. She supported LCC as the Development and Operations Director before moving into the Executive Director role in 2026. She and her husband joyfully returned to Leelanau County in 2017 to raise their family where she made her favorite memories as a summer kid. Her 2 young boys, now middle schoolers, were nurtured through the LCC program. Jen holds two Bachelor of Science degrees from Michigan State University in Wildlife Biology and Zoology.