Remus is 2004 Childcare Provider of the Year

She wears many hats in Sleepy Eye

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

SLEEPY EYE -- A Sleepy Eye woman with 19 years of licensed day care experience was recently named 2004 Brown County Childcare Provider of the Year by Brown County Childcare Providers.

Darla Remus began taking care of children for a living when she was pregnant with her first daughter, Vanessa. She had a job in Springfield but her husband didn't want her to drive, so she began a daycare business.

Remus and her sister, Shari Hittesdorf, started a daycare business in Sleepy Eye. The women worked together for several years before Hittesdorf began working for the City of Sleepy Eye Ambulance Service.

Remus and Kelly Nachreiner care for children from six weeks of age to age 12 at Learn-A-Lot Daycare in Sleepy Eye.

Remus enjoys the work.

"It's the kids that make it enjoyable," Remus said. "I like seeing them grow up and follow them along the way, especially when they play ball or are in the school band."

Nachreiner and Remus teach pre-school children how to spell and pronounce names, colors, numbers, shapes, days of the week, months, how to print letters and short words.

Remus enjoys being able to enjoy the outdoors with the children, when the weather is favorable.

Remus doesn't sit around much, particularly in the spring and summer.

She volunteers as a junior high and varsity softball coach at Sleepy Eye High School. She also helps with the Sleepy Eye Elementary School volleyball program.

During the summer, she coaches the Sleepy Eye All-Stars girls' softball teams, which she created several years ago for girls in kindergarten through grade 12.

She's busy off the field too. Remus is President of the Sleepy Eye Athletic Booster Club and Vice President of the Sleepy Eye Council of Catholic Women.

Earlier this fall, she was elected to the District 84 School Board.

Remus was nominated for the award by parents of children she cares for. Last month, she was recognized for the award in Brown County and by the State of Minnesota.

Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com