Joanne Ligtenberg

Joanne was born on the family homestead in South Dakota.   She attended a one room country school that had 11 students in about 6 grades, and then had to travel 13 miles to attend a local high school which is where she met her husband.

After marriage Joanne  was a stay-at-home Mom and volunteered as much as she could, which included Girl Scouts, PTA, Fundraising for special school projects, singing in community organizations. She also volunteered at her church by organizing events, cooking for large groups, and heading up the Christian Education endeavors.   

Later Joanne  worked part-time at a fabric store as well as teaching water fitness classes at the YMCA. She worked full time at The Health Association marketing and managing classes for people with arthritis in a four county area as well as conducting self-help classes and speaking at various organizations.  She also became the director of the program and taught parenting classes, targeting the at risk populations in Monroe County as well as classes to immigrants via a translator and at the Monroe Correctional Facility. 

After I entered the parenting arena I found I really liked working where I might be able to make a difference for children.