Mrs. Regina Werenka is the lead pre-kindergarten teacher at St. Mary's Child Development Center. After graduating from Chippewa Valley H.S. in 1996 as a class valedictorian, she went to Western Michigan University on a full-ride scholarship to study music. At WMU her studies concentrated on music therapy, pipe organ performance, and psychology.
She received her bachelor of science in music at WMU in 2000. After marrying her high school sweetheart in 2001, Regina returned to school to obtain her teaching certificate. At Wayne State University, Regina majored in elementary education, social studies, and minored in science. She received her Master of Arts in teaching from Wayne State in 2007. Regina considers herself as a professional student. She is currently back at school obtaining an early childhood endorsement to add to her teaching certificate.
Regina's teaching experience ranges from kindergarten to high school. She's worked for the Troy School District and Chippewa Valley School District as well as a charter school in Detroit. She's worked as a title 1 tutor, guest teacher, building substitute, summer school teacher, homebound teacher, and a full-day kindergarten teacher. She has also tutored privately in the Troy area and provided private piano music lessons.
Regina's philosophy of education is all children have the potential for greatness. Each child has unique abilities that need to be developed. Through hands-on activities, giving students choices, and free play opportunities, Regina works to educate the whole child using developmentally appropriate activities.
Regina is married to Ryan Werenka who is a high school teacher at Troy High. They have a four-year-old daughter named Abby. They currently reside in Troy where they enjoy biking
