Teacher bios
Administrative Staff
Sue Gall, Director
(Director since 2004; previously Assistant Director at UMHS CCC)
Years working in early childhood: 29 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 18 years – since it opened in 1991
Educational background: B.S. in Child Development, Siena Heights College
Cathy Gorga, Community Social Worker
Years working in early childhood: 11 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 7 years
Educational background: M.A. in Early Childhood Education, University of Michigan; Masters in Social Work, UofM; B.A. in Humanities & Developmental Psychology, University of Michigan
Kristen Roberts, Office Manager
Years working in early childhood: 7 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 7 years
Educational background: B.A. in Psychology, Calvin College
Diane Wellday, Receptionist and Special Events Coordinator
Years working in early childhood: 24; 15 years as preschool teacher
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 18 years – since it opened in 1991
Laura Whitford, Scheduling Coordinator
Years working in early childhood: 12 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 10 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Maintenance
Brent Eagleberger
Years working at UMHS Child Care Center: 11 years
Tim Wellday
Years working at UMHS Child Care Center: 11 years
Teaching Staff
Honey Bunny Team
Wesal Al-Khafaji
Years teaching in early childhood: 12 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 12 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College; Child Development Associate (CDA) certification; M.A. in Guidance & Counseling, Eastern Michigan University; B.S. in Agricultural Science, Mosul University-Iraq
Katrina Castelow
Years teaching in early childhood: 4 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 4 years
Educational background: courses in Elementary Education, Washtenaw Community College
Lisa DeCook
Years teaching in early childhood: 9 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education with minor in Early Childhood Education, Eastern Michigan University
Emily McCarty
Years teaching in early childhood: 8 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 4 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Bachelor Degree in Child & Family Studies, University of Michigan; Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Kathy Periord
Years teaching in early childhood: 8 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 4 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Bachelor Degree in Child & Family Studies, University of Michigan; Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Rainbow Tot Team
Shawn Behnke
Years teaching in early childhood: 12 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: Masters in Elementary Education, Eastern Michigan University; B.S. in Elementary Education with minor in Early Childhood Education, EMU
Dana Federer
Years teaching in early childhood: 28 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 13 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Jan Kirk
Years teaching in early childhood: 9 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 9 years
Educational background: Masters of Social Work, University of Michigan; B.A. in Sociology, Western Michigan University
Krystyna Ozog
Years teaching in early childhood: 15 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 5 years
Educational background: courses in Early Childhood, Eastern Michigan University
Brandy Riddle
Years teaching in early childhood: 9 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 9 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Fuzzy Chick Team
Tanesha Conner
Years teaching in early childhood: 13 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 9 years
Educational background: currently pursuing M.A. in Counseling, Central Michigan University; Bachelor of General Studies, University of Michigan
Leah Davis
Years teaching in early childhood: 20 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 12 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Bounthay (Bee) Inthaphone
Years teaching in early childhood: 9
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 4
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Janis Sargent
Years teaching in early childhood: 20 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 14 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
LeeAnna Scott
Years teaching in early childhood: 9 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 4 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Bachelor Degree in Family Life, Spring Arbor University; Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education, Baker College
Dancing Frog Team
Shannon Grosshans
Years teaching in early childhood: 18 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 6 years
Educational background: courses in Education and Early Childhood, Eastern Michigan University
Hilary Kress
Years teaching in early childhood: 8 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 4 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Kim Pascoe
Years teaching in early childhood: 22 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care & Development, Schoolcraft College; Associate Degree in Child Care & Special Education, Schoolcraft College
Michelle Smith
Years teaching in early childhood: 16 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: M.S. in Early Childhood Education, Eastern Michigan University; B.S. in Child Development, Madonna University; Infant / Toddler Teaching Credential, American Montessori Society
Jyothi Varma
Years teaching in early childhood: 13 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: Bachelor Degree in Education, Osmania University; Bachelor of Biological Sciences, Osmania University
Jumping Monkey Team
Sarah Barry
Years teaching in early childhood: 9 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 4 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Bachelor Degree in Special Education, Eastern Michigan University; Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Cathy Daniels
Years teaching in early childhood: 29 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 18 years – since it opened in 1991
Educational background: currently pursuing M.A. in Early Childhood Education, Eastern Michigan University; B.S. in Child Development, California Polytechnic State University
Mary Maloney
Years teaching in early childhood: 21 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 3 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Pam White
Years teaching in early childhood: 21 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 16 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College; Child Development Associate (CDA) certification
Bouncing Bear Team
Karyn Davenport
Years teaching in early childhood: 13 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 5 years
Educational background: Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education, John Brown University; Associate Degree in Art, Delta College
Fariba Kashani
Years teaching in early childhood: 12 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 12 years
Educational background: B.A. in Persian Literature, Iran-Tehran University; courses in Linguistics & Translations, Iran-Tehran University; courses in Business, Washtenaw Community College; studied Child Development with ICS
Lisa Kline
Years teaching in early childhood: 23 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: Child Development Associate (CDA) certification, Washtenaw Community College
Nancy Thorp
Years teaching in early childhood: 15 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 5 years
Educational background: B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation, Eastern Michigan University; courses in Nursing, Schoolcraft College
Ed Yuill
Years teaching in early childhood: 7 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Elementary Teaching Certification, MSU; B.A. in Education, Michigan State University
Llamas in Pajamas Team
Tanara Abner
Years teaching in early childhood: 6 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 6 years
Educational background: currently taking courses in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College; courses in Elementary Education, Eastern Michigan University
Carrie Gorga
Years teaching in early childhood: 16 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 6 years
Educational background: Masters of Social Work, University of Michigan; B.A. in Psychology / Child Development, University of Michigan
Tiffany Kitson
Years teaching in early childhood: 11 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 5 years
Educational background: Child Development Associate (CDA) certification; courses in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Matt Smith
Years teaching in early childhood: 17 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 17 years
Educational background: B.A. in History, Michigan State University; completed coursework towards Teaching Certification, Eastern Michigan University
Giggling Gecko Team
Patrina Gregory
Years teaching in early childhood: 13 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 8 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Lynn Holland
Years working in early childhood: 21 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 12 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College; Child Development Associate (CDA) certification
Suzanne Pehrson
Years working in early childhood: 23 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 15 years
Educational background: Child Development Associate (CDA) certification; courses in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College; courses at Eastern Michigan University
Lynn Yurkunas
Years teaching in early childhood: 9 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 5 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College; Child Development Associate (CDA) certification
Leaping Lemur Team
Carolyn Baker
Years teaching in early childhood: 8 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 8 years
Educational background: B.S. in Recreation and Parks Management, Eastern Michigan University
Courtney Boik
Years teaching in early childhood: 1 year
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 1 year
Educational background: B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation, Eastern Michigan University
Christie Carpentier
Years teaching in early childhood: 6 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 3 years
Educational background: B.S. in Elementary Education/Reading, Eastern Michigan University
Valerie Tibbs-Wynne
Years teaching in early childhood: 22 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 8 years
Educational background: Bachelor of Fine Arts with minors in Graphics & Industrial Technology, Eastern Michigan University
Support Staff Team
Joy Gonyo
Years teaching in early childhood: 11 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 11 years
Educational background: courses in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Scott Krull
Years teaching in early childhood: 4
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 3
Educational background: Masters of Social Work, University of Michigan; B.S. in Psychology, Michigan State University
Sandra Middleton
Years teaching in early childhood: 33 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 18 years – since it opened in 1991
Educational background: NAEYC Associate’s Equivalency in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College; Associate Degree in General Studies, WCC; additional courses at Eastern Michigan University
