Teacher bios
Administrative Staff
Sue Gall
Director
(Director since 2004; previously Assistant Director at UMHS CCC)
Years working in early childhood: 26 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 16 years – since it opened in 1991
Educational background: B.S. in Child Development, Siena Heights College
Diane Wellday
Receptionist and Special Events Coordinator
Years working at UMHS Child Care Center: 16 years – since it opened in 1991
Kristen Roberts
Office Manager
Years working at UMHS Child Care Center: 5 years
Educational background: B.A. in Psychology, Calvin College
Cathy Gorga
Community Social Worker
Years working at UMHS Child Care Center: 6 years
Educational background: M.A. in Early Childhood Education, University of Michigan; Masters in Social Work, U of M; B.A. in Humanities & Developmental Psychology, U of M
Maintenance
Tim Wellday
Years working at UMHS Child Care Center: 9 years
Brent Eagleberger
Years working at UMHS Child Care Center: 9 years
Teaching Staff
Tanara Abner
Leaping Lemurs teacher
Years working in early childhood: 5 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 5 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education, Eastern Michigan University
Wesal Al-Khafaji
Rainbow Tots teacher
Years working in early childhood: 10 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 10 years
Educational background: Child Development Associate (CDA) certification; B.S. in Agricultural Science, Mosul University-Iraq; M.A. in Counseling, Eastern Michigan University; currently pursuing Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Carolyn Baker
Leaping Lemurs teacher
Years working in early childhood: 6 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 6 years
Educational background: Bachelor Degree in Recreation and Parks Management, Eastern Michigan University
Sarah Barry
Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 7 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 1 year
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College; currently pursuing Bachelor Degree in Special Education, Eastern Michigan University
Andrea Boyce
Llamas in Pajamas teacher / Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 3 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: B.S. in Child Development, Central Michigan University
J.J. Bouchard
Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 9 years
Years working at UMHS Child Care Center: 7 years year-round; 9 summers
Educational background: B.S. in Recreational Therapy, Eastern Michigan University
Christie Carpentier
Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 5 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education / Reading, Eastern Michigan University
Katrina Castelow
Jumping Monkeys teacher
Years working in early childhood: 3 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 3 years
Educational background: courses in Elementary Education, Washtenaw Community College
Darius Cobb
Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 3 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 3 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Elementary Education, Washtenaw Community College; currently pursuing Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education, Eastern Michigan University
Tanesha Conner
Honey Bunnies teacher
Years working in early childhood: 11 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 7 years
Educational background: Bachelor of General Studies, University of Michigan; currently pursuing M.A. in Counseling, Central Michigan University
Alana Curran
Dancing Frogs teacher / Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 1 year
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 1 year
Educational background: B.S. in Elementary Education / Early Childhood, Western Michigan University
Cathy Daniels
Fuzzy Chicks teacher
Years working in early childhood: 27 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 16 years – since it opened in 1991
Educational background: B.S. in Child Development, California Polytechnic State University; currently pursuing M.A. in Early Childhood Education, Eastern Michigan University
Karyn Davenport
Giggling Geckos teacher
Years working in early childhood: 11 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 4 years
Educational background: Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education, John Brown University; Associate Degree in Art, Delta College
Leah Davis
Jumping Monkeys teacher
Years working in early childhood: 17 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 10 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Lisa DeCook
Rainbow Tots teacher
Years working in early childhood: 7 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 1 year
Educational background: currently pursuing Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education, Eastern Michigan University
Dana Federer
Honey Bunnies teachers
Years working in early childhood: 26 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 11 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Hilary Flowers
Bouncing Bears teacher / Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 6 years
Years working at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Joy Gonyo
Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 10 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 10 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Peg Gordon
Years working in early childhood: 2 years
Years working at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in General Studies, Washtenaw Community College
Carrie Gorga
Giggling Geckos teacher / Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 15 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 5 years
Educational background: Masters of Social Work, University of Michigan; B.A. in Psychology / Child Development, University of Michigan
Shannon Grosshans
Bouncing Bears teacher
Years working in early childhood: 16 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 5 years
Educational background: several courses in Education and Early Childhood, Eastern Michigan University
Stephannie Guttman
Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 2 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 1 year
Educational background: currently pursuing B.S. in Elementary Education / Language Arts, Eastern Michigan University
LeeAnna Harris
Jumping Monkeys teacher
Years working in early childhood: 7 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education, Baker College; currently pursuing Bachelor Degree in Family Life, Spring Arbor University
Lynn Holland
Dancing Frogs teacher
Years working in early childhood: 20 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 12 years
Educational background: Child Development Associate (CDA) certification; courses in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Beth Jeryc
Leaping Lemurs teacher
Years working in early childhood: 5 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 4 years year-round; 6 summers
Educational background: B.A. in Elementary Education, Anderson University; currently pursuing Nursing degree
Fariba Kashani
Bouncing Bears teacher
Years working in early childhood: 11 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 11 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
Amy King
Llamas in Pajamas teacher
Years working early childhood: 8 years
Years working at UMHS Child Care Center: 3 years
Educational background: B.S. in Elementary Education, Ferris State University
Jan Kirk
Honey Bunnies teacher
Years working in early childhood: 7 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 7 years
Educational background: Masters of Social Work, University of Michigan; B.A. in Sociology, Western Michigan University
Tiffany Kitson
Bouncing Bears teacher
Years working in early childhood: 9 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 3 years
Educational background: Child Development Associate (CDA) certification; courses in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Lisa Kline
Llamas in Pajamas
Years working in early childhood: 25 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 1 year
Educational background: completed Child Development Associate (CDA) certification, Washtenaw Community College
Scott Krull
Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 1 year
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 1 year
Educational background: Masters of Social Work, University of Michigan; B.S. in Psychology, Michigan State University
Raquel Lopez
Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 5 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 4 years
Educational background: B.A. in Psychology, University of Michigan
Mary Maloney
Llamas in Pajamas teacher
Years working in early childhood: 19 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College; currently taking courses in Social Science & Children’s Literature at Eastern Michigan University
Emily McCarty
Fuzzy Chicks teacher
Years working in early childhood: 7 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 3 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College; currently pursuing Bachelor Degree in Child & Family Studies, University of Michigan
Sandra Middleton
Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 31 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 16 years – since it opened in 1991
Educational background: Associate Degree in General Studies, Washtenaw Community College; currently taking courses in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Olabisi Onafuwa
Rainbow Tots teacher / Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 8 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 8 years
Educational background: Masters of Education Administration, University of Lagos-Nigeria;
B.A. in French, University of Ife-Nigeria; Certificate of the Teaching of French as a Foreign Language, Besançon, France
Krystyna Ozog
Rainbow Tots teacher
Years working in early childhood: 13 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 3 years
Educational background: courses in Early Childhood, Eastern Michigan University
Kim Pascoe
Fuzzy Chicks teacher / Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 20 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 1 year
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care & Development, Schoolcraft College; Associate Degree in Child Care & Special Education, Schoolcraft College
Suzanne Pehrson
Dancing Frogs teacher
Years working in early childhood: 22 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 14 years
Educational background: Child Development Associate (CDA) certification; courses in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College; courses at Eastern Michigan University
Kathy Periord
Honey Bunnies teacher
Years working in early childhood: 6 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College; currently pursuing Bachelor Degree in Child & Family Studies, University of Michigan
Namita Ray
Honey Bunnies teacher
Years working in early childhood: 6 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 2 years
Educational background: M.S. in Polymer Engineering, New York Polytechnic Institute; Child Development Associate (CDA) certification; currently taking courses in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Brandy Riddle
Rainbow Tots teacher
Years working in early childhood: 7 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 7 years
Educational background: courses at Washtenaw Community College
Janis Sargent
Giggling Geckos teacher
Years working in early childhood: 18 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 12 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Megan Simanca
Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 5 years
Years working at UMHS Child Care Center: 5 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Bachelor Degree in Film & Video Studies, University of Michigan
Matt Smith
Giggling Geckos teacher
Years working in early childhood: 16 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 16 years
Educational background: B.A. in History, Michigan State University; completed coursework towards Teaching Certification, Eastern Michigan University
Michelle Smith
Fuzzy Chicks teacher
Years working in early childhood: 14 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 1 year
Educational background: M.A. in Early Childhood Education, Eastern Michigan University; B.S. in Child Development, Madonna University;
Infant / Toddler Teaching Credential, American Montessori Society
Nancy Thorp
Bouncing Bears teacher
Years working in early childhood: 13 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 4 years
Educational background: B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation, Eastern Michigan University; courses in Nursing, Schoolcraft College
Valerie Tibbs-Wynne
Leaping Lemurs teacher
Years working in early childhood: 21 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 7 years
Educational background: B.F.A. in Graphics & Industrial Technology, Eastern Michigan University
Holly Ulrich
Jumping Monkeys teacher
Years working in early childhood: 8 years
Years working at UMHS Child Care Center: 1 year
Educational background: B.S. in Elementary Education with Early Childhood (ZA) endorsement, Eastern Michigan University
Jyothi Varma
Jumping Monkeys teacher / Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 11 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 1 year
Educational background: Bachelor Degree in Education, Osmania University; Bachelor of Biological Sciences, Osmania University
Patrina Watkins
Llamas in Pajamas teacher
Years working in early childhood: 10 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 7 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Pam White
Fuzzy Chicks teacher
Years working in early childhood: 19 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 15 years
Educational background: currently pursuing Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Laura Whitford
Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 11 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 9 years
Educational background: Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
Ed Yuill
Support Staff
Years working in early childhood: 6 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 1 year
Educational background: B.A. in Education, Michigan State University
Lynn Yurkunas
Dancing Frogs
Years working in early childhood: 7 years
Years at UMHS Child Care Center: 4 years
Educational background: Child Development Associate (CDA) certification; currently pursuing Associate Degree in Child Care, Washtenaw Community College
