DENVER'S EARLY CHILDHOOD COUNCIL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Bilingual Training Coordination Manager
Alexis joined Denver's Early Childhood Council in 2022. Before working at the Council, she was an Educational Director at The Goddard School in Denver-Highlands and was in the preschool classroom for 5 years prior to being a director. While teaching, she led the school-wide Spanish Enrichment program and enjoyed sharing her Spanish culture and language with anyone and everyone. She is passionate about serving the community to help it grow and is thrilled to be working for an organization that helps children and their families within it.
In her free time, Alexis enjoys being in the mountains snowboarding and mountain biking as well as going to music shows and concerts. Alexis was born and raised in Cancún, Mexico and is bilingual in Spanish and English. She is conversational in French.
Job Titles:
- Bilingual Quality Navigator
Before joining the Council in 2022, America worked in early childhood education for 9 years as a bilingual Paraprofessional for Denver Public Schools. She is a strong believer that early childhood education is an important part of a child's education as it sets the foundation of their academic success. America enjoys working with children and being a part of their growth.
She is also a mother and has enjoyed every part that motherhood has had to offer. Her goal in life is to help her son and children like him become the best version of themselves. In her free time, America enjoys crafting, watching movies, and spending time with her family. America is originally from Los Angeles, California, but has lived in Denver for most of her life. America is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Ben is a Denver native who was raised in a family of teachers and educators, giving him a passion for building and empowering our growing community through the support of educational opportunities. He earned degrees in Economics and Environmental Studies from Gonzaga University. In his career as a financial advisor at Raymond James, he partners with and advises non-profit organizations as well as individuals and local businesses. Ben also serves on the board of the Cherry Creek Schools Foundation. When not working, he can usually be found in the mountains exploring Colorado with his wife and dog.
Job Titles:
- Bilingual Quality Navigator
Brittany joined the Council in 2021 as a Bilingual Quality Navigator. She started tutoring children when she was sixteen and worked directly with kids professionally for 11 years. Before coming to the Council, she worked as a preschool teacher for 5 years, tutored children from first-fifth grade for 3 years, and most recently worked at La Petite Academy for 3 years as Assistant Director and Director.
She received her ECE Director's Certification and associate's degree from Arapahoe Community College. Brittany has a passion for the ECE field and is excited about collaborating with other directors to help their programs.
She is a Colorado native and loves to spend time with her husband, their daughter Mila, and two pups Nala and Rin. Some of her hobbies are hiking, crocheting, baking, decorating cakes, and photography. Brittany is bilingual in Spanish and English.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications
Cami oversees all external communications and marketing activities of Denver's Early Childhood Council. She joined the Council in 2013 as Outreach & Engagement Coordinator, and moved quickly into strategic communications planning and project management, eventually progressing into her current role. Cami has a background in program outreach and communications in non-profit health care, public health, healthy housing, and community-based family advocacy settings. She has a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Women's Studies from Augsburg University (formerly Augsburg College) - Minneapolis, MN.
When not working on behalf of the Council, she enjoys playing guitar in a bluegrass and old time music string band, participating in jam sessions, and attending festivals and concerts. She also LOVES skiing as much as possible during the winter and hiking and exploring with the family dog year-round.
Job Titles:
- Early Childhood Quality Coach
- Quality Coach
Carmella joined the Council in 2023. She was born and raised in Utah and moved to Denver in 2010. She graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Early Childhood Education and has 20 years of experience in the field. She has taught all age groups, from infants to preschool, and has also worked in quality assessment and preschool administration roles. She found a passion for working with infants and toddlers when seeing their curiosity and excitement for learning in her infant classroom.
In the summer of 2009, Carmella backpacked through Europe and visited over 60 cities in 15 countries. This experience allowed her to explore many languages, foods, and cultures and to appreciate the variety and beauty of the world. During her free time, Carmella loves recording her true crime podcast, paddleboarding, and walking her dog Penny (who is blind) around her neighborhood to meet the people in her community.
Job Titles:
- Helpdesk
- Oversight Council Vice Chair
Job Titles:
- Bilingual Early Childhood Quality Coach
- Quality Coach
Job Titles:
- Child Care Resource and Referral Navigator
Chinazo joined the council in 2016 as Quality Initiatives Outreach Specialist and currently serves as Child Care Resource and Referral Navigator. Chinazo has been working with children and families for over 15 years, with a background in Social Work and Early Childhood Education. She has a master's degree in Social Work, with an emphasis in children and families, and holds a clinical Certificate in Interpersonal Trauma.
She says, "Serving children and families on a daily basis is truly a privilege. I am honored to work in such a wonderful field of Social Work and Early Childhood Education."
Chinazo enjoys spending time with her family. She has a wonderful, loving husband and two young daughters, who are the absolute joys of her existence!
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Services
Dora joined the Council in 2017, and has worked in Early Childhood Education for over 20 years. Her previous position was at Warren Village for nine years, where she worked as a Community and Funding Specialist. Dora has a long history of CCAP work and has chaired the Denver CCAP Collaborative (formerly known as the Child Care Task Force) in the Denver community for more than nine years.
Dora utilizes a relationship-based approach to build effective bonds with child care providers to help them grow their businesses. She helps providers develop strong business practices that work for them and values meeting everyone where they are. She has a master's degree in Business Administration, as well as graduate degrees in Psychology, Project Management, Human Resources, Organizational Leadership, and Nonprofit Management.
Her personal values include: authenticity, compassion, humor, justice, openness, respect, service, and fun! Dora finds passion in helping people make progress on the goals that matter to them and understands the passion that people have for their own businesses and programs.
Job Titles:
- Bilingual Early Childhood Quality Coach
- Quality Coach
Emily joined the Council in 2022. She worked at Escalante Biggs Academy (EBA) for 5 years as a paraprofessional for Early Childhood Education classrooms. While working at EBA she completed her bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Colorado Denver. She also has experience in an Applied Behavior Analysis Center, working one-on-one with children with autism and becoming certified as a Registered Behavior Technician. During her time there she discovered a passion for helping children succeed, beginning with the quality of their learning environment.
In her free time she enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Bilingual Family Child Care Home Quality Navigator
Grisel was raised in Denver but is originally from El Paso, Texas. She is a mother and has worked in the Early Childhood field for more than 10 years. Before coming to the Council she worked at Family Star Montessori in many roles, starting as a Teacher's Assistant, then as an Administrative Assistant, and finally as a Child and Family Advocate.
Grisel sees the importance in early childhood education and has witnessed the huge impact it has made on young children and their families, including her own children and family. She enjoys working in an organization that helps and educates not only children and their families but also the providers who are serving the children and their families.
Grisel is bilingual in Spanish and in English.
Job Titles:
- Director of Community Partnerships in Denver Public Schools Early Education Department
- Oversight Council Chair
Jane joined the Oversight Council in 2018. She has a B.S. in Early Childhood Education, holds a Master's Degree, and has completed post-graduate studies in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies focusing on Early Childhood issues. She has worked in the field of Early Care and Education for 25-plus years and brings an understanding of the current early childhood landscape based on her experiences in program implementation and public policy development.
Her work spans the private and public sectors as well as city government.
Currently, Jane is the Director of Community Partnerships in Denver Public Schools Early Education Department. In this role, she coordinates the Colorado Preschool Program serving over 6,000 preschoolers in district classrooms and thirty-plus community partner agencies across the city. She works closely with community sites and district schools, always striving to increase the quality and alignment of programs in order to better serve the young children and families of Denver.
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Board
- Helpdesk
Job Titles:
- Data Systems Program Manager
Jessica joined Denver's Early Childhood Council in 2021. After spending 11 years in the medical research field and becoming a mom of two young boys, Jessica chose to pivot her career to focus on her new passion for early childhood education. Jessica attended the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand before graduating from Colorado State University in Fort Collins with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. While attending CSU, Jessica was an Optometry Club member and participated in the first annual Therapeutic Riders Association for local individuals with disabilities.
Originally from Rifle, Colorado, Jessica loves spending time outdoors with her husband James and sons Spencer and Shane and their border collie, Chase.
Job Titles:
- Early Childhood Quality Coach
- Quality Coach
Jill is an Early Childhood Quality Coach. She is certified as a Preschool CLASS® Observer and is certified in Early Childhood Outdoor Learning Environments and design from North Carolina State University. She holds an AAS in Early Childhood Education and Management from the Community College of Denver and a BA degree in Organizational Management from Ashford University, San Diego, CA.
Jill has an extensive, well-rounded background of over 30 years in early care and education and management. Her experience also includes working with and supporting, non-profit, for profit, traditional, Montessori, Reggio Emilia, family childcare home providers, religious, Head Start, and Early Head Start programs. She is also a certified trainer for the Director's Toolbox and management series.
As a Denver native, she is proud to be supporting the community in which she grew up. Her life goal is to coach to fidelity and quality so that all children have the best educational experience and to support early childhood educators on their career paths through higher education and training opportunities.
She is happily married to her husband Phil, and between the two of them, they share a beautiful extended family of six and three adorable grandsons.
Jodi is a Colorado native, born and raised in scenic Boulder. She joined Denver's Early Childhood Council in 2019. She is excited about being an employee advocate and celebrates the diversity that encompasses the talent within the organization. Prior to joining Denver's Early Childhood Council, Jodi enjoyed 18 years inside the many facets of hospitality - specifically hotel management.
Jodi received her undergraduate degree in Japanese from the University of Colorado, Boulder & later received her certification in Human Resources Management from Rowan College at Burlington County in Mount Laurel, NJ. She is PHR (Professional in Human Resources) certified, and also has a certificate of Diversity & Equity in the Workplace from the University of South Florida.
In her free time, Jodi enjoys traveling with her husband and son, and exploring new cultures and languages; she is currently learning American Sign Language.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director of the Financial Services Division for Denver Human Services
- Vice Board Chair
Justin is Deputy Director of the Financial Services Division for Denver Human Services. In this role, he oversees the Provider Payment Services Team, which executes fiscal agreements and issues manual claims for the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP), as well as the department's budgeting, state reporting, non-contract procurement, and general accounting functions. During his spare time, Justin enjoys climbing Colorado's high mountain peaks, including the 14ers and Centennial 13ers.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Navigation Services
Karen joined the Council in 2019 as a Quality Navigator, serving now as Manager of Navigation Services. Karen has been dedicated to working with families and young children for many years, most recently conducting observations using the Environmental Rating Scales® and CLASS®, and previously as a Kindergarten and Preschool teacher. Karen has a B.A. and M.A. in Sociology with an emphasis on Women and Economic Development.
In her time off, Karen enjoys spending time with family, riding her horse, helping friends work cattle, and gardening.
Karen is fluent in Spanish.
Job Titles:
- Interim Chief Executive Officer
Liz is a native of Denver, graduated from the University of Denver and has spent her career in the financial and administrative management of non- and not-for-profit organizations in the Denver area. Liz joined the Council in 2016.
Job Titles:
- Manager of Coaching Services
Luisa leads the Early Childhood Quality Coach team at the Council and supports the quality of programs by coaching with the tools on Environment Rating Scale® (ERS) for Infant, Toddler, and Preschool, Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS® pre-K and toddler, Social-Emotional, Health and Safety, Assessment/Screening, Child Development, Quality Rating Improvement System, (QRIS), and Workforce Progression. She has more than 20 years of experience in the Early Childhood Education field. Her background includes working in the roles of Infant/Toddler/Preschool teacher and Family Advocate at Head Start and Migrant Head Start, in addition to coaching at the Early Childhood Council of the San Luis Valley.
Luisa has an associate's degree in Early Childhood Education and a bachelor's degree in Behavioral Science. She has coaching and trainer credentials and is also bilingual in Spanish.
Job Titles:
- Director of Accounting and Data
Margaret has lived in Denver for the majority of her life. She earned both an Associate of Arts, with a focus on religious studies, and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Having originally started with the Council in 2008, Margaret now works closely with the Chief Financial Officer. Through her initial position at the Council, she discovered working for non-profits provides a wonderful sense of fulfillment and inspiration to her everyday life. She is an avid reader and enjoys writing for herself on the side. She loves all things science, and would be quite content to spend her days studying varying subjects.
Maria has built her career around mission-driven organizations with which she personally connects. She believes an organization is only at its best through its people. As a human resources (HR) professional for more than 20 years and a counselor working with women and families before that, Maria blends her background in counseling with her responsibilities to the employees at the Colorado Health Foundation, as well as applying her experience to her role as a Council Board member.
Job Titles:
- Training Coordination Assistant
Mariah was born and raised in Denver. She has a background in early childhood, and believes all children should have the opportunity and resources to thrive in their education. In her role as Career Pathways Program Assistant she helps provide resources, career navigation, and helps with the execution of trainings for early childhood professionals. She enjoys being around family and friends and in her free time, loves dancing and outdoor adventures.
Maureen, a Colorado native, joined the Council in 2017 as Director of Quality Initiatives, and in 2022 transitioned to executive leadership. She has a bachelor's degree in Human Development & Family Studies from Colorado State University and a master's degree in Management from the University of Colorado. Maureen's professional experience began with Catholic Charities as a Team Leader for AmeriCorps in the Early Childhood Education Division, eventually leading to the ECE Director of Program Management and Quality Improvement.
She is responsible for grants management, supervision, and team development as well as strategic implementation of programs and services. Maureen and her husband spend their free time going to concerts, dining out, and traveling in between trips to the Denver Zoo and the pool with their two young sons.
Job Titles:
- Bilingual Early Childhood Quality Coach
- Quality Coach
Miriam is the first child in a family of seven to attend college. Growing up she had a desire for helping others, so she decided to attend Pima Medical Institute in Denver, where she received her Medical Assistant Degree. Miriam worked in a variety of fields, such as dermatology, psychiatric, and geriatric care. After three years, she discovered a new passion while volunteering at University Children's Center working directly with children.
Miriam loves helping children & their families with social emotional skills and needs and joins the Council most recently from Academy 360 in Denver, where she served as a Lead Preschool Teacher. While working at Academy 360, she earned her Child Development Associate Director Certificate from the Community College of Aurora and is continuing her education in early childhood. Miriam is certified in Pyramid Plus Approach and is experienced with TS Gold®, PDIS, and QRIS.
Miriam was born in Los Angeles, California but grew up in Denver. In her free time, she loves hiking with her dog Duke, painting, learning, cooking, reading, and traveling with her two daughters. Miriam is bilingual in Spanish and English.
Job Titles:
- Director of Program Services
Monica, a Colorado native, joined Denver's Early Childhood Council in August 2018 as Denver Preschool Program (DPP) Coordinator, and has progressed to Director of Program Services. In her current role, she oversees the professional development and training coordination team, and continues to provide overall support and project oversight for the quality improvement administration partnership with DPP. Monica has more than 12 years of experience working in the field of Early Childhood Education.
Before working at the Council, she served as a Research & Evaluation Associate Lead at Clayton Early Learning where she recruited and engaged families and providers through her work with the DPP Child Outcome Study. She was also a member of the DPP Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) assessment team.
Outside of work, Monica loves spending time with her husband and children in the mountains or a drive-in movie. She also enjoys cooking, especially for family gatherings.
Monica is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Nicole joined the Quality Navigation team in 2021. Prior to her role at the Council, she was Lead Teacher of a toddler classroom at Parker Landing Child Development Center. While working with these children, she also attended Red Rocks Community College, earning her Child Development Associate Certificate in 2018. Nicole has taught young children at several other child care centers across the Denver metro and has served in an Assistant Director role.
Originally from Aurora, Nicole loves summertime and warm weather. She has 3 amazing kids and has been married to her husband Jason for more than 15 years. She loves camping, water skiing and wakeboarding. She also enjoys solving puzzles, watching movies with her family, and cheering her kids on with all their sports and activities.
Pedro, a Mexican bilingual immigrant, leads the implementation of the zero to three programming at the Denver Public Library, which includes LENA Start. As a Buell Early Childhood Leader graduate, Pedro has been working with nonprofits in early childhood for over five years and has worked in collaboration with diverse communities across Colorado. He brings a strong background and understanding of the community needs from his previous work at Clayton Early Learning and Denver's Early Childhood Council.
As a kindergarten readiness educator, he provides training and information to parents, formal and informal educators, and community members who want to support underserved populations. He has led successful outreach campaigns and has presented on topics like child development, the importance of movement, and the importance of conversation. He is passionate about early interventions that support the whole child and the providers who work with children.
Job Titles:
- Administrator
- Chairman of the Board
Priscilla has worked as an administrator in Denver Public Schools since 2012. After serving as Assistant Principal and Principal in both Early Childhood and Elementary Schools, she joined the Early Education Department in 2018. She currently serves as Executive Director of Early Education.
Before joining Denver Public Schools, Priscilla had a teaching career that spanned several districts, including two in California where she was raised after immigrating to the United States from Argentina. She holds a bachelor's degree in Spanish Literature from the University of California, Irvine, and an MA in School Administration from the University of Denver. She recently completed a Certificate of Early Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Priscilla provides leadership to the work of early education programming and initiatives in Denver Public Schools.
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Board
- Executive Director of Healthy Child Care Colorado
As the Executive Director of Healthy Child Care Colorado, Taran led the organization's transition to become a nonprofit in 2018. In her role, Taran leads the statewide hub for consultation, supports quality improvement in child care, and advocates for best practices and policies.
Taran previously served as the State Network Director of Colorado Child Care Resource and Referral. Prior to joining Qualistar, Taran worked directly with early childhood professionals, families, and children as a teacher and coach and also supported efforts to improve early childhood systems in Southern Minnesota.
Taran holds an AAS in child development and a BA in professional leadership from Winona State University. She also holds an MA in Administrative Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Colorado. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors for Child Care Aware of America and Denver's Early Childhood Council and is an alumna of the Child Care Advocates Ready to Emerge (CARE) Fellowship, Collaborative Leadership Fellowship, and Buell Early Childhood Leadership Program.