UMKC Berkley Child and Family Development Center

Staff Handbook and Profiles

2010-2011

Staff Handbook General Center Policies updated 7/1/2010

http://www.umkc.edu/umkcalert/

Administration

Polly Prendergast , Director. Polly has been in the field of early childhood for over 20 years. She received a Bachelor of General Studies from the University of Kansas in Human Development and Family Living (ECE) and a Master of Arts in Organizational Management from Concordia University St. Paul, Minnesota. Polly is the one Director to receive the Missouri Association for the Education of young Children Director Credential in the Greater Kansas City area and one of three in the state of Missouri and Kansas. Throughout her career she has been a classroom teacher, program director, accreditation specialist, executive director, university supervisor for early childhood practicum students, NAEYC accreditation validator and ASQ advisor for School age care.  She is a Past President for the Mid-America Association for the Education of Young Children, serves on the board for Partners in Quality with the Metropolitan Council for Early Learning, is a curriculum facilitator for Project Construct , serves on and is Co-chair for the Early Childhood Advisory Board for Park University Early Childhood Education and is an Adjunct Faculty member for The University of Missouri - Kansas City's Continuing Education Department in the School of Education, Park University's School of Education Early Childhood Program, and Johnson County Community College Continuing Education department. She has been the Director at Berkley since June of 2003.

Becky West , Classroom Instructional Specialist. Becky has a BS in Child Development from the University of Missouri - Columbia , and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction with an Emphasis in Early Childhood Education from UMKC. Currently Becky is working towards an I. Ph. D. in Curriculum and Instruction / Higher Education. She has over seventeen years of teaching experience and says �teaching on a daily basis has provided me with an understanding of and appreciation for the challenges as well as the joys classroom teachers face each day as they plan and manage their classrooms. I find that, through my course of study, and through the work I am currently doing with student teachers at UMKC and Penn Valley , the interconnections between the quality of staff development and the quality of curriculum, guidance, and management at the classroom level has become a source of fascination and challenge for me. She has been at Berkley since June 2006.

Monica Houston, Administrative Assistant. Monica holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology from Avila University , Kansas City, Missouri . She has been at Berkley since March 2003.

Beth Kaplan Liss , Part-time Project Coordinator. Beth received a BS in Psychology from Union College , Schenectady , New York and a MA in Curriculum and Instruction with an Emphasis in Early Childhood from UMKC. She has been at Berkley in various capacities since July 1998.

Vanessa Gibbs , Cook. The children adore her and especially her cooking. She also teaches West African Dance to children of all ages. Vanessa has been at Berkley since 1993.

Infant/Toddler Department Assistant Clinical Instructors

Lindsay Bosse, Fountain Room.  Lindsay is a graduate of the University of Central Missouri (UCM) in Warrensburg, MO.  She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education with a dual major in Elementary and Early childhood Education.  Lindsay has been with Berkley since August of 2011.

Meghan Wanner, River Room. Meghan attended the University of Missouri Kansas City from 2008-2011 and studied Early Childhood Education.  Meghan has been at Berkley since October of 2010.

Jessica Milligan, River Room.  Jessica is a graduate of Park University, Parkville, MO and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education.  Jessica completed her Infant/Toddler teaching practicum at Berkley in the summer of 2009.  Jessica has been with Berkley since August of 2011.

Susan Myers, Trolley Room. Susan received a BA in Early Childhood Education from University of Missouri-Kansas Cit.  Susan was a practicum student in the River room in 2005.  She has been with Berkley since August of 2006.

Jessica Newman, Fountain Room.  Jessica holds a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education and Leadership from Park University, Parkville Missouri.  Jessica complete her infant toddler practicum at Berkley in the Summer of 2010 and completed an administrative internships the fall of 2010.  She came to work as a substitute in December of 2010 and received a full time teaching position in July of 2011.

Lauren Ragan , Trolley Room. Lauren holds a BS in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Missouri-Columbia.  Lauren was a substitute teacher at Berkley in 2009 and returned as a full time teacher in August of 2010.

Infant Toddler Department Clinical Instructor

Kathleen Cross , Roo Room. Kathleen received a BA in English and French from Truman State University and her MA in Curriculum and Instruction Early Childhood emphasis from UMKC. She has been at Berkley since July of 2006.

Preschool Department Assistant Clinical Instructors

Katie Bubalo, Westport Room. Katie holds a BS in Child and Family Development from Missouri Sate University, Springfield Missouri and is currently working on a Master's of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, Early Childhood at University of Missouri-Kansas City.  Katie completed an administrative internship at Berkley in the summer of 2008.  She has been teaching at Berkley since August of 2008.

Jennifer Copeland , Plaza Room. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from the University of Kansas and is currently working on a Master's of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, Early Childhood at University of Missouri-Kansas City.  She has been at Berkley since January of 2009.

Kate Ghio , Royal Room. Kate received a BFA (Fine Arts) from Carnegie Melon, Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania and an AAS in Early Childhood Education, Penn Valley Community College , Kansas City, Missouri . She is currently pursuing a MA in Curriculum and Instruction from UMKC. She has been at Berkley since August 2003.

Kristy Howerton, Zoo Room.  Kristy received her Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development from the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Missouri.  Kristy has been in the field of early childhood for seven years.  She has been at Berkley since July of 2011.

Karen Hutchinson , Royal Room. Karen received a BS in Recreation and Health from Emporia State University , Emporia , Kansas . She has been at Berkley since May 2005.

Tiffani Nelis, Plaza Room.  Tiffani received her Bachelor of Education, Kindergarten/elementary, Physical Education and English from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada and is currently working towards a M.A. in Multicultural Studies from University of Missouri-Kansas City . She has been at Berkley since September of 2010.

Monica Quiros, Westport Room. Monica received her Bachelor of Art's degree in Liberal Studies from Vanguard University.  The Liberal Studies Major at Vanguard University is the universities academic program for students preparing to enter a graduate or teacher credentialing program. Monica has been at Berkley since October of 2010.

Kendra Waddill, Zoo Room. Kendra received her Bachelor in Education with Early Childhood certification from Missouri Sate University, Springfield Missouri and is currently working on a Master's of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction, Early Childhood at University of Missouri-Kansas City. She has been at Berkley since May of 2008.

Part Time Child Care Assistants Fall 2010

Maaya Amin, Plaza Room. Maaya is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Psychology from UMKC. She has been at Berkley since January 2000.

Alissa Anderson, Royal Room. Alissa has Bachelors degree in Psychology from UMKC. She has been at Berkley since September 2008.

Autumn Blough, Fountain Room. Autumn is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education from Park University. She has been at Berkley since September 2010

Kayla Conn, Fountain Room.  Kayla has been here since the spring of 2010.

Elysia Contreras, Floater. Elysia is a student at UMKC.  She completed an art internship at Berkley in the spring of 2008 and came to work part time at Berkley in the summer of 2010.

Anisha Eckert, Westport Room.  Anisha is a student at UMKC.  She has been here since the spring of 2010.

Maria Esparza, River room and substitutes in all classrooms.  She has been here since fall of 2011.

Kelsey Gossen, Floater.  Kelsey is working towards a nursing degree at UMKC. She has been here since 2009.

Harriett Hampton, on call subustitute teacher.  She has been here since the summer of 2011.

Ellie Hilboldt , River Room.  Ellie is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Psychology from UMKC. She has been at Berkley since July 2007.

Ashley Holmes, Floater. Ashley is working on a degree in Urban Education from UMKC.  Ashley has been at Berkley since the spring of 2010.

Sara Johnson, substitute and works in in Plaza, Zoo and the Royal Room.  She has been here since 2005.

Na'Tosha Jones, Plaza Room. Na'Tosha is pursing a Business Degree from UMKC.  She has been at Berkley since summer of 2010.

Chelsea Runez, Floater. Chelsea is pursing a Bachelors degree in Psychology at UMKC. She has been at Berkley since February 2011.

Vicktoria Strong, Roo Room. Vicktoria is a student at UMKC.  She has been at Berkley since the spring of 2009.

Vonny Traylor, Floater. Vonny is pursing a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from UMKC. She has been at Berkley since April 2011

LaToya Vaughn, Zoo Room. LaToya is pursing a degree at UMKC.  She has been at Berkley since the summer of 2010.