UMKC Berkley Child and Family Development Center

Staff Handbook and Profiles

2009-2010

Staff Handbook General Center Policiesud

Administration

Polly Prendergast , Director. Polly has been in the field of early childhood for over 20 years. She received a BA 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. 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 Park University's School of Education Early Childhood Program. 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.

Infants/Toddler Department Assistant Clinical Instructors

Sarah Wade, Fountain Room.  Sahara holds a BA in Early Childhood from Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg Missouri.  She has been at Berkley since March of 2008.

Kristina Brown, Fountain Room. . Kristina holds a BA in Liberal Arts from University of Missouri-Kansas City. She has been at Berkley since July 2007.

Katie Perkins, River Room.  Katie holds a BS in Child and Family Development from Missouri Sate University, Springfield Missouri.  She has been at Berkley since August of 2008.

Stephanie Smith, River Room. Sarah holds an Associates Degree in Early Childhood from Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kansas.  Stephanie has been with Berkley since August of 2007.

Becky Neth , Trolley Room. Becky received her BS in Psychology and BS in Human Environmental Sciences (Family Studies;Child Life)from The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri. Becky has been with Berkley since August of 2008.

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.

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

Angela Updyke-Burnet, Roo Room. Angela received her BA in Integrated Studies with a concentration in Human Development, from California State University.  She has been at Berkley since March of 2008.

Preschool Department Assistant Clinical Instructors

Melanie Davison , Westport Room. Melanie received a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development, with and emphasis in Child Life, from Missouri State University, Springfield Missouri. She has been at Berkley since February 2008.

Jennifer Copeland , Westport 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.

Samantha (Sammy) Bryant, Plaza Room. Sammy received an BS in Business Administration from Rockhurst University, Kansas City, Missouri and is currently pursuing her MBA from Rockhurst. She has been at Berkley since August of 2006 and was promoted to a Faculty position in February of 2008.  Sammy plans to pursue a graduate degree in Early Childhood Education as well.

Megan McPherson , Plaza Room. Megan received duel Bachelors degrees in Elementary and Early Childhood Education, from University of Missouri - Kansas City, in December of 2008. She has been at Berkley since November 2004.

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.

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.

Kendra Waddill, Zoo Room. Kendra received her Bachelor in Education with Early Childhood certification from Missouri Sate University, Springfield Missouri.  She has been at Berkley since May of 2008.

Cindy Dover, Assistant Clinical Instructor, Zoo Room. Cindy is in her last semester for an Associates in Teaching and Education in Early Childhood from Penn Valley Community College. She is scheduled to graduate in December of 2009. Cindy has been at Berkley since April of 2006.

Part Time Child Care Aids Summer 2009

Claire Acheson – Claire graduated with a Bachelors degree from Rockhurst College. She has been at Berkley since January 2009.

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

Alissa Anderson – Alissa is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Nursing from UMKC. She has been at Berkley since September 2008.

Brigitte Bartola - Brigitte is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Education from UMKC. She has been at Berkley since January 2009.

Paige Billings – Paige holds an Associates Degree from Johnson County Community College. She is pursing a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education from UMKC.

Alice Collins - Alice is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts at UMKC.  She has been with Berkley since the summer of 2008 as a summer substitute. Starting in the summer of 2009 she will work part time year round.

Lauren Dorward - Lauren is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education from Park University. She has been at Berkley since May 2009.

Meghan Dyer – Megan received a BS in Psychology from Rockhurst University. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Counseling from UMKC. She has been at Berkley since June 2007.

Kevin Goodwin – Kevin graduated with a Business Degree from Rockhurst College. He is currently pursuing an MBA from Rockhurst College. He has been at Berkley since May 2009.

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

Sarah Johnson – Sarah has been at Berkley since May 2008.

Becca Laird – Becca is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree from UMKC. She has been at Berkley since January 2008.

Charlie Mylie – Charlie graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute with a Bachelors in Fine Arts . He has been at Berkley since January 2009. Charlie is also the Art Studio teacher.

Alisa Phillips – Alisa is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Education from UMKC. She has been at Berkley since August 2008.

Kaitlin Symsek – Kaitlin has been at Berkley since June 2008.

Kari Swinehart – Kari graduated with a Bachelors degree in Marketing from Rockhurst University. She has been at Berkley since October 2007.

Kendra Waddill – Kendra is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education from Missouri State University. She has been at Berkley since May 2009.

Jessica Waldren – Jessica is currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Nursing from UMKC. She has been at Berkley since July 2007.

Min-Chi Yan – Min-Chi is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Special Education from UMKC. She has a Bachelors degree in English and Japanese Literature from Soochow University in Taiwan. She has been at Berkley since May 2009.