Ms. Amy received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Bilingual Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, with an emphasis in Spanish, from UC Davis. She also holds a Child Development Site Supervisor permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Amy worked with 4-12 year-olds as a camp counselor and lifeguard each summer from 1990-1995 and then taught kindergarten and first grade at Woodland Prairie Elementary School from 1997-2002. She started her own in-home preschool program, First Friends Nursery School, in August of 2002. Amy founded UCNS with Alysa Meyer in 2004, and they served as co-directors through 2007. In addition to co-directing UCNS, Amy was one of our pre-k head teachers through 2006. Amy will co-teach our new Junior Kindergarten class this year. She has also served as a lead teacher in the UCC Sunday morning preschool program for over twelve years. Amy and her husband are active members of University Covenant Church, and they have three children, ages 10, 8, and 4. Her two older children are UCNS graduates, and her youngest is a current UCNS student.
carla datanagan, executive assistant & excellent elephants assistant
Ms. Carla graduated from the University of the Philippines with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration. She spent 8 years working in the hotel and restaurant field. After moving to Davis, she volunteered at Davis Montessori and discovered the joy of working with preschool age children. Before working at UCNS, she established an in-home preschool co-op with a group of friends. She has been actively involved at St. James Elementary since 1997, serving as a reading facilitator, visual arts docent, library helper and class parent coordinator. She is a member of St. James Church, and she and her husband have two children, ages 14 & 8. Carla’s younger son is a UCNS graduate. Carla joined our UCNS staff team in 2005, and she served as an assistant teacher for two years prior to adding on her administrative responsibilities. This year Carla will also serve the assistant teacher in our Junior Kindergarten class.
kirsten graeber, marvelous monkeys pre-kindergarten class head teacher & excellent elephants co-head teacher
Ms. Kirsten received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from UC Davis. She served as an aide for several UCNS preschoolers with special needs prior to becoming the Fantastic Frogs assistant teacher, while also working at Freedom from Hunger in Davis three years. This is Kirsten's second year serving as a Pre-Kindergarten head teacher. She is also co-teaching our new afternoon Junior Kindergarten class. Kirsten and her husband worship at University Covenant Church. This is Ms. Kirsten’s fourth year on our UCNS staff team.
kathleen (katie) rominger, fantastic frogs pre-kindergarten class head teacher
Ms. Katie received her Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture, but discovered a passion for working with young children and returned to college to pursue a second degree in Early Childhood Education. Prior to joining our UCNS staff team Katie served as a Master Teacher at the NAEYC accredited Child Development Center in Dixon for three years. She also taught preschool for four years at the Yolo County YMCA in Woodland, substitute taught in kindergarten through sixth grade classrooms, and taught religious education for nine years. Katie has grown twin daughters, a two step-daughters in college. She and her husband are active members of Holy Rosary Church. This is Katie's second year on our UCNS staff team.
kim windall, bouncy bears three-year-old class head teacher
Ms. Kim graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. She was employed as an elementary school teacher for 1st through 3rd grades for two years. Ms. Kim served as a teacher in the preschool program for Bible Study Fellowship in Davis for 17 years. For the past ten years, she has been employed at UCC as the Children’s Ministry Director, following 4 years of service as the Elementary Sunday School Coordinator. Kim grew up in Davis and she is an active member of University Covenant Church. She and her husband have three grown children. This is Ms. Kim’s fifth year on our UCNS staff team.
cynthia (tia) choy, playful puppies three-year-old class head teacher
Ms. Tia attended UC Davis, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from CSU Fresno, and received her Masters in Pediatric Nursing from the University of Michigan. Tia worked in pediatric nursing for 10 years prior to raising her own children. She served preschoolers for 22 years as a Bible Study Fellowship Children’s Leader and Supervisor in Davis. Tia also taught preschoolers in UCC’s Sunday School program for 13 years prior to becoming the Preschool Coordinator in 2000. She served as a UCNS board member for three years, and volunteered for one year as an aide for a UCNS preschooler with special needs, before accepting a teaching position at our nursery school. She and her husband have two grown daughters and an 18 year old son, and they are active members of University Covenant Church. This is Ms. Tia’s fourth year teaching at UCNS.
jennifer chapman, marvelous monkeys pre-kindergarten class assistant
Ms. Jennifer earned Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from UC Davis, and she received her Multiple Subject and Special Education teaching credentials from National University. Jennifer was an Inclusion Specialist for Davis Joint Unified School District for four years prior to raising her own young children. Jennifer and her husband have two children, ages 7 and 4; her daughter is a UCNS graduate and her son is a current UCNS student. Jennifer and her family worship at First Baptist Church. This is Ms. Jennifer's second year with UCNS.
lois wall, fantastic frogs pre-kindergarten class assistant
Ms. Lois earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and her Multiple Subject teaching credential from UC Davis. She has been working in education for over 25 years. Before coming to UCNS, Lois served children in Davis as a para educator, reading instructional assistant, and substitute teacher. She also served as an assistant director of a home daycare prior to opening her own family daycare and then raising her own children. Lois and her husband have a grown daughter, a son in college, and a son in high school, and they are active members of First Baptist Church. This is Ms. Lois' second year on our UCNS staff team.
beth meyer, bouncy bears three-year-old class assistant
Ms. Beth graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Management, and she has studied Child Development through Vanguard University this past year. Beth first discovered her passion for working with preschoolers in 1997 when she was asked to serve as a Bible Study Fellowship leader. She brings over ten years experience working weekly with preschool children as a BSF children's co-Leader. Beth has also served as a Sunday School teacher since 1998. She has a grown step-son and two children in high school. Beth and her family worship at University Covenant Church, and it is her first year with UCNS.
amy duffy, director & excellent elephants co-head teacher
molly wong, playful puppies three-year-old class assistant
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