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UCNS - Our Staff Team


(Left to right on top) Katie Rominger, Molly Wong, (top) Carla Datanagan, Amy Duffy, Kirsten Graeber, Beth Meyer, Kim Windall, (left to right on bottom) Lois Wall, Katie Juranek, Karen Jacobson and Tia Choy

Amy Duffy

Director

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. During the 2010 - 2011 school year, Amy was a co-teacher of our Junior Kindergarten class. 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 12, 10, and 6. All three of her children graduated from UCNS.
 

Carla Datanagan

Executive 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 15 & 9. Carla’s younger son is a UCNS graduate. Carla joined our UCNS staff team in 2005, and served as an assistant teacher for two years prior to adding on her administrative responsibilities.
 

Kirsten Graeber

Assistant Director & Marvelous Monkeys Pre-Kindergarten Class 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, and then as the Fantastic Frogs’ assistant teacher, prior to becoming the Marvelous Monkeys’ head teacher. In addition to teaching the Marvelous Monkeys, Kirsten co-taught our afternoon Transitional Kindergarten class in 2010-11. Kirsten also worked at Freedom from Hunger in Davis for four years. Kirsten serves as our UCNS Assistant Director in the afternoons in addition to teaching. She and her husband worship at University Covenant Church. This is Kirsten’s sixth year on our UCNS staff team.
 

Kathleen (Katie) Rominger

Fantastic Frogs & Terrific Turtles Pre-Kindergarten Class Co-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 degree in Early Childhood Education. Prior to joining our UCNS staff team, Katie served as a preschool teacher 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 grown step-daughter, and a step-daughter in college. She and her husband are active members of Holy Rosary Church. This is Katie’s fourth 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 degree in Elementary Education, and she taught first through third grade prior to moving back to Davis. Kim served as a teacher in the preschool program for Bible Study Fellowship in Davis for 17 years. She has been employed at UCC as the Children’s Ministry Director for over ten years. Kim grew up in Davis and she is an active member of University Covenant Church. She and her husband have three grown children and a beloved grandson. This is Kim’s seventh year on our UCNS staff team.
 

Cynthia (Tia) Choy

Playful Puppies Three-Year-Old Class Assistant Teacher

Ms. Tia attended UC Davis, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from CSU Fresno, and received her Master’s degree in Pediatric Nursing from the University of Michigan. Tia worked in pediatric nursing for ten years prior to raising her own children. She then spent 22 years serving preschoolers 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 also as an aide for a UCNS preschooler with special needs, before accepting a UCNS head teaching position. After serving as a head teacher for four years, and co-teaching with Molly last year, Tia decided to step back a bit and serve as the assistant teacher this year. Tia and her husband have two grown daughters and a son in college, and they are active members of University Covenant Church. This is Tia’s sixth year on our UCNS staff team.
 

  Allie Carver

  Marvelous Monkeys Pre-Kindergarten Class Assistant Teacher

  Ms. Allie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Reading at Whitworth University, Spokane, Washington and has her Teaching Credential from Washington State.  She worked as a Nanny and Tutor part-time while attending college and spent her college summers working as a counselor and worship leader at Camp Spalding in Spokane, WA.  She completed her Student Teaching term in the fall of 2011 in Costa Rica at a small bilingual private Christian school. She finished school in January 2012 and spent her Spring as a Substitute Teacher in the Peninsula School District in Gig Harbor, Washington. Allie is also currently interning at University Covenant Church (UCC) as a Protege, serving in the Children’s Ministry.  Allie worships at UCC. This is Allie’s first year with UCNS.
 

Lois Wall

Fantastic Frogs & Terrific Turtles Pre-Kindergarten Class Co-Head Teacher

Ms. Lois earned both 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 the assistant director of an in-home daycare prior to opening her own family daycare and then raising her own children. Lois and her husband have a grown daughter and son, as well as a son in college, and they are active members of First Baptist Church. This is Lois’ fourth year with UCNS.
 

Beth Meyer

Bouncy Bears Three-Year-Old Class Assistant

Ms. Beth graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with her Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Management, and she has studied Child Development through Vanguard University over the past two years. Beth has over ten years experience working weekly with preschool children as a Bible Study Fellowship Children’s Co-Leader. She has also served as a UCC Preschool Sunday School teacher since 1998. Beth and her family worship at University Covenant Church, and she has a grown step-son, a daughter in college, and a son in high-school. This is Beth’s third year with UCNS.
 

Molly Wong

Playful Puppies Three-Year-Old Class Head Teacher

Ms. Molly graduated from UC Davis with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development, and returned to UCD to obtain her Multiple Subject teaching credential. In addition, she has a Child Development Site Supervisor permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Molly taught kindergarten for six years prior to staying home to care for her own children. Molly serves as the Sunday School Nursery Coordinator of University Covenant Church, is part of the Davis MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) leadership team, and also substituted at UCNS last year. Molly and her husband have two daughters, ages 7 and 5 who are both UCNS graduates. Molly and her husband have actively participated at University Covenant Church for over ten years. This is Molly's fourth year with UCNS.
 

Katie Juranek

Special Needs Aide in the Marvelous Monkeys

Ms. Katie earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Disorders from Biola University, La Mirada. She has experience working with kids in Speech Therapy and she has also volunteered as a group leader for after school programs where she worked with children with special needs. She spent her college summers volunteering as a camp counselor for Junior High kids and is also currently interning at University Covenant Church (UCC) as a Protege, serving in the junior high ministry. Katie worships at University Covenant Church. This is Katie’s first year with UCNS.