Meet The Staff

Sarah Mikkelson
Director, Child Care
I am from: Delafield, Wisconsin
Fun Fact About Me: I opened a child care center for Steamboat in November 2001 and 20 years after, I began the process again.
Industry Experience: I have been working with young children for 30 years. I have a Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood Education and a Master's of Art in Education. I have been working with families in the Yampa Valley since 1999 as a kindergarten teacher, PreK teacher, infant caregiver, and Child Care Director.

Lennae jenkins

Early Childhood Coach
I am from: Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Industry Experience: I have been in ECE since high school, over 20 years now. I have worked in summer camps, Montessori, expeditionary learning, special education, nature-based and traditional preschool programs in Colorado, Oregon, Switzerland, Australia, and Zambia.

Kylee Ainge
PreK Teacher
I am from: Rock Springs, WY
Fun Fact About Me: I am a private advocate for children with chronic illnesses and physical disabilities.
Industry Experience: I have 6 years of babysitting experience. I spent 1 year working as a kitchen specialist in a private daycare, but also worked as a teachers aid and loved getting involved in after school activities and babysitting for families.

Vinnie Turner

Preschool Teacher
I am From: Bellingham, WA
Fun Fact About Me: I spent a summer working with a team to divert up to 40% of waste from Willard Fire Camps.
Industry Experience: I began working with children through outdoor education in 2019. Since then, I have earned my bachelor's degree in ECE as of Sprint 2024. I work to foster a love for learning and the great outdoors though my teaching practices.

Tara Peckham
Preschool Teacher
I am from: Born in Denver, raised in Oak Creek, CO
Fun Fact About Me: I worked as a dental lab technician for 6 years. There is a lot of art involved in fabricating dentures!
Industry Experience: I have been in the early childhood industry for roughly 12 years. My favorite part about it is helping children develop a passion for learning. We help build the foundation for children to learn and grown, which will follow them for years to come.

Brenda Ehrlich

Preschool Teacher
I am from: West Virginia
Fun Fact About Me: I love to play pickle ball!
Industry Experience: I am a former preschool/elementary volunteer. I also taught fourth grade and was an elementary substitute teacher.

Alaina Willie
Toddler Teacher
Industry Experience: I have been babysitting since I was 15. I started working at a licensed child care center at 17 and have been in ECE since. I have worked with all age groups, I have primarily worked with toddlers. I have been an assistant, and for the past 1.5 years, I was a lead toddler teacher.

Erika Torres

Toddler Teacher
I am from: Parral (Chihuahua), Mexico
Fun Fact About Me: I enjoy dancing.
Industry Experience: I have worked with children for about 4 years now. My journey began at Cantro Colorado Head Start and that's where I discovered my passion for Child Care. I'm from Mexico and my first language is Spanish.

Mary Kendig

Infant Teacher
I am from: Rochester, NY
Fun Fact About Me: When I am not working I can usually be found cheering on my 12 year old son who is a competitive snowboarder.
Industry Experience:I received my masters degree in Educational Psychology at the University of Colorado and taught at Boulder Journey School for 18 years. I am currently a birth and postpartum doula as well.

Lily Butler

Early Childhood Aide
I am from: Colorado
Fun Fact About Me: I have a baby at the SCCC!
Industry Experience: I have always babysat little kids. I have been a TA for 2nd grade and babysat for the high school teachers.

Sarah Grace Golding

Early Childhood Teacher
I am from: Wolcott, CO
Fun Fact About Me: I love to do solo backcountry trips!
Industry Experience: I worked in a nursery starting at 14 years old and since then found a passion for working with youth. I am an Educational Foundations major and have many years preparing to teach in a classroom.

Lucas Potter

Early Childhood Teacher and Floater
I am from: Tuscon, AZ
Fun Fact About Me: I hope to develop a therapeutic board game to facilitate play therapy.
Industry Experience: I have spent the last three years working in behavioral health hospitals caring for the needs of all ages, predominantly adolescents, with varying levels of care. Before that, I spent time working in summer programs for younger kids with visual impairments. When I am not working I enjoy taking my dog on nature walks or catching the latest sci-fi films.

April Cox
Early Childhood Breaker
I am from: Portland, Oregon
Fun Fact About Me: I am a professional Face Painter and Paint & Sip instructor! I can also do fun cartoon voices.
Industry Experience: I started working in childcare in 2016 with my one-year-old daughter in tow. I have spent over six years working with infants and 1.5 years working with toddlers. Before becoming a mom, I taught ski lessons, art classes, and was a camp counselor for school age kids.

Aleah McCurdy
Early Childhood Breaker
I am from: Meeker, CO
Fun Fact About Me: I can't wait to learn to ski this winter.
Industry Experience: I have worked with kids in a few different settings, including volunteering at a public child care center, babysitting and caring for my own two children. I like to hike and work out.

Sam Nelson
Early Childhood Substitute
I am from: Northern Virginia
Fun Fact: Co-founder of BAR-U-EAT, his favorite energy bars!
Industry Experience: Sam spent two years as a float teacher in an early child care center in Northern Virginia, supporting classrooms from infants to Pre-K. He also coached high school baseball and basketball during that time.

Kaurene Salts

Early Childhood Substitute
I am from: Born in Nebraska and spent 34 years in Stamford, CT
Fun Fact About Me: Concerts are my life!
Industry Experience: I have been teaching preschool for over 24 years and raised my own three children who are now in their 20s.

Erin Murphy

Early Childhood Substitute
I am from: South Hadley, MA
Fun Fact About Me: I carve avocado seeds into little pendants.
Industry Experience: I have been babysitting since I was 12 years old. Working with kids has always been a passion of mine. I babysit for different families and have been working with some for a long period of time.

Gery Smith
Early Childhood Substitute
I am from: Sofia, Bulgaria
Fun Fact About Me: I like camping and panning for gold.
Industry Experience: I have been working in early childhood settings for the last 10 years. I started as a severe need paraprofessional at Strawberry Park Elementgary and then transferred to the Steamboat Springs Preschool. I have been at the preschool for the last 5 years.

Tom Bogh Jacobsa
Early Childhood Substitute
I am from: Tegacay, South Carolina
Fun Fact: Originally from Denmark. Moved to the U.S. from Denmark at age 26.
Industry Experience: Tom has spent 6 months working in two child care centers similar to this one. He also volunteered at an after-school/daycare center and brings personal experience as a parent to a now 24-year-old daughter. He’s been actively involved in caring for children of friends and family over the years.

Erika Torres

Toddler Teacher
I am from: Parral (Chihuahua), Mexico
Fun Fact About Me: I enjoy dancing.
Industry Experience: I have worked with children for about 4 years now. My journey began at Cantro Colorado Head Start and that's where I discovered my passion for Child Care. I'm from Mexico and my first language is Spanish.

Janet Peasley

Early Childhood Teacher
Classroom: Toddler
I am from: Detroit, MI
Fun Fact About Me: I danced on cruise ships during college.
Industry Experience: I coached pom and dance to children in high school through college. I continued to teach dance throughout college and into adulthood (currently, too!). Locally, I spent time in classrooms with 3-18 year old's since 2014.

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