Meet Our Staff

Classroom Teachers and Assistant Teachers must meet educational and experiential requirements that prepare them to work with children and families as well as our adult students. In addition to the full-time classroom staff, hourly and work study student employees assist throughout the center in the classrooms, kitchen and at the front desk. Hourly staff in our program range in educational and experiential background. Some of our hourly staff are currently enrolled in or graduated from the ACC Child Development program. When hourly staff is hired, some child development or early childhood coursework, as well as experience in a classroom setting, is preferred. In hiring staff we also strive to reflect the diversity of our families and the community in which we live - including ethnic, cultural, gender and age diversity.

Some classrooms also have a Foster Grandparent volunteer who works with the children under the supervision of full-time staff.

All staff and volunteers participate regularly in required training such as CPR and first aid, administration of medication, SIDS, Shaken Baby Syndrome and brain development. In addition, annual professional development hours also include topics like guidance and discipline, ethics, diversity, growth and development, teamwork, abuse and neglect, curriculum, assessment and special needs.

Sunbeams

• Patina (Tina) Gamez
• Position:Teacher Infant/Toddler
• Date Started at ACC: March 2001
• Started working with Children: 1981
• Education: AAS in Child Development - Austin Community College

• Shannon Saldana
• Position: Assistant Teacher Infant/Toddler
• Date Started at ACC: May 2005
• Started working with Children: 2000
• Education: AAS in Child Development - Austin Community College

Moons

• June Yeatman
• Position:Teacher Infant/Toddler
• Date Started at ACC: August 1995
• Started working with Children: 1980
• Education: MEd in Curriculum and Instruction specializing in Early Childhood Education - University of Texas

• Gloria Perez
• Position: Assistant Teacher Infant/Toddler
• Date Started at ACC: August 2004
• Started working with Children: 1989
• Education: AAS in Child Development - Austin Community College

Stars

• Jennifer Thomas
• Position:Teacher 2 ½ - 3 ½ years
• Date Started at ACC: March 1984
• Started working with Children: 1980
• Education: BA in Elementary Education - Houston-Tillotson

Planet Earth

• Chris Owens
• Position:Teacher 3 ½ - 5 year olds
• Date Started at ACC: May 2000
• Started working with Children: 1975
• Education: BA in Humanities - New College of California with additional courses in child development from ACC

• Becky Olivarez
• Position: Assistant Teacher 3 ½ - 5 years
• Date Started at ACC: June 2005
• Started working with Children: 1995
• Education: AAS in Child Development - Austin Community College

Floater

• Sandi Polasek
• Position: floater
• Date Started at ACC:
• Started working with Children: 1986
• Education: Infant/Toddler and Preschool certificates

Milky Way

Evening Care 2 years - 10 years

• Lesli Sparkman Williams
• Position: Evening Care Coordinator
• Date Started at ACC: October 2003
• Started working with Children: 1984
• Education: BS in Applied Learning and Development and BA in African and African American Studies - University of Texas

Administration

• Dawn Leach
• Position: Director, Lab School
• Date Started at ACC: February 2000
• Started working with Children: 1979
• Education: BS in Child Development - University of Texas

• Teri Layton
• Position: Administrative Assistant
• Date Started at ACC: January 1992
• Started working with Children: 1992
• Education: BA in Communications - Thomas Edison State University