Name: Teri
Smith
Position: Director
Teri is proud of the genuine caring environment at ECC – not only
for the children, but also for each other. Teri has a Bachelor of
Science degree in Childhood Development, and is currently working
on a graduate Leadership Certificate in Early Childhood Education.
She and her husband have three children and one grandson. In her
free time, Teri enjoys reading, photography and calligraphy.
Favorite childhood memory: Moving around the US with my family
(military father)
Favorite childhood food: Pizza
Favorite childhood activity: Anything outdoors – riding
bikes and climbing trees
Favorite children’s book: The Cat in the Hat – the first book I
learned to ready all by myself
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Being at the beach
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: Having my grandparents come
for the holidays and getting up early to see what Santa brought
Favorite nickname as a child: My Dad always called me by my first
and middle names: Teri Lynn
Name:
Marian Dotts
Position: Assistant Director
Name:
Melinda Spencer
Position: Administrative Assistant, Staff
Melinda has been working in childcare for over 30
years – and she still loves being around young children and their
families. Melinda has an Associate degree in Business. She and her
husband, John, have a daughter, Rebecca, and a son, Bryan. Melinda
has four grandchildren: Kaleb, Haley, Wyatt and Cole. Cole is
presently enrolled at ECC.
Favorite childhood memory: Being with my Dad
Favorite childhood food: Birthday cake
Favorite childhood activity: Swimming
Favorite children’s book: The Very Hungry
Caterpillar (or anything by Eric Carle)
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory:
Spending August in Panama City, FL with family
Favorite
childhood Christmas memory: My mother always decorated every room
in the house and had lots of parties
Name: Monique Staley
Position: Lead Teacher/Staff
Coordinator
Classroom: Twos
Monique loves the diversification of
cultures at ECC. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in
Management. The youngest of five children, Monique enjoys going to
the movies in her free time.
Favorite childhood memory: Being a
mascot for my Elementary School
Favorite childhood food: French
fries
Favorite childhood activity: Riding
my bike
Favorite children’s book: The Giving
Tree
Favorite childhood summer vacation
memory: Going to stay with my cousins
Favorite childhood Christmas memory:
When Santa brought me a Holly Hobbie doll and an Easy Bake Oven
Infants
Name: Kim Campbell
Position: Teacher
Classroom: Infants
Kim enjoys being a part of the beginning of each child’s life that
she touches. She is completing her degree in Early Childhood
Education. In her spare time, Kim enjoys reading, braiding hair
and singing in the choir.
Favorite childhood memory: Spending summers with dad
Favorite childhood food: Hot dogs
Favorite childhood activity: Climbing trees, caring for stray cats
Favorite children’s book: The Color of My Sky God Made
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Going to Six Flags
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: Getting a Baby Alive –
feeding, changing and putting real baby clothes on
Favorite nickname as a child: Nim
Name: Cindy Dixon
Position: Teacher
Classroom: Infants
Cindy loves the smiling children at ECC. She has a Master of
Education in Counseling. Cindy is married with one son and one
daughter. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading, gardening,
baking and playing bridge.
Favorite childhood memory: Snow-sliding down the Blue Ridge
Parkway on cardboard boxes
Favorite childhood food: Pizza and chocolate
Favorite childhood activity: Reading and bike-riding
Favorite children’s book: Nancy Drew mysteries
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Family vacations at the
beach
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: Decorating the tree
Name: Wendy Fore
Classroom: Half-Day Infants
Name:
Andrea Nelson
Position: Teacher
Classroom: Full-day Infants
Andrea appreciates working with great people at ECC and meeting
new
families year to year.Andrea has a 2-year Associates Degree in
Early Childhood Education from GTCC. She and her husband, Hal,
have two cats, Midiboo and Kiki, and one Dalmation, Dixie. Andrea
spends her downtime singing, as well as boating and jet-skiing at
the lake.
Favorite childhood memory: Playing with her cousin during the
summers at her grandmother’s house
Favorite childhood food: Hamburgers
Favorite childhood activity: Riding a bike, golf cart or go-kart
Favorite children’s book: Love You Always
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: At age 16, my cousin
and I drove to Myrtle Beach in a little
Chevette and stayed with our aunt and uncle in their condo for two weeks.
We cruised every night!
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: All 21 of my Christmases were
spent at home with mom and dad,
waking to see what Santa brought. After lunch at Nana’s, I went home to
play with my toys!
Childhood nickname: Scooby
Name: Christi Peterson
Position: Assistant
Classroom: Infants
Christi likes working at ECC because it gives her an opportunity
to make a difference. She is currently a college senior at UNCG.
She is from a family with two kids and enjoys shopping and
spending time with her family and friends.
Favorite childhood memory: Putting on my mother’s high heels
Favorite childhood food: Spaghetti-O’s
Favorite childhood activity: Playing peek-a-boo with my father
Favorite children’s book: Anything by Dr. Seuss
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Going to Hershey Park
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: Playing with all my new toys
Favorite nickname as a child: Crissy
Name:
Jane Stewart
Position:
Assistant Teacher (Afternoons)
Classroom:
Infants
Jane enjoys
watching and assisting in the children’s growth and development.
Jane is a
senior in college at UNCG. She has one sister Mollie. Jane
enjoys surfing and being with friends.
Favorite
childhood memory: Learning to swim
Favorite
childhood food: Hot dogs
Favorite
childhood activity: Playing the piano
Favorite
children’s book: Goodnight Moon
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Searching for sand
dollars at Kiawah Island
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: Going to Granny’s house
Childhood nickname: Janie-pooh
Toddlers
Name: Danielle
Clayton
Position: Co-teacher
Classroom: Toddlers
Name:
James Joiner
Position: Teacher
Classroom: Toddlers; 3s, 4s, 5s in the Atelier
James enjoys all the wonderful families he’s worked with over the
years, as well as co-workers who feel like family. He will
graduate in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Birth-Kindergarten Education. James has a close circle of friends
and two housemates. In his free time, he enjoys playing the
vibraphone and making fresh pasta.
Favorite childhood memory: Playing in the woods and by the creek
behind our house
Favorite childhood food: Tuna salad sandwiches
Favorite childhood activity: Making things with paper and tape
Favorite children’s book: The Runaway Bunny
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Staying in Punta Gorda,
FL with my
grandparents – fishing in the canal and swimming in the pool
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: The stories we read as a
family each year on Christmas Eve and lighting the candles on the
Advent wreath
Favorite nickname as a child: Michael – my middle name
Name: Nakeshia
Lance
Position: Co-teacher
Classroom: Half Day Toddlers
Name:
Melissa Moore
Position: Teacher
Classroom: Toddlers
For Melissa, the ECC staff is like a family. She is currently
working on a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences.
Melissa has a husband, Chris. In her spare time, she enjoys
reading, riding a motorcycle and working out.
Favorite childhood memory: Going to Dunkin Donuts with my dad on
Sunday mornings
Favorite childhood food: Peanut butter & jelly
Favorite childhood activity: Playing soccer
Favorite children’s book: Go Dog Go! By Dr. Seuss
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Swimming in my
grandma’s pool with my cousins
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: Riding my new BMX bike with
my brother in the snow
Favorite nickname as a child: Missy Bird
Name: Tina Norman
Position: Co-teacher
Classroom: Toddlers
Name: Cait;yn
O'Donnell
Position: Co-teacher
Classroom: Toddlers
Name:
Valerie O’Donnell
Position: Teacher
Classroom: Toddlers
Valerie enjoys the diversity at ECC. She has a Bachelor of Science
degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Valerie is
presently engaged and enjoys exercising in her leisure time.
Favorite childhood memory: Family vacations
Favorite childhood food: Cheese pizza
Favorite childhood activity: Swimming
Favorite children’s book: A Cow Christmas
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Building sandcastles
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: All the children opening our
family present
together
Twos
Name: Mary Fisher
Position: Teacher
Classroom: 2s
Name:
Paula Gales
Position: Teacher
Classroom: 2s
Paula has two Associate Degrees and is working toward a Bachelor
of Arts in Early Care and Education (May 2008) at UNCG. Paula has
three children: Sherrell (17), Destinee (13) and Gavin (7). In her
personal time, Paula enjoys going to her children’s sporting
events and shopping.
Favorite childhood memory: Slumber parties
Favorite childhood food: Pizza
Favorite childhood activity: Cheerleading and attending Vacation
Bible School
Favorite children’s book: Amelia Bedelia
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Spending a month in NY
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: Getting a Barbie Doll head
Favorite nickname as a child: PJ
Name: Denise
Hurd
Position: Lead Teacher
Classroom: 2s
Denise’s favorite part of working at ECC is the overall learning
experience for the children. She has a certificate in Early
Childhood Education and is working toward her Associate’s Degree.
Denise and her husband, Todd, have two sons: Robert and Lopaka.
Denise spends her personal time doing activities with her son.
Favorite childhood memory: Making cakes for Dad in my Easy Bake
Oven
Favorite childhood food: Chicken & Dumplings
Favorite childhood activity: Playing teacher
Favorite children’s book: Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat”
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Spending the summer in
New York
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: Getting new baking dishes and
Barbie dolls
Favorite nickname as a child: Niece
Name: Olivia
Barton-Lynch
Position: Teacher
Classroom: 2s
Name: Miranda Martin
Position: Co-teacher/Floater
Classroom: Half-Day Twos
Miranda enjoys the togetherness and friendly atmosphere at ECC.
Miranda is a second-year senior at UNCG, working toward her
Birth-to-K Teaching Licensure. She is a mother of two. Her hobbies
are reading and exercising.
Favorite childhood memory: Winning “Runner-Up” in her first
pageant at
age 9
Favorite childhood food: Bread and cheese
Favorite childhood activity: Dance team
Favorite children’s book: Click Clack Moo
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: 80-degrees on Christmas in
Oceanside, CA
Childhood nickname: Mina-Mina-Cheese
Threes
Name: Colette Froneberger
Position: Teacher
Classroom: Threes
Colette loves the staff at ECC. She has a Bachelor of Science
degree in Child Development. Colette’s family includes four
sisters and two brothers. In her free time, she enjoys sleeping!
Favorite childhood memory: Spending time with my mother
Favorite childhood food: Hot dogs and pickles (dill or sour)
Favorite childhood activity: Making mud pies
Favorite children’s book: Holy Bible
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Playing in the woods
Name: Gloria Gant
Position: Teacher
Classroom: 3s and 4s
Gloria most enjoys the family atmosphere at ECC. She has an AAS in
Early Childhood. Her family includes Michelle, JR and Tim, her
husband. Gloria enjoys reading and walking in her leisure time.
Favorite childhood memory: Playing “teacher” with neighborhood
friends
Favorite childhood food: Big Mac
Favorite childhood activity: Girl Scouts
Favorite children’s book: Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Our family trip to
Carowinds
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: Getting my Easy-Bake Oven
Name: Mary Kuczynski
Position: Teacher
Classroom: Threes
Name: Latasha Lucas
Position: Teacher
Classroom: Threes
Tasha enjoys working with the parents and co-workers at ECC
because it feels like a big family. She herself has a son,
Lakitric Lucas, and is working toward an Associate Degree.
Favorite childhood memory: Fighting with my brother
Favorite childhood food: Rice and gravy
Favorite childhood activity: Playing Tag and Hide & Seek outdoors
Favorite children’s book: Amelia Bedelia
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Going to the beach
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: Getting my first bike
Favorite nickname as a child: Tee Bird
Name: Jessica Waters
Position: Teacher
Classroom: Threes
Fours
Name:
Shannon Dupree
Position: Teacher
Classroom: Pre K
Shannon appreciates the family-friendly atmosphere at ECC. She has
an AAS in Early Childhood. Shannon and her husband, Rod, have two
children: Roderick, 11, and Shayne, 3 (who attends ECC), plus one
dog, Randall. Shannon’s favorite downtime activities are reading,
baking and watching The Food Network.
Favorite childhood memory: Long summer days spent playing with
cousins
Favorite childhood food: Chocolate chip cookies
Favorite childhood activity: Going to the library
Favorite children’s book: “The Sweet Touch” by Lorna Balian
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Family reunions at
Topsail
Island
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: Waking to find a new desk
with a ceramic pencil cup under the tree!
Name: Ashley
Flaherty
Position: Teacher
Classroom: Fours
Name: Dana Fuller
Position: Co-Teacher
Classroom: 4s
Dana enjoys the friendly, family
environment at ECC. She has her FL-CDA credentials and is
presently enrolled at GTCC. Dana and her husband, Chauncy, have
two sons: Shaun (14) and Devin (11). On a personal note, Dana
enjoys traveling, reading and shopping.
Favorite childhood memory: Dad
taking Dana and her sisters shopping for Easter dresses each year
Favorite childhood food: Blue crabs
Favorite childhood activity: Roller
skating
Favorite children’s book: Little
Cloud (Eric Carle)
Favorite childhood summer vacation
memory: Going to the beach
Name:
Aisha Hampton
Position: Teacher
Classroom: Fours
Aisha loves seeing the smiling faces of the children when she
comes to work at ECC. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in
Child Development and Family Studies. Aisha has one son and enjoys
going to the park or playing ball with him in her personal time.
Favorite childhood food: Stewed chicken and rice
Favorite childhood activity: Riding bikes with friends
Favorite childhood summer vacation memory: Going to Disneyworld
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: Going out of town for
Christmas and being
surprised that Santa Claus found me there
Name: Debra Jefferson
Floaters
Name: Janice Kent
Position: Floater
Classroom: All ages
Janice likes working with children
and being part of the ECC family. She is an only child who likes
to read and garden.
Favorite childhood memory: Going to
my grandparents’ house in the summer
Favorite childhood food: M&Ms,
Spaghetti
Favorite childhood activity: Read
and jump rope
Favorite children’s book: The Night
Before Christmas
Favorite childhood summer vacation
memory: Staying with my grandparents in the summer
Favorite childhood Christmas memory:
Going to my grandparents’ house and being with all of my family
Favorite nickname as a child: Peanut
Name: Linda King
Position: Floater
Classroom: All ages
Linda likes being a part of the children’s early
years, helping build their foundation for growth. She has a
Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education. She and her
husband are empty-nesters now. In her leisure time, Linda enjoys
reading and shopping.
Favorite childhood memory: When my cousins visited
from out-of-state and we had a big cook-out.
Favorite childhood food: 2-for-a-penny candy (Kidds)
Favorite childhood activity: Playing softball with
my mother and siblings
Favorite children’s book: Henny Penny
Favorite childhood Christmas memory: Getting up
before dawn to see what Santa brought
Name: Brittany
Parker
Position: Floater
Name: Stephanie Stewart
