
Meet our Staff
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.
Infant / Toddler Loops
Sunbeams
- 8 children
- 2:8 ratio
- 2 teachers
- Ages 6 months – 17 months
Moons
- 10 children
- 2:10 ratio
- 2 teachers
- Ages 18 months – 30 months
Loop 1
Patina (Tina) Gamez
Position: Teacher Infant/Toddler Loop
Date Started at ACC: March 2001
Started working with Children: 1981
Education: AAS in Child Development – Austin Community College
Crystal Alexander
Position: Assistant Teacher Infant/Toddler Loop
Date Started at ACC: June 2022 (started as an Hourly in 2010)
Started working with Children: 1990
Education: Certificate in Child Care and Development; AAS in Child Care and Development – Austin Community College
Loop 2
June Yeatman
Position: Teacher Infant/Toddler Loop
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 Loop
Date Started at ACC: August 2004
Started working with Children: 1989
Education: AAS in Child Development- Austin Community College , B.S. Child Development and Family Studies – Stephen F. Austin State University
Preschool Classrooms
Stars
- 12 children
- 2:12 ratio
- 2 teachers
- Ages 2 ½ – 3 ½ years
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
Claudia Rodriguez
Position: Assistant Teacher 2 ½ – 3 ½ years
Date Started at ACC: November 2009
Started working with Children: 2001
Education: AAS in Child Development- Central Texas College; BA in Education from Huston-Tillotson University.
Planet Earth
- 14 children
- 2 teachers
- 2:14 ratio
- Ages 3 ½ years – 5 years
Becky Olivarez
Position: Lead Teacher 3 ½ – 5 years
Date Started at ACC: June 2005
Started working with Children: 1995
Education: AAS in Child Development – Austin Community College, B.S.in Child Development and Family Studies – Stephen F. Austin State University
Kelly Barratt
Position: Assistant Teacher 3 ½ – 5 years
Date Started at ACC: January 2023
Started working with Children: 2015
Education: AAS in Child Development from ACC, 2017
Floater
Mayra Gonzalez
Position: Assistant Teacher Floater
Date Started at ACC: December 2019
Started working with Children: 2015
Education: AAS in Child Development – Austin Community College
Evening Care
Milky Way
- Ages 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
Position: Director, Lab School – VACANT
Date Started at ACC:
Started working with Children:
Education:
Shannon Saldana
Position: Administrative Assistant, Lab School/ Interim Director
Date Started at ACC: May 2005
Started working with Children: 2000
Education: AAS in Child Development- Austin Community College , B.S. in Child Development and Family Studies – Stephen F. Austin State University