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Staff Bio's: Heather Babati, Briana Baxter, Betsy Belleville, Melanie Brent, Andrea Burnham, Karen Burton-Lind, Lily Caridis,Emily Corbishley, Linda DeMello, Georgia Gordet, Lumenica Holst, Becky Hopkins, Lori Johnson, Lori Ann Johnson, Jamie Kuhns, Dianne Lemmon, Claire McDonald, Judi Melberg, Norma (Chickie) Michel, Cheryl Mosbacher,  Beverly Nalbandian, Guadalupe Lopez, Marcia O'Neill, Kiko Osaki, Jessica Placas, Lorie Priess, Uzma Salahuddin, Roxy Sigua, Miko Smalheiser, Vicki-Dawn Rader, Kim Westcott, Sharon Wong, Janice (Jan) Zolfarelli



Name: Heather Babati

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service: New Aide

Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree in Art, Design Option – California State Polytechnic University Pamona

Personal Information: Heather and her husband Steve have two children, Lucas (2nd grade) and Thomas (Kindergarten).  She enjoys going to her boy's sporting events, reading, Sudoku puzzles, and gardening.

 

Name: Briana Baxter

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service:  1 year

Education: Pasadena Community College, studied in Communications

Personal Information: Ms. Briana and her husband have 5 children,

Jeffrey, Mariah, Sarah, Aliyah, and Hannah. She enjoys hiking the ridge, riding her bike and walking her dog.

 

 

Name: Betsy Belleville

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service:  New

Education:

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science,  San Joes State university

Personal Information: Ms. Betsy and her husbank Steve have four Children. They enjoy snow skiing, boating and spending time with their extended family

 

 

Name: Melanie Brent
Title: Preschool Aide
Years of Service: 14 years

Education:
Personal Information: Melanie and her husband Jeff have three children, Melissa, Lori, and Richard. Melanie enjoys walking, scrapbooking, cooking, traveling and spending time with her family, especially her granddaugher, Ellie.

 

Name: Andrea Burnham
Title: Preschool Teacher
Years of Service: 9 years
Education: Interior Design Degree and Early Childhood Education Certificate from Los Positas College
Personal Information: Andrea and her husband William have 2 boys, Dominick and Miles. Andrea is originally from Germany. She likes hiking, biking and spending time with her family.

Introduction Letter!

 

Name: Karen Burton-Lind
Title: Director
Years of Service: 27 years
Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree, Education - University of Northern Colorado, Credential in Early Childhood Education
Personal Information: Karen and her husband Steve have two children, Corey and Jason. She has a dog, Daley and likes to cook, sew, and go to the theatre.

 

Name: Lilly Caridis

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service: 2

Education:  B.A. in Psychology

Personal Information:   Lilly and her husband Alex have 2 children, Violette and Andon. We have 2 cats & 2 dogs. We enjoy being outside camping. We like reading and crafts.

 

Name: Emily Corbishley

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service: 2 years

Education: BA in Psychology, University of Colorado – Boulder

Personal Information: Emily and her husband Alex have 2 boys, Zachary and Michael.  She likes to swim, bike ride with her family and read.

 

Name: Linda DeMello

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service: 4

Education: Studied Illustration at the Academy of Art College – San Francisco

Personal Information: Ms. Linda and her husband Frank have three children, Rachel, Cortney and Joseph. Linda likes spending time with her family and enjoys running, drawing, painting and photography, and her 1 year old dog, Rocky.

 

Name: Georgia Gordet

Title: Office Assistant

Years of Service: 17 years

Education: Associates Arts Degree, General Education - Diablo Valley College

Personal Information: Ms. Georgia and her husband Frank have three children, Peter, Christina, and Olivia. She loves spending time with her family and two Scottie dogs.

 

Name: Becky Hopkins

Title: Recreation Supervisor

Years of Service: 14 years

Education: Bachelor of Science Degree, Recreation and Community Education and Master’s Degree, Public Administration – Public Policy Development

Personal Information: Ms. Becky enjoys going to the ballet, opera and spending time with her three nephews; Ricky, Ryan and Sam.  And also her two nieces Lila and Olivia.


 

Name: Lumencia Holst

Title: Preschool Aide                     

Years of Service: 3

Education: A.A in Languages (Spanish and French)

Personal Information: Ms. Lumenica has 4 children, Alexandria, Christine, Kimberly, and John. She enjoys traveling and sports (soccer). She likes to spend time with her children and her husband, John of 38 years.

 

Name: Lori Johnson

Title: Preschool Teacher

Years of Service: 12 years

Education: Bachelors of Science Degree, Agricultural Business Management –  Cal Poly

Personal Information: Ms. Lori and her husband Chris have three children, Jessica, Katie, and Emma.  She likes to work with her horses and spend time with her family.

Introduction Letter!

 

Name: Lori-Ann Johnson

Title: Preschool Teacher

Years of Service: 11 years

Education:

Personal Information: Lori Ann and her husband Paul have two children, Ryan and Kiley.  She enjoys reading and going on vacation. They have a dog named Koa.

Introduction Letter!

 

Name: Jamie Kuhns

Title: Preschool Teacher

Years of Service: 19 years

Education: Associate Arts Degree, General Education – Chabot College

Personal Information: Ms. Jamie and her husband Bill have two children, Clatin and Kirstie.  Ms. Jamie likes to spend time with her family.  She enjoys playing and watching sports. Ms. Jamie also likes to watch Food Network and EPSN. They have a dog named “Wats”.

Introduction Letter!

 

Name: Dianne Lemmon

Title: Preschool Assistant                     

Years of Service: New

Education:  BA Liberal Studies, Early Childhood Development, Cal State Hayward.

Personal Information:  Ms. Dianne and her husband, Greg have 2 children, Nick and Rachel.  Ms. Dianne enjoys traveling, running, hiking, and spending time with her family.

 

Name: Guadalupe Lopez

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service:  New

Education:  University of Mexico, Bachelor in Accounting

Personal Information: Guadalupe likes to go to the gym, reading, writing, walking and riding bikes. She enjoys playing with her nephews and nieces.

 

Name: Claire Marie McDonald

Title: Preschool Teacher

Years of Service: 4 years

Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education / Sociology – San Francisco College For Woman

Personal Information: Ms. Claire has two children, Suzanne and Scott. She enjoys gardening, photography, and traveling. Ms. Claire has 17 years experience in teaching.

Introduction Letter!

 

Name: Judi Mellberg

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service: 18 years

Education: Bachelors of Arts Degree, Psychology & Masters in Education from Holy Names College

Personal Information:Ms. Judi and her husband Bill have a daughter Caitlin. Ms. Judi likes to snow ski, read and work crossword puzzles.

 

Name: Norma (Chickie) Michel

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service: 13 years

Education:

Personal Information: Ms. Chickie has two children, Kristen and Anthony.  She enjoys cooking, hiking, and reading and going on vacation to the beach.

 

Name: Cheryl Mosbacher

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service: 2nd year at Gingerbread; 5 years of preschool teaching experience.

Education:

Personal Information: Ms. Cheryl and her husband Greg, of 15 years, have a son and a daughter. Ms. Cheryl loves to garden in her yard, and go camping with her family. She also really loves chocolate.

 

Name: Beverly Nalbandian

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service: 2 years

Education:

Personal Information: Bev and her husband, Bill have two married children and four grandchildren ages, 12, 11, 5-1/2, and 2. Their daughter teaches at Foothill High School, and their son is a mechanical engineer. Ms. Bev enjoys singing and the opera. She and her husband are very active in their church choir. Her special love, aside from her family is the great staff and wonderful children at Gingerbread!

 

Name: Marcia O'Neill

Title: Preschool Teacher

Years of Service: 2 years

Education:

Personal Information:  Marcia has been a preschool teacher for many years.  She has 5 grandchildren, loves to read and loves working with children.

 

Name: Kiko Osaki

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service:  New

Education: U.S. Santa Cruz, Bachelor in Psychology

Personal Information: Kicko has two sons. She likes to dance, do step aerobics, and sew. She loves watching reality TV.

 

Name: Jessica Placas

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service:  New

Education: Degree in English Language and Literature from California Lutheran University.

Personal Information: Jessica has spent the last 3 years in the Early Childhood Education field and is excited to be at Gingerbread. In her free time Jessica likes to spend time with her finance. They enjoy reading, and spending time in the outdoors.

 

Name: Lorie Priess

Title: Preschool Assistant                     

Years of Service: New

Education: BA, Communications Studies, Sacramento State

Personal Information: Ms. Lorie and her husband, Sascha, have 2 children, Nicolina and Paul.  Lorie enjoys spending time with her family.  She likes to cook, read and vacation in Pismo Beach & Disneyworld.  She also has a white poodle named Bentley.

 

Name: Vicki Dawn Rader

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service: 20 years

Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree, Secondary Education and Teaching Certificate for Home Economics, University of North Colorado.

Personal Information: Ms. Vicki-Dawn and her husband Jim have two children, Andrew and Laura–Dawn.  She likes the theatre, sewing, and dancing, bridge, camping and skiing.


 

Name: Uzma Salahuddin

Title: Preschool Assistant                     

Years of Service: New

Education:  Master’s in English Literature, Punjab University

Personal Information:  Ms. Uzma and her husband Shahid have a son Ahad.  Ms. Uzma likes cooking, hiking, and spending time with her family.

 

Name: Roxy Sigua

Title: Preschool Assistant                     

Years of Service: New

Education:  BS Degree, Biology, California State University Hayward.  Units in Early Childhood Education – Ohlone College.  Personal Information:  Ms. Roxy and her husband have four children and a bunny.  She enjoys vacationing with her family, gardening, jet skiing, snow skiing, playing volleyball and softball.  She especially likes to cheer for her children at their sporting events and root for her favorite teams, SF Giants and the Oakland Raiders.

 

Name: Miyoko Smalheiser

Title: Preschool Aide

Years of Service:  New

Education: Soka Woman's College (Japan)

Personal Information: Miyoko and her husband have two daughters. She likes to read, cook and bake goodies.

 

Name: Kim Westcott

Title: Preschool Assistant                     

Years of Service: New

Education:  Studied Early Childhood Education at Cañada College.

Personal Information:  Ms. Kim has 3 children, Matt, Ryan & Morgan.  She enjoys watching the SF Giants, Camping, Boating and Traveling with her Family.

 

Name: Sharon Wong

Title: Preschool Teacher

Years of Service: 12 years

Education:

Personal Information: Ms. Sharon and her husband Terry have a son Ryan.  She likes to read, and spend time outside with her family.

Introduction Letter!

 

Name: Janice (Jan) Zolfarelli

Title: Preschool Teacher

Years of Service: 13 years

Education: Associate of Arts Degree in Developmentally Disabled Education, Bachelor of Arts Degree, Liberal Studies – Cal State Hayward

Personal Information: Ms. Jan and her husband Paul have three children, Darrin, Victoria, and Evan.  Ms. Jan enjoys shopping at craft fairs, reading and anything Disney.

 

Introduction Letter!


City of Pleasanton
P.O. Box 520
123 Main Street
Pleasanton, California 94566-0802

© 2004 City of Pleasanton