MIKE ASHCRAFT
Mike Ashcraft, Co-Founder/Director of Children's Choice holds a Master of Arts Degree in Education with an
Emphasis in School-Age Care from Concordia University. He is a doctoral candidate with Nova Southeastern University in the Ed.D. Organizational Leadership program. He has more than 20 years of combined experience in child care and education. He is an Accreditation Endorser for the National Afterschool Association. He is an experienced trainer in the field of School-Age Care. He is a former training and technical service contractor and a professional writing contractor for the New Mexico State Department of Education. He is a former guest professor on the faculty of Concordia University, teaching college courses in school-age care programming. He is the current President of the New Mexico School-Age Care Alliance, (NMSACA). He is the current President Elect of the New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children. He is the author of Best Practices: Guidelines for School-Age Programs, and the Best Practices Workbook, published by and available from Sparrow Media Group.
Mike Ashcraft's Resume
CHELSEA ASHCRAFT
Chelsea Ashcraft, Co-Founder/Director of Children's Choice, holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, with Honors, in Psychology from the University of New Mexico, and a Master of Science Degree in Early Child hood Education and Administration from Nova Southeastern University. She has more than 17 years experience in child care: as a teacher, a camp director, a school-age child care coordinator, an Assistant Director, and in her most recent position, as the Director of the Lovelace Child Care Center. Chelsea has significant experience managing school-based child care programs. She has extensive training and experience in school-age child care and has shared her knowledge as a presenter for the National Association for the Education of Young Children's Annual Conference, the New Mexico Association for the Education of Young Children's Conference, the Santa Fe Association for the Education of Young Children's Conference, the National School-Age Care Alliance Conference and the New Mexico School-Age Care Alliance's (NMSACA) Conference. Chelsea serves on the faculty of Central New Mexico Community College, teaching college courses in child development and guidance. She is the current Treasurer of NMSACA. She is an accreditation endorser for the National Afterschool Association and a certified Quality Advisor by the National Institute of Out of School Time.
Chelsea Ashcraft's Resume
DIRECTORS OF AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS
LEANN SOMMERS
, Cell..........(505) 228-7700
Leann has been with Children's Choice since its inception. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from UNM. She has more than 13 years of experience and extensive training and education in the field of school age care. She is a certified Quality Advisor by the National Institute on Out of School Time. She is also an Accreditation Endorser for the National Afterschool Association. Leann is responsible for program implementation and evaluation. She is involved in organizational development, including management of human resources and fiscal management. She assists in developing the mission, goals and policies for the programs. She provides guidance and mentoring to the SAC Program Site Directors.
CATHERINE SCOTT
Catherine holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Political Science from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio. She has more than ten years experience working with school-age children and has much training in the field. Previous to coming to Children’s Choice in 2002, Catherine worked with KIDSTOCK, INC. in San Francisco and served as an Administrative/Teaching Assistant and Aftercare Supervisor at Our Montessori School in Albuquerque. In 2006, Catherine led the CC site st Sombra del Monte to national accreditation by the National Afterschool Association. Catherine is responsible for ensuring, maintaining, and improving program safety and quality throughout the organization. She serves as a coach and mentor to the Program Site Directors.
OFFICE MANAGER
SARA MESTAS
Sara Mestas, Office Manager Children's Choice, is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of New Mexico. She has worked for Children's Choice since 1998. She is the former coordinator of our Kindergarten program. She has more than eleven years of experience in school-age care. Sara oversees accounts parent accounts and office procedures.
Phone: 296-2880,
PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Children's Choice Site Directors are responsible for the day to day operation of the SAC program site. They supervise the SAC teachers, communicate with families, build relationships with the school staff and faculty, and oversee all program activities. The Site Directors lead the Accreditation Teams (parents, faculty, staff and kids who evaluate the program according to national accreditation standards of quality) and the Design Teams (staff and kids' committee teams who plan the curriculum, enrichment classes, activities, field trips, etc.) The Children's Choice SAC Program/Site Directors are required to have a combination of experience, education and professional preparation. They must hold a Bachelor's Degree in a related field, six months experience and six credit hours in child and youth development, OR two years of college in a related field , two years experience, and nine credit hours in child and youth development.
CARRIE WALKER: Cell: 459-0576,
Carrie, Director of Children's Choice at Bandelier Elementary School has been with Children’s Choice since February of 2000. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in University Studies with a focus on Art & Psychology. She has 10 years of experience with kids prior to joining the Children’s Choice team in summer camps, parks and recreation programs, and as an art teacher. She likes having the opportunity to be a positive role model. She likes painting, drawing, listening to music and reading. She wants parents to know that she is always available to listen to their concerns and appreciates their feedback. She wants kids to know that she will always listen, that they can come to her with problems, and that she will play anything—anytime!
CICELY RYAN: Cell: 615-6534,
Cicely Ryan, Director of Children's Choice at Zuni Elementary School site, has been with Children’s Choice since August of 2006. Cicely holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Infant and Child Development. She had 13 years of experience as an elementary school teacher and director of accredited school-age child care programs prior to joining our team. She has worked on several military installations including Japan and Guam. She likes getting to work with kids from all backgrounds and getting to act like a kid again—playing games and singing songs. She likes to read, travel, play with her children, and spend time with her family. She wants parents to know that she is a very experienced educator and mother of four girls. She wants kids to know that she loves to play games, do arts and crafts and have fun with them.
CAREGIVERS
The Children's Choice SAC Program Staff must meet the staff qualifications of The NAA Standards for Quality School-Age Care. Teachers must have a Bachelor's Degree in a related field, OR a Bachelor's Degree in an unrelated field with three months of experience and three credit hours in child/youth development, OR two years of college with nine months of experience and three credit hours in child/youth development, OR a HS Diploma with 18 months of experience and six credit hours in child/youth development/SAC programming. All staff must have CPR and First Aid Certifications, a Criminal Records Check, and a TB Test. Staff development is a critical link in the success of a SAC program, so all staff must complete at least 24 clock hours of appropriate continuing education per year. It is the philosophy of Children's Choice that SAC teachers act and be treated as professionals. We put much effort into building professionals and into showing appreciation for superior efforts. High quality staff recruitment, development and retention is a key to quality in SAC, and Children's Choice believes it is critical to fulfilling the mission of providing a model of quality.
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