Teachers

Teachers at the Colorado College Children's Center value each child's unique learning style.  We do not practice a predetermined curriculum; rather, we draw on several different pedagogies in order to provide an exciting, interesting and engaging learning experience for each child in our care.


Rohini Banik
Rohini Banik
Preschool 1

Rohini joined the preschool 1 room at the Children’s Center in August 2021. She previously worked with toddlers at the CDCLR at Virginia Tech while obtaining her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. 
Credentials:
** Early Childhood Professional Credential Level IV
** M.A.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction from Virginia Tech (2021) 
** Bachelor's of Science, Human Development from Virginia Tech (2020) 


Rachel Reed
Rachel Reed
Preschool 1

Rachel first joined the Children’s Center in 2018 as the toddler float.  Since then, Rachel has gone through the Child Development Credential process, as well as going back to college.  She is currently working towards a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a focus in child and adolescent development.
Credentials
**Early Childhood Professional Credential 3.0 level II 


Natalia Svette
Natalia Svette
Preschool 2

Natalia has worked in early childhood education since 2012. She first came to Colorado College as a part time substitute in 2014, then left for a time to study ESL and ECE at Pikes Peak Community College. Originally from Lima, Peru, Natalia has lived in Colorado Springs since 2006. 
Credentials:
**Early Childhood Professional Credential Level II
**ECE Basic Skills Certification from PPCC in 2014


Misty Williams

Misty Williams
Preschool 3

Misty has been an ECE teacher since 1999; teaching first in a home-based childcare program, and then operated an after-school program in her local elementary school.  She and her husband have 4 kids: 2 boys and 2 girls ranging from 17-25 years.
Born and raised and in British Columbia, Canada; in 2014 Misty and her family moved to Texas, and she led the Pre-School and Pre-K program in the Plano School District. After COVID, she oversaw a Pre-School program for predominantly Mandarin speaking ESL students.
Credentials:
**Early Childhood Professional Credential 3.0 level II in 2023

 

Veronica Harper
Veronica Harper
Toddler 2

Veronica began teaching at the Colorado College Children’s Center in October 2022.  Prior to coming to the Children’s Center, Veronica spent several years teaching at the UCCS Family Development Center, most recently as the lead teacher for the Transitions classroom.  Veronica is fluent in Spanish and also has some limited knowledge in American Sign Language (ASL).  
Credentials:
**Bachelor of Innovation – Inclusive Early Childhood Education
**Early Childhood Professional Credential Level VI


Jill Landwehr
Jillian Landwehr
Toddler 2

Jillian has worked at the Children’s Center since 2022 and has been in the early childhood field most of her life. Jill is a Colorado Native and grew up in Aurora and Boulder Counties. She started assistant teaching when she was 18 and later went on to become an Early Childhood teacher. She got her certification to teach Early Childhood from the state of Colorado in 2013, and her associate degree in psychology in 2023.  She also taught swimming for 6 years.
Credentials:           
**Early Childhood Professional Credential Level III           
** Certified in Child and Adult Care Food Program management           
** Certified Early Childhood Teacher 2013           
** Associate degree in psychology with an emphasis in Human Development 2023


Lara Lynn Lewis
Lara Lynn Lewis
Toddler 1

Lara Lynn has been an Early Childhood Educator since 2015. She worked at Wasson High School in D-11 serving teen moms and their children as well as Early Head Start Families before coming to the Children’s Center in 2018.
Credentials:
**Early Childhood Professional Credential Level IV
**Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Colorado University, Boulder (1989)


Lori Scroggins
Lori Scroggins
Toddler 1

Lori has been an Early Childhood Educator since 1983 in a variety of settings, including Montessori, Department of Defense, Christian, and Special Education. She started at the Children’s Center in September 2002.
Credentials:
**Early Childhood Professional Credential Level IV
**Associate of Applied Sciences in Early Childhood Education from Pikes Peak Community College (1985)


Carolyn Gering- Infant 1
Carolyn Gering
Infant 1

Carolyn has grown up mostly in Colorado, with two trips to Germany, which is where she found her passion for children.  She started to help out looking after children at her church, then started to babysit, and in her senior year of high school she looked into the early childhood field for a degree in college. She began working at Pikes Peaks State College’s Child Development Center in 2007, then moved to the Children’s Center here at CC in November of 2022.
Credentials:
**Early Childhood Professional Credential Level II
**Associates Degree in Early Childhood Development from Pikes Peak Community College in 2015


Anna Rue- Infant 1
Anna Rue
Infant 1

Anna has lived in Colorado Springs for most of her life where she found a passion for Early Care and Education while volunteering in local elementary schools and day cares. She began working at the Children’s Center in May 2018.
Credentials:
**Early Childhood Professional Credential Level V
**Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from University of Northern Colorado (2017)


Rachael Sysak- Infant 2
Rachael Sysak
Infant 2

Rachael has been working at the Children’s Center since September 2019, and has been in Early Childhood Education since 2009, mostly with infants and toddlers.
Credentials:
**Early Childhood Professional Credential Level IV
**Director Certification from Pikes Peak Community College (2016)
**Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Pikes Peak Community College (2017)
**Infant Nursery Supervisor

 Sarah Abney

Sarah Abney
Infant 2
Sarah joined the staff at the Children’s Center in June 2021, and has been in Early Childhood Education since 2007, working mostly with infants.
Credentials:
**Early Childhood Professional Credential Level III
 **Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Pikes Peak Community College (2010)

 


 Kim Foster

Kim Foster
Director
 
Kim began at the Children’s Center in 1999 as a student worker. She obtained a full-time teaching position in July of 2002. Kim has been a floater, and has taught in the infant, toddler, and preschool programs at the Center. She moved to an administrative role in September 2020, and became the Director in December of 2023.
 
Credentials:
            **Early Childhood Professional Credential Level VI
            **Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Bradley University (2002)
            **Director certification from Pikes Peak Community College (2017)
            **Certified Coaches Credential (2021)
Amanda Homra
Amanda Homra
Assistant Director

Amanda has worked in the Early Childhood field for over 20 years, and joined the Children’s Center in December 2024. She has worked in many different roles. She started out as a teacher’s aide, has been Director of a center and previously was an Early Childhood Education Coach for three years.
Credentials:
** Early Childhood Professional Credential Level VI
** Associates of Applied Science in ECE from Red Rocks Community College (2015)
**Directors certification from Red Rocks Community College (2015)
** Certified Coaches Credential (2022)
**Trainer Certificate (2022)
** Lactation Friendly Child Care Advisor (2022)
Report an issue - Last updated: 05/27/2025