Early Achievers Team

Lee Ann Bryant  |  Early Achievers Consultation Manager – Thurston, S. Mason & Grays Harbor

I am honored to be an Early Learning Consultant Manager. The benefits of high quality care and learning opportunities for our youngest children are profound and I love being a part of helping to achieve it. I bring over 20 years of experience in Early Childhood Education to my work here with CCAC. I have worked as an ECE Instructor, Parent Educator Advisor to Cooperative Preschools and most recently as an Education and Disabilities Coordinator for Head Start/ECEAP programs. By working together, we CAN make a difference in the lives and futures of children and families.

Heidi Scott  |  Early Achievers Consultation Manager – Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap & N. Mason

I joined CCAC in May, 2016, after nearly 17 years of working in the field of Early Childhood Education.  After receiving my B.A. in Social Work in 1996, I almost immediately began working for a local Head Start program, which initiated my love for ECE. As a military family, my husband and I moved frequently. From Connecticut to Hawaii, and many places in between, I worked in various Head Start programs and private child care centers as a preschool teacher. I taught in traditional, as well as inclusive classrooms before spending a few years as an Early Head Start Home Visitor for Infants and Toddlers. As a Training and Curriculum Specialist for Naval Base Kitsap Child and Youth Programs, I spent 5 years training and mentoring teaching staff in all aspects of child development and curriculum. I am grateful that my travels gave me the opportunity to engage with families from many different cultural, developmental and socioeconomic backgrounds, and I gained a deep appreciation for the importance a child’s family and culture play in their development and education. I learned that wherever you go, families want the same thing for their children, which is high quality care and education. I am thrilled to be working for the Early Achievers program where I can use the skills I have gained to help child care providers in Kitsap County do exactly that, which is to ensure that quality care and education is available to all children.

Miracle Hein |  Early Achievers – Early Learning Consultant – Kitsap & N. Mason

The majority of my adult life has been spent working in the early childhood field, and though I have dabbled in other areas briefly, I always return. In 2010 I started inside an infant classroom as a part-time assistant, and by 2016 I had worked my way up to a full-time lead teacher in a preschool classroom. I obtained my Bachelor’s degree in Humanities in 2022. I loved coaching the teachers and parents in my classroom and sharing any knowledge between us to help benefit the children in our program. I taught overseas in Japan in my own preschool classroom for students learning English, and that remains one of my favorite things I have been able to experience. I also did a brief stint as a paraeducator in a local high school with the special education department, and while I enjoyed that too, early learning has my heart. I love advocating for children and teachers to have the tools they need to continue to support growth and development and look forward to doing that work with Early Achievers!

Amalia Baker |  Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant – Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap & N. Mason

I joined Child Care Action Council in January 2020. I grew up on the Olympic Peninsula and returned in 2010 to raise my two daughters. I have a master’s in social work with an emphasis in children and families and 17 years of experience working with youth in education and mental health. I became passionate about early childhood education when I worked as an infant teacher at a drug and alcohol treatment center for women. Since then, I worked to promote the healthy development of children as a parent educator with Parents as Teachers, a family counselor, a child therapist, and a mental health consultant for Head Start and ECEAP programs. I am excited to be part of the CCAC team!

Jessica Beckett  |  Early Achievers – Early Learning Consultant – Clallam & Jefferson 

I am a small town girl from Northwest Washington. My husband and I have been married for three years and have three amazing children. I have been in the child care profession for seventeen years. I started in high school taking a child care class for high school credits and it was then that realized working with and for children was my passion. I have been a child care facility director, preschool teacher and my greatest accomplishment is being a mommy! I was hired on with Child Care Action Council December 19, 2016 for Clallam and Jefferson counties. I look forward to working with our providers and helping them gain the tools needed to guide our children to be successful through life’s journey.

Amanda Coleman  |  Early Achievers – Early Learning Consultant – Clallam & Jefferson 

I joined Child Care Action Council in October 2021. I was born and raised in Southern California and moved to Washington in 2007 to assist my military brother with live in childcare as he was away on deployment. I have a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and 21 years of experience working in the Human Services field. I have worked to promote the healthy development of children as a parent educator with Parents as Teachers, supervised visitation for parents in need, and have taught parenting classes and am certified in Incredible Years, Triple P, and Strengthening Families.  I also worked as a Family Service Worker for a local Head Start program. I look forward to collaborating and being a part of the CCAC team!

Shelly Knight|  Early Achievers – Early Learning Consultant – Thurston 

“To love and teach our children is to care for our community” is an Alaskan Native proverb that I have adopted. I lived in Alaska and worked in the Early Learning field as a K-3 teacher for several years. After that I moved out to Kalskag, a remote Yup’ik village in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta to work as the Head Start Lead Teacher. It was very rewarding living among the Alaskan Natives, teaching their children and serving the families of the Village. I moved back to Washington a couple years ago and enthusiastically continued in the Early Learning field with a Head Start/ECEAP program.With over 30 years of leadership in Early Learning, I am excited to serve my community as a member of the Early Achievers team. I am passionate about supporting providers and the children they serve in the early childhood years-a time that is so precious and so important.

Lei Pedro   |  Early Achievers – Early Learning Consultant – Thurston 

Hi, my name is Lei Pedro.  I was born and raised in Hawaii.  My husband and I have 3 amazing children and have been living here in Washington since 2013.  I have a BA in Psychology with a minor in Family Studies from Central Washington University.  I have been working in the Early Childhood Education field since 2011, starting as an assistant teacher and working up to my most recent role as a center director.  Providing children with the best possible foundation for lifelong learning has always been my passion, as well as inspiring and motivating teachers.  I am so excited to be a part of this Early Achievers team and look forward to working with providers in our community.

Nattie Diaz  |  Early Achievers – Early Learning Consultant – Thurston

My first experience with young children began in 1986 while working for the Board of Education in New York City. Since then, my experiences in early childhood have come from various job experiences to include Home family Childcare, public schools and the Armed Forces Child Youth Services. My husband and I are originally from New York City, but we have lived in many areas of the country including Europe. We moved to Washington State in 2001. My husband retired after 20 years of military service and we decided to settle here and raise our two handsome sons. I have recently completed my bachelors in Early Childhood. I’m grateful and honored to be working in an organization that focuses in quality work by training and mentoring teachers to help reach their full potential.

Tracy Mitchell  |  Early Achievers – Early Learning Consultant – Thurston & S. Mason

I am so excited to be working here! I come to Child Care Action Council with over 20 years’ experience in Early Childhood education. I began my career as a parent volunteer when my youngest son was in Head Start. That experience led me to a career opportunity where I worked as a teacher’s aide in a child care center/ Head Start and progressed into a position where I served as the bus driver, lead Pre-K teacher, education coordinator/trainer, and transportation manager for many years. I also took on the role of interim Head Start/Child Care director on several occasions. I have an AA in ECE and Administration and a BS in Child Development. I am passionate about learning new things and teaching others. I look forward to working in a new role and expanding my horizons and helping others reach their full potential in the ECE field!!

Kerry Sanders  |  Early Achievers – Early Learning Consultant – Grays Harbor & Thurston 

I began my Early Childhood career as a parent in a local co-op preschool.  When they couldn’t find a toddler teacher, I was coaxed into taking the position.  The fire was ignited…. and here I am 30 years later! I was a co-op toddler teacher and a child care preschool teacher for 10 years and have worked for Head Start/ECEAP the last 20 years as a Center Director, Area Coordinator/Ed & Disabilities Lead and a Child Care Partnership Manager. I have a BA in Elementary Education with endorsements in ECE, Special Ed (K-12) and ECE Special Ed.  Joining CCAC feels like a natural progression and a sort of ‘coming home’ to where I began.  I am very excited to be here.

Kati Watkins  |  Early Achievers – Early Learning Consultant – Thurston & S. Mason 

I started with the Child Care Action Council as an ECEAP teacher 3 years ago. I’m excited to start my new journey as an Early Achievers Early Learning Consultant/Coach. I have worked in the early childhood field for 10 years. My passion began when I was a babysitter, and it grew from there. I find it very rewarding to be a part of a child’s learning and development. I have my associates degree in Early Childhood Education, and I am always willing to learn new things as life never stops teaching!

Melinda Luark  |  Early Achievers – Early Learning Consultant – Grays Harbor 

My name is Melinda Luark. I come to Child Care Action Council with a varied background of Early Learning experience:  teaching early childhood special education in Shelton, Olympia, and Lakewood.  I co-taught at Yelm Head Start and helped open Old Town Tumwater center.  I worked at two Olympia elementary schools as YMCA before and after school care director.  In the very beginning I worked part-time as a teacher’s aide for Head Start at Lincoln Elementary and taught preschool at Olympia Childcare Center.  Most recently, I served as Assistant Director at Keystone Learning Center in Aberdeen. I am very excited to join the CCAC team as a Coach/Consultant!  I am so grateful to serve on a team that supports and nurtures children and families helping them to thrive. I enjoy walking/hiking in nature, swimming and collecting children’s books.  I especially enjoy mailing books to my 8-year-old grandson Wyatt.

Emily Long  |  Early Achievers – Early Learning Consultant – Kitsap & N. Mason

Hi there! My name is Emily and I joined Child Care Council Team October of 2016! I acquired my Bachelor’s degree in Human Services at Western Washington University, where I was able to work in a Montessori setting, and where built my passion for education for the “Early Achievers” that are constantly changing and deserve support through these years of impression. I recently came from an extensive background working with Foster Youth and Families in the Kitsap and Pierce Counties where I focused more on expediting goals case by case in order to ensure family preservation. I am currently an active instructor for the Incredible Years Parenting Program, and advocate for this curriculum. I also have a vast experience working with children and child care providers since I was 16 years old, to the present. My passion is children and their education, while supporting them through their mental and emotional growth. I believe that we are all constantly growing, no matter the age, and as much as we pour into these children, they are in return pouring into us! The more we foster this investment, will it be nothing short of beneficial and rewarding in future!

Beverly Barker  |  Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant – Grays Harbor, N. Mason & Thurston

I began working in Early Childhood Education (ECE) in 1987 as a Behavioral Health Specialist for autistic and emotionally challenged children. Through the years, I’ve had the privilege to work with children, youth, young adults, and families with a broad spectrum of gifts and challenges. Over the course of my journey, I have developed a deep appreciation of and respect for early childhood professionals who work so hard to influence children in positive ways. Supporting ECE professionals in improving outcomes for the children and families they serve is a privilege. I hold a BS in Psychology, a Master’s in Public Administration, and a MEd in Early Childhood Education/Special Education. I am thrilled to be a part of Child Care Action Council and the great work they are accomplishing in early childhood education!

Yvette Hernandez  |  Early Achievers – Early Learning Consultant – Kitsap County and State Wide Trainer

I joined Child Care Action Council in October of 2015. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Social Services. I previously worked in various Social Services roles which include teaching The Incredible Years parenting class and working with foster children with behavioral aggression and developmental disabilities. Prior to that I volunteered at an adult day center working with adults and elderly with developmental disabilities. I enjoy working in this field because I enjoy having a hands on approach to making a difference in young children’s lives and how that connects with their families and the community I serve in. I live in Bremerton with my husband and two children- Stella, a precocious preschooler, and Harper, a sweet and tender toddler.