SIGN UP AND JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
Curriculum Committee
Curriculum Committee
Aida Rodriguez
Aida Rodriguez currently holds the following volunteer positions: SEIU 925 Northwest Region volunteer/translator, Family Home Childcare; Vice President, Whatcom Association of Providers. She currently participates in the following programs: Licensed Bilingual Early Learning Program; Early Achievers Level 3, Creative Curriculum Certified with Teaching Strategies Gold; State Certified mentor through Imagine Institute; State Approved Trainer (DCYF).
Aida’s Training philosophy: A professional relationship promoting the knowledge of personal experience and working together in order to gain skills, self-confidence, and independence while working in the classroom. The result is a relationship creating a developmental learning environment and community-based program in partnership to help support and advocate for everyone’s learning style, working together as a team and providing opportunities for hands on interaction. Recognize the importance of a positive self-image for students, and the role it plays in fostering independence and pride in oneself. Our focus is to provide a stimulating environment where students learn through interactions and genuine experiences, taking into special consideration that each student is an individual with a diverse background.
Aida’s Training philosophy: A professional relationship promoting the knowledge of personal experience and working together in order to gain skills, self-confidence, and independence while working in the classroom. The result is a relationship creating a developmental learning environment and community-based program in partnership to help support and advocate for everyone’s learning style, working together as a team and providing opportunities for hands on interaction. Recognize the importance of a positive self-image for students, and the role it plays in fostering independence and pride in oneself. Our focus is to provide a stimulating environment where students learn through interactions and genuine experiences, taking into special consideration that each student is an individual with a diverse background.
Anne Bergen-Aurand
Anne Bergen-Aurand is currently a Grant Coordinator for the Office of Equity and Pluralism at Bellevue College.
Previously, Anne worked as the Program Manager for Neighborhood Legal Clinics (at the King County Bar Association) and as the Housing Manager at DAWN (Domestic Abuse Women’s Network). Prior to moving to Seattle, Anne lived in Singapore for nine years where she worked as a manager and trainer for AWARE, an NGO focused on creating gender equity. She co-founded the Sexual Assault Care Centre—Singapore’s first program dedicated specifically to comprehensive sexual assault services.
Anne has a master’s degree in Social Justice in Intercultural Relations from the SIT Graduate Institute’s Program in Intercultural Management.
Bevette Irvis
Bevette has worked in the field of Early Learning for 33 years. Since 1992, Bevette has worked as the Child Care Director of the Early Learning Center at Wellspring Family Services, a leading social and human service agency in King County. She began her employment with Wellspring as a Lead Preschool Teacher/Advocate in the Early Learning Center in 1988.
Bevette currently serves as a board member of the Southeast Seattle Child Care Directors’ Consortium, the Child Care Directors Association of Greater Seattle, and Team NeutralZone. She is also on the Planning Team for Cultivating the Genius of Black Children, and recently served on the state-wide Trauma-Informed Care Advisory Group. She previously served on the Planning Council for Health Care for the Homeless Network, the Stakeholders Group for the State Training and Registry System, and the Leadership Empowerment Action Project Advisory Group. Bevette also frequently provides educational training and consultation to community groups and other early learning educators about the effects of trauma and homelessness on young children.
Bevette currently serves as a board member of the Southeast Seattle Child Care Directors’ Consortium, the Child Care Directors Association of Greater Seattle, and Team NeutralZone. She is also on the Planning Team for Cultivating the Genius of Black Children, and recently served on the state-wide Trauma-Informed Care Advisory Group. She previously served on the Planning Council for Health Care for the Homeless Network, the Stakeholders Group for the State Training and Registry System, and the Leadership Empowerment Action Project Advisory Group. Bevette also frequently provides educational training and consultation to community groups and other early learning educators about the effects of trauma and homelessness on young children.
Jae Kim
Jae is an Information and Resource Coordinator at the Arc of King County. As a social worker who has a developmental disability, she believes these services are critical. The services cover education, housing, employment, among others. Jae believes that social services are a basic need to which all people should have access.
Her belief helps to inform why she initially wanted to study social work – to advocate for people with disabilities and support them so they can lead successful lives. She wants to help them find their voice, because they are the ones that face the challenges and they know what they need to be successful.
Her belief helps to inform why she initially wanted to study social work – to advocate for people with disabilities and support them so they can lead successful lives. She wants to help them find their voice, because they are the ones that face the challenges and they know what they need to be successful.
Kathy Green
Katherine Green is a licensed childcare provider and a Washington State-Approved trainer in Early Childhood.
She began her journey with childcare in 1996 as a licensed center provider. In 2002, Kathy enrolled in school and obtained her ECE certification. Shortly after this, Kathy opened her own licensed family childcare program in Seattle, 1st START Learning Center. In addition to operating her own childcare facility, Kathy contracts with the City of Seattle’s CCAP and SPP programs. Kathy participates in Early Achievers and is an active member of SEIU 925. Kathy is currently enrolled in the BAS program for Early Childhood at North Seattle College.
She began her journey with childcare in 1996 as a licensed center provider. In 2002, Kathy enrolled in school and obtained her ECE certification. Shortly after this, Kathy opened her own licensed family childcare program in Seattle, 1st START Learning Center. In addition to operating her own childcare facility, Kathy contracts with the City of Seattle’s CCAP and SPP programs. Kathy participates in Early Achievers and is an active member of SEIU 925. Kathy is currently enrolled in the BAS program for Early Childhood at North Seattle College.
LaKesha Kimbrough
LaKesha’s experience working with children, youth, and families spans nearly 20 years. She currently serves as the Middle School Success Coordinator at Washington Middle School for Seattle University via the Center for Community Engagement. She has worked as a Program Manager, Education Coordinator at a childcare facility, a Preschool Teacher, Milieu Counselor in a group home, an Education Advocate, and as a Literacy Intervention Specialist. Additionally, she has worked with PTAs and volunteered at a school designed to work with children and families who were experiencing homelessness. Her work has primarily been with children, youth, and families that are members of ‘marginalized groups’. She believes in meeting children and families where they are, capitalizing on their strengths, and helping to develop tools to address challenges.
In addition, LaKesha has experience working toward the healing of historical harms and traumas. LaKesha enjoys facilitating workshops and trainings, which support deeper understanding and appreciation of diversity and identity while promote healing. She strongly believes that helping children, youth, and adults embrace themselves while developing a sincere appreciation of and for others is a vital part of our being.
In addition, LaKesha has experience working toward the healing of historical harms and traumas. LaKesha enjoys facilitating workshops and trainings, which support deeper understanding and appreciation of diversity and identity while promote healing. She strongly believes that helping children, youth, and adults embrace themselves while developing a sincere appreciation of and for others is a vital part of our being.
Natasha Guerrero
Natasha currently works for Fred Hutch in Seattle, WA, as a Curriculum Manager for Early Education. She assesses curriculum to ensure best practices, developmentally appropriate learning experiences, and equitable learning goals for individuals. She leads a team of 50 educators, and monitors individuals and group development. Additionally, she works at North Seattle College as part of the Workforce Instructions Team in the Early Achievers Program. She helps to create education plans with students who are seeking early education certification or higher education degrees. She collaborates with students, staff, and faculty to advocate for a quality and equitable educational experience for students. Moreover, she works with grantees in the Early Education Program and is a liaison for Early Achievers and Childcare Aware WA.
In the past, Natasha used to work as an Education Coordinator for Bright Horizons. While she held this post from 2015-2018, she disbursed and trained educational materials to all Bright Horizons in Washington State early education centers. She helped supervise educators and assess curriculum, environment, partnerships, and development. She researched current trends in early education and led the Seattle area in education training.
Natasha has spoken at many notable conferences and has received many distinguished awards over the span of her professional career.
In the past, Natasha used to work as an Education Coordinator for Bright Horizons. While she held this post from 2015-2018, she disbursed and trained educational materials to all Bright Horizons in Washington State early education centers. She helped supervise educators and assess curriculum, environment, partnerships, and development. She researched current trends in early education and led the Seattle area in education training.
Natasha has spoken at many notable conferences and has received many distinguished awards over the span of her professional career.
Renata Bryant
Renata Bryant currently manages a transitional housing program for homeless adults in Seattle, Washington. Renata is an advocate for BIPOC, Queer and immigrant communities. Renata has extensive background working with children with Launch and as a children’s advocate with Domestic Abuse Women’s Network (DAWN).
Renata has facilitated trainings on intersectionality, cultural awareness and the history various institutions have with marginalized populations experiencing homelessness, domestic violence survivors, or other trauma. As the children’s advocate at DAWN, Renata worked with students, teachers, schools, administrators and other community members on how to have conversations with youth about the importance of healthy relationships. Renata has developed psycho-educational curriculum on how to maintain safe and healthy relationships in ways which were culturally appropriate.
At DAWN Renata organized and cofounded the DEI committee to focus on discussing the specific needs of BIPOC, undocumented, queer and disabled survivors who have increased risks of experiencing domestic violence and least recourse to legal and community supports.
Renata has a Bachelor’s Degree in Ethnicity, Gender, and Labor from the University of Washington.
Renata has facilitated trainings on intersectionality, cultural awareness and the history various institutions have with marginalized populations experiencing homelessness, domestic violence survivors, or other trauma. As the children’s advocate at DAWN, Renata worked with students, teachers, schools, administrators and other community members on how to have conversations with youth about the importance of healthy relationships. Renata has developed psycho-educational curriculum on how to maintain safe and healthy relationships in ways which were culturally appropriate.
At DAWN Renata organized and cofounded the DEI committee to focus on discussing the specific needs of BIPOC, undocumented, queer and disabled survivors who have increased risks of experiencing domestic violence and least recourse to legal and community supports.
Renata has a Bachelor’s Degree in Ethnicity, Gender, and Labor from the University of Washington.
Zack Siddeek
Zack Siddeek is an autistic Social Worker and Community Organizer practicing in Seattle, Washington. He is passionate about increasing the representation of autistic people in all matters and places that impact autistic people. His main goals are to create programs that address the 9x higher suicide rate and 80% unemployment among autistic people. He also works to reduce the disparities that autistic people with intersectional identities are forced to endure.
Zack works as the Disability Systems Navigation coordinator at the Arc of King County. Additionally, he organizes the Square Pegs, a series of 25 social and support groups for autistic adults in Washington State. Furthermore, he is on the board of the Washington Initiative for Supportive Employment, a nationally renowned organization that promotes equitable employment for people with developmental disabilities through innovation, training, and technical assistance.
Zack works as the Disability Systems Navigation coordinator at the Arc of King County. Additionally, he organizes the Square Pegs, a series of 25 social and support groups for autistic adults in Washington State. Furthermore, he is on the board of the Washington Initiative for Supportive Employment, a nationally renowned organization that promotes equitable employment for people with developmental disabilities through innovation, training, and technical assistance.
The Imagine Institute believes in grassroots professional development that works for those working in early learning.
© 2022 The Imagine Institute. All rights reserved.