Our Trainers

Martha Aguilar has cared for children in her community as a licensed family child care provider since 2005. Martha studied early childhood education at Big Bend Community College where she also earned her Initial Certificate. Martha’s facility has been rated a Level 3 in Early Achievers. As a state-approved trainer, Martha hopes to share her knowledge to those who most need it and she gives her support to both groups and individuals as they work toward their professional goals. Martha respects all learning styles and makes sure her trainings are relevant to her participants. Above all, she strives to do her best and share the knowledge she has acquired for the success of her colleagues.

Fartun is on the board of directors for the Imagine Institute and has been caring for kids in her community and through the daycare facility she manages since 2013. This has helped her to understand the cultural value of her community. Fartun earned certificates in early childhood education, business administration, and medical interpretation. Fartun is also a certified CPR, First Aid and Blood Borne Pathogens trainer. Fartun hopes to share her knowledge to those who most need it and support all communities as they work toward their professional goals. She respects all learning styles and always seeks to share her knowledge so that all communities can benefit.

Rebecca currently works for Lower Columbia College Head Start program in Longview, Washington. She ran a licensed family child care for 14 years as owner and operator. Prior to that, her profession was based in the medical field where she assumed many roles including medical assistant in Radiation Oncology, as well as an office manager in an MRI unit and a Radiology assistant and scheduler. She received her early childhood education through Lower Columbia College in Longview. In 2011, Rebecca started teaching classes for Family, Friends, and Neighbors for SEIU 925. She has always enjoyed bringing innovative material to her students in a warm, fun, and easygoing style. She believes that we are all lifelong learners making sure that the information she delivers can have immediate application for the students she serves.

Elena Avalos has worked as a licensed family child care provider for 13 years in Quincy, Washington. She specializes in childhood development, with her work centering on identifying age-appropriate curriculum that serves diverse learning styles. Elena earned a certificate in early childhood education where she studied child observations, learning processes, and how to critically reflect on her own learning and teaching theories. She firmly believes in education as a process for social development as well as educational development. This process gives children a series of skills and values that nurture their intellectual, emotional, and social growth. Elena views education as a tool to impart cultural legacies to new generations and affirms the social development of a child’s life.

Don has been working as an Employment Consultant for nine years. In this position, he assists adults with disabilities get and maintain employment. Don volunteered as a firefighter and EMT with Cowlitz 2 Fire and Rescue where he served as a lieutenant and medical officer. Don has been teaching First Aid and CPR for over 25 years and teaching for Family, Friends, and Neighbors providers since 2011. Don worked and assisted his wife Rebecca Boultinghouse in her in-home family daycare for 14 years, directly caring for children along with performing all financial duties associated with the business. Don’s purpose in teaching his classes is, I am going to help you help someone you love. Even if you have had First Aid/CPR training before, you walk away from Don’s class feeling more confident about what to do in an emergency.

Laura Chandler has been a teacher of young children for 28 years. For the last 16 years, Laura has been a state-approved trainer and teacher of adults in her community. Laura has a Bachelor of Science from Western Washington University and an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from North Seattle College. Laura believes we are all lifelong learners and hopes to cultivate that mindset for herself and her students. She teaches not only to provide information, but also to open adults up to the possibilities of new questions. She designs her classes to leave participants feeling more confident in their work and to empower people to stay in the field of early learning. Laura’s style is informal and personal; she prefers in-person interactions and hands-on activities. Laura always makes sure to greet everyone with a warm and friendly voice.

Prior to becoming a child care provider, Amina Eed worked as an early educator with Neighborhood House for 12 years. In those years, she gained a lot of experience and knowledge in child development and the immerse potential kids have when provided with all the necessary tools. As a mother, Amina has a special love for kids to succeed and achieve their dreams. Part of her duties is to engage families in taking a strong part in their children’s educational needs and encouraging them to be successful. In addition to being a state-approved trainer, Amina has a bachelor’s degree in Child Development and is certified to train individuals in First Aid, CPR, and Bloodborne Pathogens.

Dora Herrera has been operating her own in-home daycare for 19 years in the Olympia Washington area. Dora was born and raised in El Salvador and first moved to Los Angeles before coming up to the Pacific Northwest. As a part of being a licensed family child care provider, Dora has taken multiple college credit classes in early learning. Through the years, Dora has worked with a diverse group of families where together they are able to care for and enrich the lives of children. Dora is not only passionate about teaching and caring for kids but also strives to help other child care providers maintain successful businesses.

Hamdi has cared for children in her community as a licensed family child care provider since 2014. She has studied Early Childhood Education at Highline Community College where she earned her Initial Certificate. Hamdi is a certified First Aid, CPR, and Bloodborne Pathogens instructor. She is also an active community helper and loves helping her community, many of whom really need her help. I respect learning styles and make sure her trainings are relevant to her participants. She will give her support to both groups and individuals as they work toward their professional goals.

Sahra is a mother of 4 and she speaks Somali fluently. She has provided care for the children in her area as a licensed childcare provider since 2011. Sahra has studied early childhood education at Highline Community College. As a state approved trainer, Sahra hopes to share her knowledge and skills with professionals. Sahra wants to work in collaboration with participants and make sure that the training she is offering will be useful and will offer new skills. Most of all, Sahra hopes her trainings will help make learning fun.

Sandra Sanchez has worked in early learning since 2003 when she opened her own in-home child care in Pasco, Washington. Sandra received her Short Certificate and Child Development Associates from Columbia Basin College. Sandra served as the Vice President of Proveedoras Unidas, a nonprofit organization of child care providers that assists providers with the necessary tools to succeed in their businesses through training support. Sandra also worked as a Family Advocate at Inspire Development Center where she helped families identify their goals and strengths and helped connect them to social services in their community.

Laura graduated from The Evergreen State College and worked for many years for the federal government as a Budget Analyst. Desiring a shorter commute and a way to care for her grandchildren, Laura opened her own child care in 1999. Since becoming licensed, Laura has cared for children mostly from single, low income homes knowing that all children deserve quality child care. Laura likes working with children and has learned much through her early childhood education classes. As a state-approved trainer, Laura enjoys working with adults understanding that each person brings knowledge and experience to the class. She enters each class with the expectation that she will share material and learn from each participant. She strives to be a support to all providers to ensure their needs are met to provide quality child care.

Born in the heart of Mogadishu, Sabah is a Somali refugee who’s been in the U.S. for about 20 years. Within her time here, she’s had the opportunity to become a teacher, student, activist for the Somali community, translator, mother, wife, and businesswoman. Her journey first started at the Kent Family Youth Center where she signed up her eldest daughter for preschool. Wanting to be involved in her education, she joined as a volunteer in the mornings and attended ESL classes in the afternoon. When the opportunity to become a teacher’s assistant opened up, she was encouraged to take it and has been working with Kent Family Youth ever since. Her main focus has always been to be a voice for her community and an active community leader, activist, and advocate for women. Sabah attended Banadir High School in Mogadishu, Somalia and has an AA in Early Childhood Education from Highline Community College. She has been married for 22 years and is the mother of eight children, two of whom are currently in university and one in Running Start. She has been running an in-home daycare since 2003 and is the Vice Chair for Living Well Kent, a SEIU 925 Executive Board member, and a CPR/First Aid and state-approved trainer.

Laura Sandoval has been a licensed family child care provider for 14 years in Quincy, Washington. Laura was born in Matehuala, S.L.P Mexico where she studied all the way to a career in business. In the United States, Laura has had the opportunity to get her diploma and Initial Certificate in Early Childhood Education. Laura was also able to achieve state approval for facilitating trainings for the professional development of other child care providers. This has given her many great opportunities to excel in her professional development.

Kathy graduated from Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts with a bachelor’s degree in Human Service Administration. She worked for many years in residential and vocational settings with adults with disabilities and traveled and worked in refugee camps teaching English as a second language and American Culture. Upon returning to the Pacific Northwest, Kathy worked as the business manager at a small recording studio until her daughter was born in 1998. She has been a licensed family child care provider since 1999. Kathy’s child care, Adventure Day Care, is a nationally accredited program. Kathy is also active in her union and serves as the Executive Vice President on the SEIU 925’s Executive Board. Kathy believes that adult learners bring a vast wealth of knowledge and experience to the classroom. She understands that their lives are full of responsibilities and that they need material they can use immediately. The best way for information to “sink in” is to use it right away. Adult learners modify information and internalize it if it is useful to them. Kathy delivers useful material in an upbeat style. You won’t sleep in her class.