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.

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).

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.

Berta Artiga currently lives in Pasco WA and is originally from El Salvador CA. She has had a Home Daycare for 17 years and is a child educator for all ages without discrimination of race, or physical disabilities. She always sets personal goals that she has been achieving throughout her life, all to give a better quality of work, growing professionally as an educator and for the benefit of families. Working with respect and positively with children, she used strategies to improve the educational environment that can help their social, emotional, cognitive and physical development. As an educator in early childhood education, she understands children as they develop in different stages and her goal is to offer children an environment appropriate for its development reflecting and valuing cultural, racial, ethnic and linguistic diversity. She currently is getting her degree in Early Childhood Education at Goddard College and has the approval of a Certified Trainer by DCYF, Mentor by Image Institute. Her life achievements are to be able to continue helping families and children in the community offering quality of work.

Bertha Landin is a Training Specialist approved by the Department of Early Learning and has been a child care provider since 1998 with her nursery currently at an Early Achievers level 3. Bertha studied early education at Columbia Basin College. She also served as president of the United Providers Association of Tri-Cities, helping providers with technical support and helped them learn the tools necessary to be successful in their daycare centers. Bertha’s coaching philosophy and beliefs are that adults learn best when they are actively involved in their learning process. Furthermore, adults learn best when they use different learning styles, including interactions with other adults and based on their past experiences and knowledge. Bertha’s trainings are practical and culturally relevant and applicable to your profession. She uses learning techniques to support the adult in learning and retaining that knowledge. In an active learning environment, adults have their own learning process and learn by participating and engaging in activities such as role playing, group discussions, and individual work.

Carli has been a Washington State approved trainer since 2019. She brings with her over 15 years’ experience as a licensed family child care provider, early learning advocate, and a Master’s of Arts degree of Education. Carli has most recently facilitated the Enhancing Quality Early Learning (EQEL) pilot program. She is excited to work with adult learners and passionate about creating relationship-based foundations with each of her participants. Carli will keep you engaged with her active learning style to ensure you leave class feeling uplifted with an abundance of useful information you will be able to implement into your program immediately.

Gloria Vasquez H is bilingual, born in Oaxaca Mexico, graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work in 1985, exercising the profession of Social Work and Starting delivering training for the Mexican community. 1993 Immigrating to Wenatchee, WA, learning the Language. In 2001, Starting a job as a Mental Health Counselor working with children, families and adults, in government agencies. (Children Home Society /, Chelan Douglas behavior health, CVHC Children Department, Sea Mar Medical / Behavioral Specialist / Monroe, and Catholic Family and Child Services / Wenatchee.

Community training instructor, How to help children in the divorce process. Children / adult survivors of Domestic Violence, Disabilities and emotional problems. Developing leadership in youth and adults in the community to support immigrants of all races, respecting people’s cultures and values. 2015 starting a new profession of Director of Little Dreamers Daycare, My passion for children is to convey the desire to be independent and sound that they will be excellent professionals in the future, and adults to awaken the desire for improvement and learning, and that all together we help children to live in a happy, safe and healthy environment.

In 2017, with the direction of the Imagine Institute, became Certified by the state. 09/2018 State Approve Trainer. 08/2018 Lead of mentors of the Imagine Institute.

Hamdi Hussein has an Associate degree in pre-nursing from Columbus State Community College. She is also working on her Associate Degree of Early Childhood Education. It is her fourth year of being a state-approved mentor. It is also her second year as a specialist training and is CPR and bloodborne pathogens certified. Hamdi opened her daycare in 2012. “I am doing daycare for the kids who need childcare in my area.”

Irma Acosta is an in-home daycare provider with 20 years of experience working in the field. She named her daycare Happy Faces Daycare in Brewster, WA. Irma’s first language is Spanish, and her program is bilingual. She also speaks some English and is working on her AA social degree and is in the process of enrolling in a bachelor’s degree. Irma is a mentor and works with the Imagine Institute. Additionally, she helps the new generation of providers and is currently trying to get another Accreditation from NAFCC. Every day, Irma is taking training and educating herself on how adults learn and how to be successful when training with other adults.

Maria Villa was born in Michoacán, Mexico. She worked for 22 years at a family business called Villa’s Corporation LLC, where she held the positions of both Vice President and Treasurer. She currently owns Villa’s Daycare LLC in Royal City, WA, where she has provided high quality service to children and families in the community. Maria attended Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, WA, and in 2012 she obtained a high school diploma. She studied at Antioch University in Seattle, WA, where she obtained a certificate in Early Childhood Education (ECE). Maria graduated from North Seattle College as a Mentor. Maria is a Leader and Executive Member on the Board of Directors of the SEIU Local 925 Union, which represents childcare providers in eastern Washington. She is a member of the state bargaining team.

Mumina has been an Imagine U Mentor for three years and is a State-Approved Trainer. She will complete an AAS in Early Childhood Education in 2020. She has had a licensed child care in her home for 10 years. Prior to immigrating to the US, Mumina worked for Save the Children UK where she provided translation and training in a Kenyan Refugee Camp, where her areas of specialization included: child abuse and neglect, identifying special needs, and supporting unaccompanied children. Mumina is currently a lead mentor.

Tracy Dawson owns Tracy’s Tikes Day-Care & Preschool. She is a licensed family child care provider in Grays Harbor County serving children since 2009. She attended Centralia College and received her AAS in ECE. Tracy’s professional affiliations are with: SEIU925, the Imagine Institute, Greater Grays Harbor, and the Grays Harbor Child Care Coalition. As an advocate for all early childhood educators, Tracy has coordinated meetings and events to bring providers together to discuss professional development needs and professional goals. She has coordinated efforts with community leaders, the DEL (now DCYF) leadership, the governor’s office and our union to address the child care crisis and have worked with many wonderful providers on the Negotiated Rule-Making team, Bargaining Teams, and Impact Bargaining Team. Through the Imagine Institute, Tracy has participated in professional opportunities to support her peers in relationship-based professional development by training as a mentor, a lead mentor and a state-approved trainer. Tracy is excited to be entering her fourth year of participation with Imagine and is looking forward to getting to know everyone. By creating an inclusive classroom, Tracy can facilitate professional growth and promote peer to peer relationships throughout the child care industry. She enjoys tapping into the wealth of knowledge and experiences her fellow providers have shared. Tracy truly feel everyone is an asset in a classroom and can positively contribute to others educational growth. She teaches using various platforms such as group discussions, small group work, and visual aides. Tracy has an upbeat and positive personality and a love for the field in which she works. She understands the importance of making the environment feel welcoming and making the participants feel safe to share differing opinions or experiences. Tracy wants nothing more than the participants in her training to walk away feeling like their attendance mattered and they have new tools or understanding of an area that will not only benefit the children that they serve but their programs as a whole.

Nina Anderson’s academic career began twenty plus years ago by volunteering in the Tacoma School District. This was just the beginning of other opportunities in education. She then was afforded the opportunity for a paying position to assist the Principal by working with his lead secretary. This opportunity led to enrolling at Tacoma Community College where Nina received an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts. Her AA degree led her into obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Art of Science. Thus continuing her education towards her Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership. During Nina’s academic journey, she worked for Seattle Public, Highline Public, Tacoma Public and Atlanta Public Schools. Nina was able to truly understand how important education is, especially for people of color. Thus, leading her to start a Non-Profit organization for at-risk youth, which continues today. Nina also traveled to Uganda, Africa on a mission trip to bring supplies to a school located in a small village in Uganda. She still has connections with the children and staff in Africa. Currently, Nina is an active member of SEIU Local 925, and a member with IBEW Local 46. So union responsibilities are familiar to her. She also teaches adults, Early Childhood Education at North Seattle College to childcare providers through The Imagine Institute. Nina believes that networking is an important key to success. Not only does Nina have experience in advocacy, but she also continues to enhance her skills in order to improve the lives of others and her community. She loves people and seeks to find the best in each person she comes in contact with.

Berta Artiga was born and raised in El Salvador and is currently an early child teacher educator. She owns her own business as a home daycare, offering families and children high quality work, respecting their cultures, and working with humility and being positive. Berta uses appropriate strategies according to the children’s ages in order for their learning to be successful. Berta graduated from Goddard College with a Bachelor of Early Childhood Education in 2020. Currently, she is a WA State Approved Trainer, Certified CPR and First Aid Trainer and Certified Mentor, and Trainer for the Imagine Institute. Berta is getting her master’s degree in education, with the concentration in adult learning at the Goddard school. FIr her, education is the basis of personal improvement, to offer the community, families and children a high quality of job.

Laura Tanzy is an In-home child care provider in Olympia for twenty years. She cares for children from many different races, cultures, family make-up and income levels. She has been a State Approved Trainer for six years and a CPR instructor. Those years include training with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and with the Imagine Institute. Laura has a degree from The Evergreen State College. She has taken Early Childhood Education classes and continue training as a Professional in working with adults. For fifteen years, Laura has been an advocate with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) by calling, writing, bargaining, and meeting with local & state elected officials discussing issues of importance of children, families and child care providers to ensure their needs are met.

Aan Abukar is a licensed child care provider in Washington State. Aan received her education and graduated in Somalia. Becoming an early care educator has always been her passion as she enjoyed teaching and working with children. When Aan came to America, she attended college and earned her medical assistant degree. During that time, she worked in hospitals and as a teacher’s assistant in Head Start where she gained valuable experience working with children. After graduation, Aan opened her own in-home child care business. She has been a business owner and child care provider for over 11 years.

Safia Adule is currently family child care home provider and a trainer for the Washington State Early Childhood community. She is active in the family child care community and is bilingual in Somali and English. Her passion is her ability to assist marginalized communities in order to help them in access services. She also has experience working with agencies and families in communicating to the community the diverse issues surrounding child care concerns. Safia is an American Heart Association and Washington Early Childhood Education Trainer. She is certified to teach CPR and First Aid with the Infant and Toddler component and has a special focus on helping support others in working with children with special needs. She has worked tirelessly to instruct and assist refugee families in understanding the services available and help them acclimate and transition upon arriving into the United States. She has vast knowledge and experience working with diverse communities and children with special needs. Safia has a passion for helping others increase their education and knowledge of how to meet the diverse needs of our community and the children and families that we serve. Her goal is to take into account the different ways students learn and use it to promote an educational experience that will enable participants to learn and gain knowledge while enjoying the learning process. As a trainer, Safia strives to work closely with each participant, learning about their traditions, heritage, or values that each finds important. Her teaching focuses on specific goals and addresses each student’s different learning styles. She believes that understanding the different learning styles and addressing them during her teaching helps to ensure that the student’s goals are successfully achieved.

Sherri Fry has been an in-home daycare provider for the last 22 years. She is a fourth year mentor with the Imagine Institute and became a state-approved trainer in 2018. Sherri completed her initial and short ECE Certificate in 2020. She is currently enrolled in Yakima Valley Community College studying for her AAS. Sherri loves her work and hopes to continue teaching new providers and being an asset to the early learning community.