Mission
We are a statewide early childhood leader driving change through partnerships to build an equitable, high-quality early care and education system that meets the needs of Minnesota’s families and children.
Values
We work with integrity, honor diverse ideas and approaches, and foster a culture of respect and trust. We are child-centered and equity-driven.
Practical Vision
External:
- Access to high-quality, responsive care for all children
- Highly visible programs and support
- Equitably compensated workforce
- Informed and supported profession
- Creative recruitment and retention strategies
- Innovative, accessible technology
Internal:
- Innovative early childhood leadership
- Intensive and inclusive relationships
- Responsive and equitable workplace culture
Leadership
Marcia Schlattman
Board Chair
Program Director, Milestones
Marlene Jehnke
Board Vice Chair
Early Learning Scholarship Administrator, Families First Minnesota
Maria Steen
Board Treasurer
Director, CAPLP Child Care Connections
Liz Kuoppala
Board Secretary
Executive Director, Mahube-OTWA
Ariane Bromberg
Trainer and Child Care Substitute
Brittany Clausell
Founder and Independent Education Consultant
Cora Roy
Licensing Support Coordinator, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
Hortensia Leon
Director, Jardin Magico
JoAnn (JJ) Johnson
Professor/Chair CFS, St. Cloud State University
Juliet Lee
Director, Sleepy Tigers Chinese Immersion Learning Center
Lanay Miller
Senior Social Worker/Family Child Care Licensor, Chisago Co. Health & Human Services
Margaret Mahowald
Director, Calvary Childcare Center
Nancy Hafner
Faculty TPT, Ridgewater College, Wilmar Campus
Phyllis Sloan
Executive Director, La Creche Early Childhood Center
Zang Vang-Lee
Project Manager, Hmong Early Childhood Coalition
Commitment to Power to the Profession and NAEYC’s Unifying Framework
Child Care Aware of Minnesota believes that an effective, diverse, well-prepared, and well-compensated early childhood education field is the driving force behind high-quality early care and education experiences for children and families. Our organization helped inform Power to the Profession (P2P), a national collaboration that defined the early childhood education profession. With the support and input from our organization as well as several other national organizations & stakeholders in Early Childhood Education, P2P established the Unifying Framework for the Early Childhood Education Profession in 2020. The framework has several recommendations for educators, employers, owners, professional preparation programs, states, and the federal government with the goal of advancing a unified, diverse, equitable, and effective early childhood education profession.
Following the lead of Child Care Aware of America, staff and stakeholders in the Child Care Aware of Minnesota system gathered together to form a strategic plan group and sub groups, tasked with identifying the current and future ways that P2P is embedded in our work.
Child Care Aware of Minnesota shares the values and principles of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct position statement and supplements, which outline each of our ethical responsibilities to children, families, co-workers, employers, community, and society.
We believe that we must hold ourselves and each other accountable to the responsibilities outlined in the Unifying Framework and the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct. As we do, it is imperative that we also measure the efficacy of our work and evaluate our practices on an ongoing basis.
Everyone that provides care to a child, whether in a family child care setting, child care center, family friend and neighbor care, or legally unlicensed care, is a part of this framework because of their responsibility to educate and provide positive guidance to young children. They play a crucial role in the growth and development of every child in their care.
Members of the early childhood education field will be accountable for the following responsibilities:
- Planning and consistently implementing intentional, developmentally appropriate learning experiences that promote the social and emotional, physical, and cognitive development, health, and learning of each child served
- Establishing and maintaining a safe, caring, inclusive, and healthy learning environment
- Consistently observing, documenting, and assessing children’s learning and development using guidelines established by the profession
- Developing ongoing reciprocal, culturally-responsive relationships with families and communities
- Actively advocating for the needs of children and their families while holding positive expectations of them
- Actively advancing and advocating for an equitable, diverse, and effective early childhood education profession that is well-compensated
- Engaging in reflective practice, curiosity, and continuous ongoing learning
Child Care Aware of Minnesota Coordinating Office Staff List
Updated September 2023
651.290.9704 (then enter extension number)
Andrew Wesseh
Admin
Accounting Clerk
x143
andreww@childcareawaremn.org
Anna Mahan-Miller
Admin
Database Systems Coordinator
x121
annam@childcareawaremn.org
AnnaMarie Schluender
Child Care Information Services
CCIS Engagement Coordinator
x260
annamaries@childcareawaremn.org
Ann McCully
Admin
Executive Director
x115
annm@childcareawaremn.org
Brianne Leibham
Empower 2 Educate
Workforce Development Coordinator
x261
briannel@childcareawaremn.org
Cal Merrick
Admin
Associate Director of Operations
x124
calm@childcareawaremn.org
Cara Luebke
Admin
Public Policy Coordinator
caral@childcareawaremn.org
Carly Hawley
Marcomm
Communications Coordinator
x117
carlyh@childcareawaremn.org
Chelssi Klein
Empower 2 Educate
Workforce Development Advisor
x135
chelssik@childcareawaremn.org
Choua Lor
Admin
Office & Executive Assistant
x100
choual@childcareawaremn.org
Courtney Bokovoy
Marcomm
Lead Communications Coordinator
x119
courtneyb@childcareawaremn.org
Dawn Pauls
Admin
Research & Evaluation Coordinator
x136
dawnp@childcareawaremn.org
Debra Spaeth
Child Care Information Services
CCIS Outreach Coordinator
x266
debras@childcareawaremn.org
Diane Benjamin
Marcomm
Communications Director
x113
dianeb@childcareawaremn.org
Emily Seibel
Rating
PA Rating Manager
x133
emilys@childcareawaremn.org
Erin Young
Financial Supports
TEACH Manager
x200
eriny@childcareawaremn.org
Janet Peterson
Financial Supports
Grant & Scholarship Coordinator
x123
janetp@childcareawaremn.org
Jen Goinz
Child Care Information Services
CCIS Manager
x120
jeng@childcareawaremn.org
Katie Hoffman
Quality Improvement
Director of QI
x108
katieh@childcareawaremn.org
Katherine O'Neil
Quality Improvement
PD Advisor
x138
katherineb@childcareawaremn.org
Kendrick Phan
Admin
Technical Support Coordinator
x139
kendrickp@childcareawaremn.org
Kiara Ortiz
Professional Development
ETL Support Specialist
x127
kiarao@childcareawaremn.org
Kimberly Giertz
Financial Supports
Grant & Scholarship Coordinator
x137
kimberlyg@childcareawaremn.org
Kinutta Taylor
Capacity Building
Assistance Network Coordinator
x140
kinuttat@childcareawaremn.org
Mai Na Vang
Financial Supports
REETAIN Supports Coordinator
x129
mainav@childcareawaremn.org
Marissa Albritton
Professional Development
Online Learning Manager
x122
marissaa@childcareawaremn.org
Matt Bozada
Professional Development
Workforce Advising Coordinator
x144
matthewb@childcareawaremn.org
Matt Carlson
Capacity Building
Capacity Building Coordinator, Lead
x128
mattc@childcareawaremn.org
Melissa Slapnicher
Quality Improvement
QI Coordinator
x103
melissas@childcareawaremn.org
Michaela Banczak
Professional Development
ATL Program Coordinator
x134
michaelab@childcareawaremn.org
Nghia Lee Vang
Financial Supports
TEACH Counselor Coordinator
x106
nghiav@childcareawaremn.org
Nicolette Graf
Admin
Director of Equity & Inclusion
x114
nicoletteg@childcareawaremn.org
Nikki Lepowsky
Quality Improvement
QI Coordinator
x116
nicolel@childcareawaremn.org
Nou Thao
Admin
Associate Director of Programs
x125
nout@childcareawaremn.org
Samira Mohamud
Professional Development
ETL Program Coordinator
x145
samiram@childcareawaremn.org
Tara Woznicki
Professional Development
ETL Customer Support Coordinator
x131
taraw@childcareawaremn.org
Valerie Peterson
Financial Supports
FS Director
x107
valeriep@childcareawaremn.org
Vanessa Carrazco Berliz
Child Care Information Services
CCIS Specialist
x105
vanessab@childcareawaremn.org