Amy Martinez
Position: Teacher
Years with Bal Swan: 4 years
Favorite Children's Book:Ferdinand the Bull, is my childhood favorite and to many to be named as a teacher.
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I have been teaching for 18 years. I have been married for 22 years and have two children. My oldest will graduate from high school this year. My yougest will enter the 7th grade. I have several pets, including spiders,snakes, dogs, horses and cows. I enjoy cooking, training for triathlons. My other passion is fast good looking cars and really, really cute shoes. I love hearing what children need to say.
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Beverly Ferguson
Position: Director of Finance
Years with Bal Swan: 6
Favorite Children's Book:Toss up between Horton Hears a Who & The Velveteen Rabbit
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I like to call myself the Bal Swan Bean Counter! I am responsible for keeping track of all the finances for Bal Swan. Money in, money out, bills, collections, and anything else that is monetarily part of keeping the school up and running. I started out in the classroom at Bal Swan, after selling the travel agency I ran for 19 years. I wanted a change! After 3 years I started job sharing the job I hold now and subbing in the classroom. My counter part left Bal Swan last May and now I am flying solo. I have been married to my husband, Dan, since 1982. We have 2 daughters that are the light of my life. I enjoy walking, pilates, skiing, scuba diving, traveling the world and a good book.
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Catherine Becher
Position: Office Manager
Years with Bal Swan: >2 years
Favorite Children's Book:Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes and A Bad Case of the Stripes By David Shannon.
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Catherine graduated from Trintiy College of Vermont with a BA in Psychology in 1998. She then spent two years volunteering full time with the AmeriCorps VISTA program. After working in the for-profit sector for over five years she decided to return to the non-profit community. She currently lives in Broomfield with her husband and two young sons.
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Clarissa Villarreal
Position: Teacher
Years with Bal Swan: 2 years
Favorite Children's Book:Oh! The Places You Will Go! By Dr. Seuss
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I was born and raised in South Texas! After high school, I moved to Waxahachie, Texas and attended SOUTHWESTERN A/G UNIVERSITY where I graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education. Then moved to Corpus Christi, Texas and taught for 2 years at TULOSO MIDWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT (1st and 2nd grade). Then made one of the best and biggest decisions of my life and moved to Colorado! I love Colorado - the beautiful weather, scenery, and the mountains! The best part of living here is working at BAL SWAN and my church (FLATIRONS COMMUNITY CHURCH) where I volunteer and work with babies, children, and teens!
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Dee Gilmore
Position: Speech Therapist/Teacher
Years with Bal Swan: 12 years
Favorite Children's Book:Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
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I am a Colorado native and with the exception of two years in New Mexico for graduate school in Speech Pathology at UNM, I have lived here my whole life. I recieved my undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders from Colorado State University in 1977 where I first met Patti Willardson. I have been married to my high school sweetheart,Rick, for almost 30 years. We have three children - Chris 27, Lauren 24 and Derek 21. We were almost "empty nesters" until we aquired a yellow lab puppy early this summer. I enjoy camping in our beautiful Colorado mountains, gardening, reading, being involved in our church and watching Rockies baseball and Nuggets basketball.
I initially was hired at Bal Swan as a Speech Therapist for the Commerce City Toddler outreach program. After several years I added Toddler classes and homevisits at Bal Swan and eventually Preschool classes. I currently teach 3-4 year old classes Monday through Friday during the school year.
I am so thankful for my job here at Bal Swan. The people I work with and all of our families are the best. I love watching the changes in every child from September to May. That truly is my joy and delight.
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Diane Kirkwood
Position: Occupational Therapist
Years with Bal Swan: 17 years
Favorite Children's Book:Goodnight Moon
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I have been working with children as an OT for 30 years. I am married and have three boys, the youngest about to turn 20 years old. I enjoy hiking, bike riding, reading and spending time with family and friends.
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Helen Engbrock
Position: Co-Teacher
Years with Bal Swan: 7 years
Favorite Children's Book:Spooky Old Tree
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I am married to a wonderful husband for 29 years. We have 3 beautiful daughters. My youngest went to Balswan for 3 years and I just loved the school so much that she moved on and I stayed. I started with Miss Patti for a couple of years and have been with a few other teachers since then. I have enjoyed each teacher but my greatest love are the children. There is nothing any sweeter than a child that smiles at you or wants a hug. I love hugs and I love working with the children!
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Helen Holden
Position: Speech-Language Pathologist
Years with Bal Swan: 4
Favorite Children's Book:Silly Sally
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In my many years as an SLP I have provided diagnostic and therapy services to children with mild to profound speech and language disabilities. Working with alternative and augmentative communication has been a special interest.
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Janet Gonzalez
Position: Lead Teacher
Years with Bal Swan: 3
Favorite Children's Book:The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear By: Don and Audrey Wood
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Hi! My name is Janet Gonzalez and I this is my 3rd year of teaching at Bal Swan. I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin and attended the University of WI, Madison where I earned my degree in Early Childhood Education. This is my 6th year of teaching at an inclusive school where differences are valued and celebrated. I am happy to be a part of helpling children learn, investigate, and succeed individually and within the classroom community. Currently, I live in Golden with my husband Garrett and our two pets. Have a great year!
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Jennifer Wilger
Position: Teacher/ECSE
Years with Bal Swan: 2
Favorite Children's Book:Pinkalicious!
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I have been employed as a preschool teacher for 10 years, but I've spent most of my adult life working with and for young children. Prior to teaching, I worked as a curriculum developer and editor of children's products. I have lived in Colorado with my husband since 1991, and am the mother of three wonderful children. When I'm not teaching or supporting my family, I enjoy walking, cooking, photography, reading, and writing. I believe every child is unique, and look forward to helping your children fulfill their potential as they learn and grow in early childhood!
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Julie Roberts
Position: Co- Teacher
Years with Bal Swan: 2
Favorite Children's Book:The Selfish Giant
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For thirteen years I had my own pre-school (Kids Castle) in Green River, Wyoming. I worked with 3 to 5 year olds. When my husband was transferred to Denver I found Bal Swan and volunteered. Then a staff position opened, I was happy to fill the need. It's wonderful when you can have your hobby be your job. I have four children 3 boys and one girl all living away from home. I'm now the proud grandparent of two.
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Katie Freeman
Position: Lead Teacher
Years with Bal Swan: 3
Favorite Children's Book:Seasame Street "The Monster at the End of this Book"
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I began working with children as a swim instructor at age 16. I loved being with kids so I proceeded in the field of Early Childhood Development and obtained a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood at Humboldt State University in Arcata Ca. I have worked in many different venues surrounding child care, but my passion is in the classroom.
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Lyn King
Position: Teacher
Years with Bal Swan: 4
Favorite Children's Book:One of Many....."Quick as a Cricket"
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I graduated with a degree in Speech and Education of the Deaf in 1981. Over the years, I have worked with children and families in a variety of ways. I've been a preschool teacher, camp counselor, center director, home visitor, and even worked in a program that did research and development of the early headstart mandates. I found Bal Swan in 1995 when I was looking for a preschool for my daughter. I fell in love with this special place and have been connected to this center as a parent and volunteer for over 10 years! In my youngest sons last year of preschool I started subbing and am happy to say I have been teaching here ever since!
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Melissa Cain
Position: Speech Language Pathologist
Years with Bal Swan: 3
Favorite Children's Book:The Giving Tree
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I have been a practicing Speech Language Pathologist since 1994, after graduating from CU-Boulder. My early experience was in adult brain injury rehabilitation, I took some time off to raise my children, and I am now enjoying my role working with young children and providing services to families. I have two beautiful daughters who both attended Bal Swan, and we share our home with two sweet dogs and a crazy cat. In my free time, I love playing with my girls, hiking, camping, and reading as much as I can.
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Nicole Babb
Position: Teacher
Years with Bal Swan: 2
Favorite Children's Book:The Very Hungry Caterpillar
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Hello! My name is Nicole Babb (soon to be Nicole Parten!) I am thrilled to have discovered the best preschool EVER a few years ago! I am a colorado native, love taking my dog, Hazel, on hikes and snowboarding in the winter. I grew up in the Westminster area, attended the University of Colorado in Boulder and have been teaching preschool for 8 years. I am so happy that my "job" entails playing with and teaching the most amazing kids around. I definitely feel at home here in our Bal Swan community.
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Patti Willardson
Position: Director of Education
Years with Bal Swan: 17
Favorite Children's Book:I have a bookshelf full of my "favorites"
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"Born on the banks of the Tennessee River". I will always remember working with my dad on my college application biography. That was his opening statement for me! He is long gone now, but I begin this essay with the same sentence as a tribute to him. He was a Wonderful Dad! I began at Bal Swan as a Speech Therapist in the Infant-Toddler Program. Wow! I had so much fun working with those babies! I also adore three-and four year olds, and have been blessed to teach many children this age and fall in love with them and their families. I love children...their faces put sunshine in my heart! Three years ago, I moved into an administrative position when I became the Director of Education. Now, I have the opportunity to support all the teachers, children, and their families. I have totally enjoyed my career here at Bal Swan, and look forward to using my experience and skills to love and help as many people as I can in the future.
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Sunny Justice
Position: Development Director
Years with Bal Swan: 8
Favorite Children's Book:Where The Wild Things Are
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BA Psychology, minor in Women’s Studies and Ethnic Studies
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Susan Jager
Position: Nurse
Years with Bal Swan: 2
Favorite Children's Book:The Dandelion Seed
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In addition to working part time at Bal Swan, I also work part time at a community health center. My nursing background has included family practice, pediatrics, and community health. I have two children (both Bal Swan graduates!) and enjoy outdoor activities with my family (hiking, camping)and music.
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Vanessa Gallagher
Position: Teacher
Years with Bal Swan: 1.5
Favorite Children's Book:The Lorax
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I have worked with children all my life. I grew up in Conifer and went to college in Ft. Collins where I graduated from CSU with a Human Development and Family Studies major in December of 2006. I currently live in North Denver with my boyfriend Jarad. We enjoy the Bal Swan Family and all the wonderful events! Bal Swan is my dream job and I plan to work here for the rest of my life. The children, families and staff are truely a gift!
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