Staff
Casey Lalonde, Director
Thank you for your interest in Evergreen's Campus Children's Center. I have been the Director since January of 2008. Before coming to Evergreen, I was a director at a for-profit center, the Early Learning Program Coordinator at the Hands On Children's Museum, an Early Childhood Training & Curriculum Specialist on a military base overseas, and a Montessori schoolteacher. I began working with children in 1995. I was awarded a B.A. from Evergreen in 1996 and an M.S. in Education from Walden University in 2003. I believe that Evergreen's philosophy coincides very well with our philosophy: both emphasize a student-centered, holistic approach where compassion, responsibility, critical thinking, and creativity are valued.
Avis Shrestha, Office Assistant
My name is Avis Shrestha. I am a graduate of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. I have been working in Early Childhood Education for ten years and have experience working as an Office Assistant in several different government agencies. I believe our experiences in early childhood are the foundation upon which much of our later happiness and success are built. I feel priviledged to be a part of the lives of the children and families here. I enjoy being a part of the Evergreen community, where the enthusiasm for and enjoyment of learning are tangible values that are reflected in our program and classrooms.
Donna Simon, Assistant Director, King of the Teachers, Preschool 2: Geoduck Room
Hi, my name is Donna. I began my adventure with other people's children in 1970, with Head Start. Since then I have provided care in my home, in a private for profit Center, and have been with the Campus Children's Center since 1987. I received my AA in Early Childhood from South Puget Sound Community College and Centralia College, and I am a '96 graduate of Evergreen. I am a Master Teacher and Mentor. Evergreen is an amazing environment for children of all ages. I believe the 3 R's should be WondeR, DiscoveR, and ExpeRience.
Alexa Borkan, Early Childhood Program Specialist I, Preschool 2: Geoduck Room
Hi, I’m Alexa. I moved up to Olympia (from Portland, OR) in the fall of 2007. That spring I began working at the Evergreen Children’s Center as a student employee. During my time as a student worker I spent time with all age groups in the building and a concentrated amount of time in the wobbler/toddler wing. After graduating from TESC in the spring of 2011 I decided that I wanted to stay at the Children’s Center, and in the Evergreen community, so I worked briefly as a temp before accepting a Specialist 1 position. I am beyond excited to be working with Avis in the Fox room and to be able to spend time with all the amazing children in the pre-school wing! I believe that the center is a wonderful place in which people of any age are provided with the tools and support to learn and grow. Both inside and outside of work I am an avid reader, fairy-tale and multi-cultural mythology enthusiast, and a huge fan of song and dance.
Mindi Bliss, Early Childhood Program Specialist II, Preschool 1: Fox Room
I began working with children in August of 1992, and have since worked in corporate centers, a children's program in a recovery center, a non-profit center, and as a Director of a school-age program. Although I have successfully worked with infants through school-age children, I find myself most at home working with the infants and younger toddlers. In the winter of 2002, I earned my AA from South Puget Sound Community College with a strong emphasis in Early Childhood Education and psychology. I still attend ECE workshops and classes to keep a fresh outlook on my role as an Early Learning Teacher. I joined the Campus Children's Center team in April of 2007, and everyday have found new and exciting reasons to be part of the Evergreen community. Music is my passion and I enjoy sharing harmonies with the world around me.
Pat Sarmento, Early Childhood Program Specialist I, Preschool 1: Fox Room
I was born and raised in Hawaii and have been living in Olympia since 1979. Since that time I have co-owned/co-directed a Child Development Center in the Olympia area. My educational background is a B.S. in Elementary Education/Child Development and Family Relationships from BYU-Hawaii Campus and a M.S. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Northern Colorado. Working with children is my passion and has been my passion for most of my life.
Kelly Pratt, Early Childhood Program Specialist II, Toddler 2: Owl Room
William "Daniel" Georgeson, Early Childhood Program Specialist I, Toddler 2: Owl Room
My name is William “Daniel” Georgeson. I graduated from Evergreen after August of 2012, with emphasis in literature, poetry, and the performing arts, sprinkling in education, linguistics, and philosophy for some flavor. I started as a student staff at the Campus Children's Center here in spring of 2010, and after wading through the waters a bit, I feel excited and ready to swim laps through the pool of early learning full speed. I've had some volunteer experience in the past with summer day camps and short nursery care in the past, as well as “babysitting” (though I promise I've never sat on a baby in my life) for family friends in high school. I come from a family that highly values education, with an uncle and aunt who've both worked at childcare centers before, a different aunt in alternative K-8 teaching in Seattle, and another uncle with experience in high school education. My mother is an associate professor at CWU in children's literacy and advises student teachers in their growth toward becoming primary educators, and my father taught English as a second language to adults in the past. As you can imagine, I had a whole team of cheerleaders behind me as I dove into this adventure as well! Thank you for allowing us to get to know your children. I believe that the community created at places like this are important to a child's growth and success, and I hope to support that growth and success however I can!
Sarah Mitchell, Early Childhood Program Specialist II, Toddler 1: Bunny Room
My Name is Sarah Mitchell. I am a graduate of The Evergreen State College. I began working at the Campus Children's Center as a student staff in 2006. Shortly after starting here I realized I had found my calling and a home. The experience and knowledge I have gained since starting here have motivated me to become a better teacher. I feel blessed to be a part of an environment that is centered around learning through experience and to be part of and witness to the development of the children here. It is wonderful to be a part of a community that values the development of children as a whole. A place that fosters the development of critical thought, social awareness, emotional understanding and responsibility.
Tracy "Loulu" Sandvig, Early Childhood Program Specialist I, Toddler 1: Bunny Room
Hey, I'm Loulu. I've worked here since February of 2004. While here I have worked in all the classrooms from the infants to the preschoolers. I started out in school age care through the YWCA in my hometown of Walla Walla, but moved on to early childhood and discovered that it was this younger age group that I really wanted to continue to work with. Since then I've worked in multiple centers in the Olympia area. I really love working here at the Campus Children's Center. It is such a great place filled with wonderful people (young and young at heart) and surrounded by a college campus that provides us with so many unique learning experiences and adventures.Marilyn Fuller, Early Childhood Program Specialist II, Infants: Lamb Room
Hi, my name is Marilyn Fuller. I have 6 children and 11 grandchildren. My home on the holidays looks a lot like a children's center. I did not plan that, it just happened. I have been dedicated to Early Childhood Education for over 22 years. I have a bachelors degree in Psychology and an ATA in Early Childhood Education. I take STARS classes each year. I belong to SSAEYC, which supports the education of ECE providers. I am also an Infant Massage Trainer.
Amber Elson Morris, Early Childhood Program Specialist I, Infants: Lamb Room
Hello, my name is Amber Elson Morris. I've been working at The Evergreen Campus Children's Center as a program specialist 1 since September of 2003. I've spent most of this time working with the infants and toddlers. I have had three years of early childhood education. I continue my education each year, with at least ten hours of STARS/ECE credit. I've worked in various childcare centers and worked for Sound to Harbor Head Start as a teaching assistant for two years prior to coming to Evergreen. I married my husband Anthony in 2006 and became a mommy to 9-year-old Damon and 5-year-old Kayden. In May 2007 we welcomed our daughter Callie Marie into our lives. When I'm not at work, I like to spend time with my family doing something fun outdoors.