Edgar Acevedo

I’ve recently moved to Washington State a year ago. I’ve worked as a Child Care Director in domestic violence shelters, was an elementary school teacher and university adjunct in New York city for the last 15+ years. I look forward to supporting your child’s development and very excited to be part of Kids Co.

Monica Drummey

I have been in the field of Early Childhood Education for twenty years. Beginning as a Montessori assistant, I later pursued a teaching certificate for Montessori Primary Education. Following my time in the classroom, I moved on to administrative positions in larger organizations serving children ages 2 months through 5 years.

I joined Kids Co. in September 2017 to open a new center at Decatur Elementary. We serve children from the Seattle Preschool Program and elementary students from the school. It is a wonderful community of learners and an exciting opportunity to grow with a new school community.

Adam Foote

Since graduating from Lewis & Clark College with a Major in Psychology and a Minor in Art, I have been working my way up the West Coast creating impactful youth development programs in my communities. I started my youth development career as an AmeriCorps Volunteer in Humboldt County California, where I was born and raised, by creating a before and after school program in an alternative high school while assisting teachers in their class room. This year is my third school year managing Kids Co. at West Mercer Elementary and my first at our newest location, Kids Co. at Northwood Elementary. I cherish calling the Pacific Northwest my home. When I have free time you can usually find me playing soccer, board games, and disc golf, hiking, taking pictures, and spending time with family and friends. I also grapple with the cognitive dissidence of supporting both the Sounders and the Timbers during soccer season.

Miranda Hatch

As a Washington-native and avid learner, I grew up loving school and am thrilled to have the opportunity to instill curiosity and perseverance in our children. My main goal as an educator is to create a safe, welcoming community where kids are encouraged to ask questions, seek answers, and not be afraid to make mistakes. I attained my Masters in Teaching and K-8 teaching certificate from the UW in 2010 and soon after joined the Kids Co. team. I quickly fell in love with the program, the kids, and the community. For the past five years I’ve taken on increasingly responsible leadership positions. In my free time, I love exploring new places and ideas. And I never turn down a chance to ride on a rollercoaster!

Gerleza Jackson

Born and raised in Seattle, I was a child who struggled early on with reading. It took the love and time of a teacher that encouraged and instilled confidence in me. This sparked a light that made me to want to help kids learn to read, and have fun in school. My hope is that no child is left behind and that all children will love to learn, have fun and be inspired to follow their dreams.

Vanessa Kitchner

In 2013 I started at Kids Co. as a full time Regional Sub. This provided a unique insight to the company and was a great experience for me to become familiar with all of the Kids Co. centers. I have worked in child care since 2009 and have become very passionate about enriching the lives of youth and creating a strong educational community for children and families to be a part of. After spending over 5 years in Portland, I decided to move to Seattle after graduating from Portland State University. Although Portland was very hard to leave, I quickly fell in love with Seattle, especially since I have been a long time Seahawks fan!

Brenna McGinnis

I am born and raised in the Pacific Northwest and have called Seattle my home for the last 13 years. I have a passion for working with children of all ages. I joined Kids Co. almost two years ago and found my new place here at Tops K-8 a wonderful fit. I get to serve a community I not only live in but grow in as well. I bring with me my background in early child education degree as well as my love of art projects and STEM learning tools. I look forward to creating long lasting relationships will all my students and families. When I’m not at Tops you can find me exploring this beautiful city with my dog.

Sammi Manalo

I grew up in the same neighborhood (Rainier Beach) as my Kids Co. center and am excited to be serving in this community. As a child, I always spent time with children younger than myself, and as I grew older, I continued to volunteer in classrooms and at my church’s children’s ministry. It was in high school that I realized that I not only liked helping children, but I truly enjoyed working and spending time with them. My passion for children led me to pursue a BA in Integrated Studies from Seattle Pacific University. After graduating, I actually became a School-Age Counselor for this very same Kids Co. location. Then, I left to pursue one of my dreams, which was to teach abroad. For a year, I taught English in South Korea, and in January 2011, I returned to work at Kids Co. where I have diligently continued my career in child care. I am ecstatic that I get to continue to work for this community and look forward to making a positive influence in the lives of the children and their families in this area.

Natalia Rodriguez

Born and raised in Seattle. I graduated in 2004 from Western University with a BA in Human Services. I have worked in the child care field for over 20 years. My experiences with children still fascinate me every day. I love watching them learn and teach themselves new things.

I joined Kids Co. nine years ago, have gained the knowledge of what goes into providing a high quality childcare. I have been very fortunate to be able to meet and work with amazing teachers and families.
Aside from work, I have three amazing children who are the light of my life and keep me on my toes!

Patrick Russell

I have been in the child care field for over twenty years, and I have been with Kids Co. for the past ten. I enjoy my job and the interactions with the families in our community. Every day is an adventure which is full of possibilities. Sharing my love of Art and Science with the kids is what makes me happy. Watching the lightbulb go off in a child’s head when they get excited about a project or experiment makes my day. Our team makes sure that all children in our care have a fun and positive experience and that families feel comfortable hanging out at our center.

Brittany Smathers

I grew up in Pullman, Washington, where I later attended Washington State University. I hold a B.A. in Human Development with an emphasis in Family relations. I have worked in various child based centers including military, licensed childcare centers, private school, and tutoring. I have a small dog named Buddy who I love to hangout with and I enjoy thrift shopping and smoothies. I am so excited to be working with Kids Co. and providing families with the opportunity to leave their children in such a welcoming environment.

Cassy Wass

After receiving my degree in Youth Development Studies back home in Minnesota, I moved to Seattle to pursue a career in the field. Since moving here in 2012, I have been privileged to work with K-5 students as both an Afterschool Program Counselor and Director. I love working for Kids Co.—teaching kids how to build their character and explore new interests through Art, Science, Engineering, and creative play; no other job allows me to balance my creativity with my passion for community so well! When I am not developing young minds, I enjoy museums, baking, and all sorts of outdoor adventuring in the beautiful Pacific Northwest!

LaFawnda Williams

I’m an Alaska native who migrated South in order to attend Seattle Pacific University. I fell in love with Seattle and never left! My home-away-from-home is Kids Co. at McDonald where I get to spend quality time with all of your great kids and get to know the community as a whole. In my spare time I enjoy basketball, travel, and my family and friends.

Cortney Welsh

My journey in nonprofit youth development started around 12 years ago while working as a summer camp counselor. Since then I have had the experience working with all age groups from infants to teens. I attended the University at Buffalo, School of Management in New York State for both my undergraduate and graduate studies. Some of my past experiences include Camp Director & Coordinator, School Age Child Care Director, Youth Development Instructor, and Preschool Teacher Aide. I’m excited to get to know the Decatur Community and the families in it!