President's Message
Kimberly DeMille was elected President of CKA in January 2017 after serving on the Board of Directors for four years. Kimberly is a kindergarten teacher in beautiful San Clemente, California.
Our History
Judy Brown, with a group of dedicated educators, organized the first Bay Area Kindergarten Conference and was the first President of the CKA – more than 30 years ago!
Grants
Find out about the Innovative Ideas Grant, Judy Brown Administrator Recognition Award (JBAR), and the Audrey Sanchez Teacher Enhancement Award (ASTEA)
Our Board

Kathleen Bell
Secretary
Retired Kindergarten Teacher
Primary Grade Teacher ELD & Reading Intervention Specialist
Oakland
- UC Berkeley- B.A. in Sociology
- Sonoma State – M.A. in Early Childhood Education BCLAD
- Teacher-Trainer Certificate, High/Scope Educational Research
- Credential Yoga Instructor, Cyclist and Marathoner with Team in Training

Carol Chivers
Board Member
Retired Pre-K and Kindergarten Teacher (also volunteer, substitute and CELDT tester)
Franklin McKinley School District,
San Jose
- Sacramento State University, BA in Social Sciences, Emphasis in Psychology
- Sacramento State University, Standard Elementary Education Credential

Gennie Gorback
Board Member
Early Childhood Educator
Orinda
- UC Santa Barbara, BA Women’s Studies, Minor in Education
- UC Santa Barbara, Multiple Subjects CLAD Credential
- UC Santa Barbara, Masters of Education in Teaching
- Foothill College, Early Childhood Education units

Christa Grossi Noetzel
Board Member
TK-6th STEM TOSA and Instructional Coach, Fallbrook Union Elementary School District
Fallbrook
- BA, 18th Century British Literature, San Diego State University
- MA, Teaching: Program Design and Methodology, National University
- Certified Reading Specialist
- Google Certified Educator
- CLAD Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
- BTSA Support Provider

Maria N. Trejo
Board Member
National/International English Learners and Struggling Readers’ Consultant
Sacramento
- University of the Pacific, BA Liberal Studies, Emphasis in Languages and Mathematics
- Sacramento State University, Masters in Arts, Emphasis in Cross-cultural Education, Anthropology
- University of the Pacific, Doctorate in Education, Emphasis in Curriculum & Instruction; Pupil Personnel Services; School Administration. Minor in Bilingual Education.
- Credentials: Life in Elementary, Life in Secondary, Life for Community College

Debra Weller
Board Member
TK Teacher, Capistrano Unified School District
Educational Consultant and Professional Storyteller, Mission Viejo
- St. Petersburg College, AA
- Rowen University, BA in Art Education
- National University, MA in Curriculum and Design, Educational Leadership

Sally Byrnes-Swiatek
Board Member
Founder/Director, A Little Patch of Earth, Santa Clarita
Newhall
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Edinboro University, PA and Pacific Oaks College, CA, BA Elementary Education/Early Childhood Education/Human Development
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Pacific Oaks College, CA, MA in Leadership in Education and Human Services
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College of the Canyons, CA, Early Childhood Certificate
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Child Development Program Director Permit, California Teaching Credential ,

Kimberly DeMille
President
Kindergarten Teacher, Capistrano Unified School District
Carlsbad
- San Diego State University, BA Liberal Studies, Emphasis in Education
- San Diego State University, Multiple Subjects CLAD Credential

Michelle Jones
President Elect
TK/Kindergarten Teacher, Oakdale Joint Unified School District
Ripon
- Cal State University, Turlock – B.S. in Liberal Studies
- Cal State University, Turlock – Minor in Child Development
- Cal State University, Turlock – Teaching Credential
- Professional Clear Credential
- Child Development Program Director Permit
- CLAD Certificate
- GATE Certification

Beth Pittman
Board Member
First Grade Teacher, Lodi Unified School District
Stockton
- CSU Stanislaus, BS in Liberal Studies, Concentration in Child Development
- CSU Stanislaus, CLAD Multiple Subject Teaching Credential

Christine VanDenover
Board Member
TK/Kindergarten Teacher, Mariposa County Unified
- BA in Interdisciplinary Childhood Development with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education
- MA in Curriculum Instruction and Assessment

Meredith Yeh
Board Member
Kindergarten Teacher, San Mateo-Foster City School District, San Mateo
- University of San Diego – B.A. in Diversified Liberal Arts
- University of San Francisco – M.A. in Multicultural Education
- Professional Clear Credential/CLAD Credential

Nancy Cappelloni
Past President, Treasurer
Educational Consultant in Private Practice
Kindergarten Readiness Program Director
Retired Kindergarten Teacher, Reed Union School District
Belvedere
- University of San Francisco, Doctorate of Education
- Dominican University, Teaching Credential Multiple Subject/CLAD
- College of Marin, ECE Administrative Credential
- University of California, Los Angeles, Masters of Dance/Movement Therapy
- University of Colorado, B.A. with Distinction, Art History


Palma Lindsay
Board Member
Owner of KFUNdamentals
Greenwood
- California State University Northridge, BA Liberal Studies, Graduate Studies
- California State University Northridge, Multi-subject, Pre-school, K-12, Adult Ed. Life Teaching Credential
- College of the Canyons Early Childhood Certificate
- K-8 Teacher for 37 years

Wendy Sewell
Technology Committee Chair
Stay-at-home mom
Former Kindergarten Teacher
- Santa Rosa
- Queens University – B.A. Honours in Language and Linguistics
- University of Oxford – B.A. Education
- CLAD Credential

Alice Wagner
Board Member
Bilingual (Spanish) Transitional Kindergarten Teacher, Hayward Unified School District
Oakland
- University of California, Santa Cruz, BA in Sociology
- California State University, East Bay, BCLAD Credential
- California State University, East Bay, MS in Educational Leadership

Bernadette Pilar Zermeno
Board Member
Transitional Kindergarten Teacher, ASCEND
Oakland
- University of California, Berkeley, BA in Psychology, Minor in Education
- University of California, Berkeley, Master of Arts in Education, Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, Spanish BCLAD
- Preschool and TK/Dual Immersion Professional Development Provider
- Adjunct Professor of Early Childhood at Chabot College in Hayward
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