Staff
Elizabeth Heath - Executive Director
Elizabeth graduated in 1978 from the University of Oklahoma with a BA in mathematics. Although her original preparation included a secondary school teaching certificate, she found herself teaching Kindergarten at a day care for 2 1?2 years, which fostered her passion for early childhood education. Her professional background includes experience in development and fundraising with several not-for-profit entities: administrative assistant for The Oklahoma Foundation for the Disabled, admissions supervisor for the Kirkpatrick Center, and HELPLINE director and campaign director for the United Way of Norman. Since she began her tenure as executive director of Middle Earth in late February 2000, she has completed the process required for Middle Earth to receive Two Star status in the Reaching for the Stars Program; participated in the "Director's Advanced Training" and the "National Administrator Credential" sponsored by the National Child Care Association; and spearheaded our capital campaign. She is a member of the Early Care and Education of Children Advisory Committee at Moore-Norman Technology Center and a graduate of such programs as Leadership Norman, the Oklahoma Institute of Nonprofit Leadership, and the Center for Early Childhood Professional Development (CECPD) Leadership Academy. Elizabeth is proving to be an integral component as we work toward the next 30+ years of service - in a new building!
Licia Iverson - Assistant Director
Licia is a Master Teacher as defined by the Reaching for the Stars program, and has taught Child Care Career Courses at Moore-Norman Technology Center through the Center for Early Childhood Professional Development since 2001. With a Bachelor of Science in Child Development/Family Relations from the University of Oklahoma, she has over 29 years teaching and administrative experience in the field of Early Childhood Education. Licia's background includes experience as a director, assistant director, Kindergarten teacher, preschool teacher, before and after school program director, parent educator and educational consultant. She is an active member of the Early Care and Education Task Force of the Norman chapter of Success By 6, and was the recipient of the "Raising Colorado's Children and Families Award" in 1991. Licia is a graduate of the CECPD Leadership Academy and has earned the Oklahoma Director's Gold Credential.
Ms. Colleen Raymond-Duncan -Tot 1 (12 mo. - 22 mos.) Lead Teacher
Colleen, a Master Teacher as defined by the Reaching for the Stars program, brings a wealth of professional experience as both teacher and learner to her classroom. She is certified in Child Development Associate (CDA), Environmental Communications, Early Childhood Intervention, and as a Special Education Paraprofessional for Deaf-Blind and Multi-handicapped. Colleen has worked extensively with agencies such as the Oklahoma Areawide Service Information Service Information System (OASIS) and United Cerebral Palsy of Oklahoma on behalf of children and families living with disabilities. As a lead teacher and center supervisor of Rainbow Head Start for the Central Tribes of the Shawnee Area, she provided programs, services, and assistance to families in a culturally diverse community. These skills, combined with her teaching experience from infants through pre-kindergarten, made her a natural choice as Lead teacher in our Tot 1 classroom.
Ms. Jane Smith - Tot 2 (22 mos. To 32 mos.) Lead Teacher
Jane is a Master Teacher as defined by the Reaching for the Stars program. With over 26 years experience in the field of Early Childhood Education, she holds a Child Development Associate credential and a Certificate of Mastery and is working on a Family Services and Child Development major at Rose State College.
Jane received the Friend of Children Award in 2007. She is a member of Central Oklahoma Friends of Early Education. Her daughter, now a grown adult and a mother of young children herself, is a Middle Earth alumni. Jane had a family home day care for 11 years before coming to Middle Earth in 1997. She also worked at Kindercare Learning Center in Dalls from 1984-1985, and the Big Red School House in Norman from 1980-1983.
Jane is the thirteenth of sixteen children and she has three wonderful grandchildren. She teaches the two-year-old Sunday School class and VBS and likes to study the Bible and pray.
She says, "I believe that parents are a child's first teachers. I am dedicated to helping parents nurture, love, and offer encouragement to all young children as they continue to grow and learn new things."
Ms. Crystal Reyes- Serendipity Lead Teacher
Crystal received her Bachelors degree in Sociology and is now working on a Masters degree in Social Work. She is a Master Teacher as defined by the Reaching for the Stars program and has been working at Middle Earth for 1 1/2 years. She has 2 dogs named Rex and Pudge.
Ms. Ashley LaGace - Discoverers Lead Teacher
Ashley has been with Middle Earth for 1 year. She is part of the CACPD and Coffee. She has an Associates degree in Child Development. Her son, Gage, is in Tot II with Ms. Jane. She and her family live in Lexington with their dog, Cinch, and cat, Love.
Ms. Traci Standifer - Pre-Kindergarten Lead Teacher
Traci is a Master Teacher as defined by the Reaching for the Stars program, and has worked in the field of Early Childhood Education since 1983. She attended St. Louis Community College in Forest Park, Missouri, and has earned 72 hours in Early Childhood Education, where she is well on her way to an Associate Degree in the field. She was a parent educator with the national organization Parents as Teachers for 10 years in Missouri, where she also worked in the Clayton Child Center/Academy for 17 years. (Poor Missouri Tiger fan!) She has been with Middle Earth since 2001.
"Early Childhood is the profession I chose because everyday children learn and explore. I feel that early childhood education is very important, not only for education but for social emotional growth for a child. I love working with children and seeing their minds get a concept. It is a wonderful feeling."
Ms. Lynne Shell - Kindergarten Teacher
Lynne is a Master Teacher as defined the by Reaching for the Stars program, and comes to Middle Earth with a wealth of experience and a passion for Early Childhood Education. She has an Elementary Education degree from State University of New York, and brings to Middle Earth over 19 years of experience in working with young children. Her background includes a 10-year stint as teacher at Holy Spirit Episcopal School in Houston, and a nine-year period as a teacher at Gingerbread Preschool and Kindergarten in Norman. Lynne then worked at Saxon Publishers for 6 1?2 years before coming to Middle Earth in 2004.
She says, "I was attracted to Middle Earth because of the loving, nurturing atmosphere it provides for all the children. It is the perfect environment for discovery and learning. What a wonderful place to be!"
Janice Zachary - Accounting Specialist
Janice is the Accounting Specialist and has been at Middle Earth since November of 1994. She graduated in 1969 with a BA from East Central University, working prior to that at Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority and later for a CPA in Stillwater "Accounting is like a puzzle and it gives me a sense of accomplishment to successfully complete a project," she says.
Janice has been happily married to James since 1970, and has three grown children and five grandchildren. She enjoys seeing and visiting with the children and often becomes attached to the little ones. "We are like a family here at Middle Earth. It is a great place to work. It is an added bonus to be out in the community and see alumni from Middle Earth."
Judy Vasiloff - Administrative Assistant
Ron Sylvia - Head Cook
Sue Bass - Assistant Cook
Sue, who has been trained in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, has been with Middle Earth for 10 years, offering classroom and administrative support, and currently sharing her culinary skills with Linda.
She has been married to Al for 39 years, and they share two children and five grandsons.