Children’s Alley Teaching Staff
Children’s Alley teachers have educational backgrounds in early childhood education and meet all state licensing requirements. They are CPR and First Aid certified. Teachers utilize Teaching Strategies GOLD and play-based curricula to encourage the positive and healthy development of children. Most of all, our teachers love the work they do – caring for children.
DAY STAFF
Christina
Hi, I’m Christina Gantt and I am the Interim Director at Children’s Alley. I grew up in Montana where I attended the University of Montana Western. In 2007 I earned a degree in Elementary Education. After graduating college I took a position on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona where I taught 4th and 5th grade for three years. After that I moved to Colorado and began my career in Early Childhood Education. I have been teaching in early childhood for three years and took over the interim director’s position at the beginning of September. I enjoy hiking with my boyfriend Coty and our dog Gatsby.
Marcia Colgate, Infant Supervisor
I have one son and 3 grandchildren (ages 14, 18, and 21). I have been working in childcare for 38 years. I’ve worked with children ages newborn to age 6. I did in home care for 10 years and was a nanny off and on for 10 years and then worked for 2.5 years as assistant director at Children’s alley. My hobbies are reading, sewing, and I like to travel.
Ally
Aloha! 
My name is Ally, I was born on Long Island, NY and am the only girl out of a family of boys. I have never had a job that didn’t involve children and I plan on keeping it that way!! From a young age I knew that I loved children and can’t ever get enough of them. I have worked with all ages from newborns to teenager and in all different settings for the past 8 years. My mother and I share the same passion for children so I have her to thank for supporting what I intend to make my life long career. My dream is to one day have my own in home childcare center. To get me to that goal I am majoring in Early Childhood Education at Front Range Community College. When I’m not working with the kiddos I love to go swimming, play with my puppy, make arts and crafts, dance, spend time with my family and relax haha! I have worked at Children’s Alley for a year and half now and I couldn’t be happier with my job! I may be the teacher but I learn things from the children everyday.
Ali
Hello! My name is Ali and I recently moved out to Boulder from about an hour outside of Chicago. I am 27 years old and have my degree in Elementary Education from Illinois State University. Since graduating in 2008, I have taught preschool, 2nd grade, worked at a daycare and was a nanny. I have also spent the last eight summers working as a camp counselor at my hometown’s park district. I love working with kids and am super excited to be in the Toddler Room! I decided to move out to Colorado for the laid back, happy lifestyle. I love to be outdoors and enjoy hiking, kayaking and horseback riding. I also love to read, paint, draw, do yoga and take my dog running. All in all, I’m super excited to be in Boulder and to have joined the Children’s Alley family!
Willow
Hello friends and families. My name is Willow and I am the lead teacher in the Preschool room. I grew up in Florida and graduated from Florida State University with a BA in Fashion Merchandising. After working in retail for 5 years, I decided I needed some “time off” so I traveled through Europe for a year. When I got back I was not ready to settle and I wanted to continue traveling so, I moved to Japan. I lived there for four years teaching English to Japanese preschool students. When my father became ill, I moved back to Colorado to spend time with him. I’ve been working at the YWCA for over a year now. I started as the assistant teacher in the preschool room in June of 2011. I recently became the lead teacher in August of 2012. In my free time I like to do anything creative. I read, write, draw, do yoga and Pilates, and I’m also learning to play the guitar. I love working with children. It’s been my passion for many years. I look forward to spending time with you and your children.
Karla
Hi I’m Karla and I am the Office Manager at Children’s Alley. Karla is a southern California girl, who found a passion for children working as a nanny in Beaver Creek. During this time, I also attained an Associate in Arts Degree in Liberal Studies at Colorado Mountain College. I have over 10 years of experience as a receptionist. I feel that it is a tremendous joy to be able to welcome families to a place that provides excellent childcare and empowerment programs for woman and children. My husband Chris is a chef and we live in Nederland with our beautiful American Bulldog named Fang. I also have a sincere passion for running, fashion design, art and music.
EVENING & SATURDAY STAFF
Sherry
Sherry Barlett was born and raised in Russellville, AR. She began college at Arkansas Tech University with a major in Business. She soon learned that business was not what she wanted to be doing for the rest of her life. Sherry has been working with for most of her life. She is the oldest of six and has also been very involved in her church children’s ministry as well as babysitting. Sherry realized that she enjoyed teaching children and decided to change her degree to a BA in Early Childhood Education. In December of 2007, Sherry moved to Colorado. Since moving here she has worked with virtually every age. She enrolled at Colorado Christina University to finish her degree in Early Childhood and will graduate in December 2012. Sherry has a passion to teach children and help them to reach their full potential. It is important to Sherry that children know that they are valuable and have people that will always look out for them.
Amy
Hi I’m Amy. I was born in Washington D.C., grew up in western Massachusetts, spent my college years in Minnesota, and most of my adult life here in Boulder. My children were born in Boulder, so I feel practically a native at this point. I have spent a lifetime around youngsters, starting with my own brothers, moving up to other people's children, infants, toddlers, preschoolers, elementary schoolers, middle, and even high schoolers. Two of my three children are in college, and my baby is 15. I have a Colorado elementary teaching license, and a Masters in LDE. Children have such unsuppressed curiosity and honesty. I enjoy seeing where their native intelligence leads them. I am happy to be here working with your young children. Thank you for entrusting them to me at Children's Alley.
Jennifer
Once upon a time, I was born and raised in Great Falls, Montana. Growing up I was an award winning colorer and led everyone to believe my real name was Doreena. I ventured to the University of Montana-Western for my B.S. in Early Childhood Education. Over the years I have: mentored inner city youth in San Francisco, nurtured the creative minds of preschoolers, helped teen moms guide their infants and toddlers, enriched the lives of kiddos with special needs, taught baby sign language to families and care givers, and have continued to refine my coloring skills. I love to: cruise around on my big orange bicycle, spend time on my yoga mat, explore mountains with my best friend—Erik, document all their adventures, devour books (cookies too), and swing in my hammock. I am passionate about the early childhood field and work hard to promote respect and learning in all that I do.
Kathi
I have been in the field of early childhood education since 1998. I have worn many hats: a Head Start classroom teacher and site director, Early Head Start Site Director, Incredible Years and Even Start parent educator, trainer of infant-toddler caregivers and a coordinator of an early childhood family literacy program. Currently, I am a graduate student at Naropa University where I am pursuing a degree in counseling psychology with an art therapy emphasis, and specializing in serving children who have been victims of abuse, neglect and severe trauma. I am the mother of two grown daughters who have been my best teachers, and lives in Boulder with my dog Blizzy, an eternal 2-year old.
Emmy
Hey! My name is Emmy and I am a true Boulderite—born and raised. I am in the final stretch of my undergraduate degree in sociology and music and have also begun work on my Master’s degree in elementary education all from the University of Denver. I have been working at Children’s Alley for over three years now as an office assistant and an extra helping hand in the classroom. Beyond Children’s Alley I have spent time as a nanny and music camp counselor and find children to be invigorating and good for the heart. I spent last fall studying and discovering Seville, Spain and I work at Planet Bluegrass during their festival season. In my free time I like to listen to and make music (my exuberant golden retriever gets a lot of private performances), explore the outdoors, cook, and travel.