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Stacy Nickerson

People Operations Director

(West)

Stacy Nickerson is the People Operations Director at Corning Childrens Center. Stacy believes that the work that educators do is critical and she wants to make sure that all staff are supported and are in the positions that they love. Seeing the joy that children bring to staff and families is why she loves working at Corning Children’s Center. 

Stacy has a Bachelor's degree in Child and Family Development from American Public University. Stacy also has a Professional in Human Resources from Cornell University. When Stacy is not at work she loves spending time with her nephew, and family.

When she was growing up Stacy wanted to be a Teacher

Paula Detar
 

Executive Director

(East)

Paula Detar is the Executive Director serving Corning Children’s Center since 2019. She values the first five years of development of children because this is the most rapid period of development when the brain is most flexible. This period is crucial for each child as early brain development has a lasting impact on a child’s ability to learn and succeed in both school and life. She loves being able to connect with families, children and staff as we journey through these first 5 years at Corning Children’s Center together. Paula has served as a board member for the Corning Chinese School, participated in Leading with Racial Equity Initiative through Early Care and Learning Council, and is a member of the Southern Tier, Early Childhood Leadership Initiative. She has been serving in the early childhood education field both in the classroom and in leadership for nearly 20 years with extensive training and knowledge in Birth to 5 child development, sensory processing, brain development, Conscious Discipline, and curriculum implementation. Paula holds a Bachelor’s in Science in Elementary Education from Westminster College and a Master’s in Arts in Early Childhood Education and Special Education (Birth to 5) from Montclair State University. She enjoys reading, baking, cooking, completing jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with her family and friends around the table playing games or out in the woods camping and hiking. Her favorite color is purple and when she was growing up, she dreamed of one day being a teacher and a mom.

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Shanna VanPatten

Assistant Director

(West)

Shanna VanPatten is the Assistant Director at Corning Children’s Center West location. Shanna has worked at the Center since 2005. She believes that seeing growth in the children, staff and families is one of the most rewarding aspects to working at the Center. Shanna worked with the team to help open the new West location and is has enjoyed welcoming the families and children to the new facility. Shanna holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with an Early Childhood Extension from SUNY Fredonia and a Master’s Degree in Educational Computing from SUNY Buffalo State University. When not at work, Shanna enjoys camping with her family and dogs. Her favorite color is green and when growing up, she wanted to be a teacher.

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Velma Andrews

Finance Director

(East)

Velma Andrews is Finance Director at Corning Children's Center.  She has over 25 years of experience in the finance field with 10 years in a non-profit environment. She attended Elmira Business Institute for Accounting.  When not at work, Velma enjoys traveling, boating, crafting, and reading. Her favorite color is purple. When she was growing up, she wanted to be a teacher.

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Laura Fish

Family Engagement Coordinator

(West)

Laura Fish is the Center's Family Engagement Coordinator. This role includes things such as enrollment, and partnering with families to help them access different types of support and resources,  In addition, Laura manages health related forms such as physicals, immunizations, and MAT paperwork. Laura believes that the first 5 years of a child’s life are incredibly important for building a solid foundation for the rest of the child’s life. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Early and Elementary Education from Buffalo State College. When not at work, Laura enjoys spending time with her 3 children, reading, and doing various outdoor activities. Her favorite color is purple. When she was growing up she wanted to be either a teacher or a counselor.

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Dawnelle Wilson

Child Development Specialist

(West)

Dawnelle Wilson is a Child Development Specialist at the Corning Children's Center. Dawnelle has spent her adult life working in a classroom helping children grow. She believes early childhood is the shaping of the future of children.-Building strong relationships with children and staff is important to Dawnelle and she values continued learning opportunities. She holds an AAS degree in Social Science and Human Services. When not at work, Dawnelle enjoys spending time with her four children and husband. They value our time together as a family and often host picnics with lots of swimming.

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Jenny Snyder

Education Coordinator

(West)

Jenny Snyder is the Education Coordinator for Corning Children’s Center West. Jenny is passionate about play-based learning and the important foundation that Conscious Discipline provides - which will help children be successful for the rest of their lives. She supervises classrooms and helps with curriculum implementation.  Jenny holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Office Administration from Pensacola Christian College. She taught sixth grade for six years before entering the early childhood field. She was a lead teacher for a number of years in a daycare center before moving up into a Child Development Specialist role. After holding the CDS role for 2 ½ years, she took her current position as Education Coordinator. When not at work, Jenny enjoys relaxing with her cats, traveling, and volunteering at her church. She loves bright colors. When she was growing up, she always wanted to be either a teacher or a therapist.

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Jamie Roloson

Administrative Assistant

(West)

Jamie Roloson is an Administrative Assistant who works at the front desk helping with the day to day needs of our center. Jamie believes that providing a warm, welcoming, and helpful environment is key to helping children grow into their own confident person. In addition to managing the day to day needs of the center, Jamie also

Jamie is a graduate of Corning East High School and has many years of experience in customer service. When not at work, Jamie enjoys reading, spending time with her family and playing with her dogs. When she was growing up she waned to be a teacher or nurse.

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Dakota Carr

Operations Coordinator

(East)

Dakota Carr is the Operation's Coordinator for Corning Children's Center. Dakota has worked at the Center since 2018. He has an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. Dakota enjoys connecting with families, staff, vendors, and donors and strives to build a sense of community with all who enter our program. Dakota has contributed to the success of the Center by developing and implementing effective processes and procedures, allowing the center to work more efficiently. He also works closely with the People Operation’s Director to ensure the Center’s facility maintenance and cleaning items are in accordance with licensing regulations. When not at work, Dakota enjoys time in the Finger Lakes and traveling to visit friends in Miami. Dakota is passionate about supporting local businesses and serves on the City of Corning Comprehensive Plan Committee and supports the Corning Area Chamber of Commerce.

​His favorite color is blue. When he was growing up, he wanted to be an airline pilot.

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Andrea Simpson

Administrative Assistant

(West)

Andrea Simpson is the Administrative Assistant at the front desk, supporting daily operations and fostering seamless communication among staff and families. Andrea believes that trust and acceptance are the foundation of meaningful connections, essential for the success of children and their families. She holds an Associate’s Degree from EBI and has a long career within customer service and support. When not at work Andrea enjoys spending time with her family, reading, hiking/being outdoors in the nice weather, and cooking. Andrea’s favorite color is periwinkle blue. When she was growing up, she wanted to be a chef or teacher.

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Kendall Austin

Education Coordinator

(East)

Kendall Austin is an Education Coordinator who works with staff to coordinate curriculum implementation including lesson plans, developmental assessments and screenings. She supports and oversees classroom staff with the goal of continual learning and growth. Kendall believes that working in an Early Childhood Education setting gives one the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families in the community. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services and Management from Alfred State College When not at work, she enjoys gardening and spending time with family. Her favorite color is pink. When she was growing up she wanted to be a nurse.

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Kate Downing

Community Engagement Coordinator

(East)

Kate joined our team at the Center September 2021, bringing with her a Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality from SUNY Delhi. She has a diverse range of experience in events and catering, administrative support, graphic design, and customer service. Outside of work, Kate enjoys traveling, exploring new foods, spending time with her four-legged best friend, an Aussie/Husky mix, and cherishing moments with loved ones. It's worth noting that Kate had previously worked at the Center as a substitute teacher before completing her college education. Her favorite color is purple. â€‹When Kate was growing up she wanted to be a marine biologist.

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Jenn Morse

Administrative Assistant

(East)

Jenn believes that kindness, compassion and helpfulness are crucial elements to assisting and anticipating the needs of others while greeting you with a smiling face.  Jennifer has over 15 years of experience in a childcare setting both in and out of the classroom, as well as an extensive background in both customer service and sales.  She holds several awards for her outstanding customer service, loss prevention, customer loyalty, and outstanding sales within a fiscal year in addition to her 7 ½ years of pre-kindergarten teaching fun.  When not at the center Jennifer enjoys cooking, crocheting, reading, spending time outside walking/hiking and going on adventures with her American Bulldog, Haze.  Even though she wears a lot of neutrals her favorite color is blue, and when growing up, she always knew she would one day work with children.

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Ayumi Pereira

Child Development Specialist

(East)

Ayumi

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