Free Coaching and Technical Assistance

Liz Charland-Tait 

Western Professional Development Center Lead Coach

echarlandtait@hcc.edu

Liz has been working in the Early Childhood field for over 25 years. She consults with & mentors program directors and teams. Liz also facilitates PLC's (Professional Learning Communities) for the field. What inspires and motivates Liz is the power of connection and collaboration.  What Liz loves most about her work are the myriad of opportunities she has to partner and create with dedicated educators in the field. 

Emmy Phelps

Western Professional Development Center Bilingual Coach

ephelps@hcc.edu

Emmy has over 20 years of experience in Early Education, having served in various roles, including Preschool Lead Teacher, Training Coordinator, Family Childcare Provider, Mentor, and Student Success Coach. She holds a Bachelor's in Education and a Master's in Organizational Psychology. Emmy believes that children learn best through play in environments where educators are actively engaged with them and each other in meaningful and mindful ways. This philosophy drives her commitment to helping educators as a coach, empowering them to create nurturing, inclusive spaces that support both child development and professional growth.

Sheila Gould

Western Professional Development Center Coach

sgould@hcc.edu

Sheila joyfully joins the Western PDC, bringing nearly two decades of experience in early education throughout Western Massachusetts. Her background includes owning a family child care, teaching preschool, and serving as a full-time faculty member for a decade in the Education Department at Holyoke Community College (HCC). At HCC, Sheila took on roles as the Early Childhood Programs Coordinator, Practicum Supervisor, and Department Chair. She also contributed to developing the Itsy Bitsy Child Watch program and supported HCC's successful pursuit of the Western PDC and Career Pathways grants.

Sheila is happiest  in the field, coaching educators in all settings through compassionate listening and modeling engagement strategies. She is passionate about child-led, open-ended learning, providing support for educators at all career stages, and embracing all things messy play!

Sarah Patton LICSW, IMHM-P®

Early Childhood Mental Health Clinician, Consultant/ Coach & Trainer 

Infant Mental Health Policy Mentor

For the past 30 years, Sarah has been working with children birth-8 and their caregivers. In addition to working as an infant/ toddler and pre-k teacher herself, Sarah has worked as an ECMH specialist/clinician, trainer and consultant to the mixed delivery system of EEC and social services across New England. Sarah is co-founder and chair of the Franklin, North Quabbin & Hampshire County Early Childhood Mental Health Roundtable and is a State Certified Infant Mental Health Policy Mentor. 

Scott Lettre

Western Professional Development Center ASOST Coach

Scott is currently entering year five as a Program Director for a local ASOST program. For a little over a year, Scott has been facilitating the Western MA PDC's ASOST Affinity Group. He has most recently been working towards becoming a trainer. Scott's previous work experience is diverse, as he was a General Manager for a Minor League Baseball team prior to his time in the ASOST field. .