Meet Cohort 2

Jade Schneiter was born and raised in Buena Vista, Colorado. She spent a lot of her time growing up helping out on her grandfather’s ranch in Nathrop, as well as playing with her many cousins and her younger sister. Throughout her childhood, she was found to be a natural leader and great with younger kids. As she grew older, her fondness of young children grew as well. 

After a lot of thought and discussions with her family about her true passions, Jade joined the Chaffee County Early Childhood Council’s Emerging Early Childhood Educators Program. She finished this year-long program in August of 2026, and obtained her Lead Teacher Certification. She is committed to becoming the best educator she can be, starting her journey with Children’s Discovery Ranch. She found the Ranch to be a great fit for her during the program and her practicum courses, and will start the 2026/27 school year as a teacher in their Sunflower Room. 

Jade hopes to provide loving and trusting care and support to every child, prioritizing relationship building with the children and families she works with. She also looks forward to letting her creativity and artistic side lose with the children, making learning opportunities fun and engaging.

Hello, my name is Kristin! I have lived in Buena Vista, Colorado, my entire life and graduated from Buena Vista High School about a year ago. Ever since I was young, I have had a passion for working with children and helping them learn and grow. That passion inspired me to pursue a career in early childhood education and become part of the Emerging Early childhood Educators Program as I work toward earning my Lead Teacher Certificate. 

I am a dedicated and hardworking individual who is committed to continually learning and growing as an educator. For almost two years, I have had the privilege of working as a Teacher Assistant at The Grove Early Learning Center. This experience has strengthened my passion for teaching and motivated me to continue working toward my goal of becoming a lead teacher with a classroom of my own. I hope to create a positive learning environment where children feel safe, supported, and excited to learn every day. As I continue my education and gain more experience, I hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young children and their families. I believe that every child deserves to feel valued, loved, respected, and accepted, regardless of their background, culture, abilities, or atypicality. 

I know that teaching is a lifelong journey of learning, and I am excited to continue growing as an educator while helping children build confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning.

Hello, my name is Glenda Jean Pugh, and I'm delighted to introduce myself. My family and I are proud to call Chaffee County our home. As a mother of four, our household is a vibrant hub of activity. My eldest son is Mason, followed by Noah, my daughter Eliana, and our youngest, DeAndre. With such a dynamic family, time management is not just a skill but a necessity in our daily lives.

After taking classes to achieve my Early Childhood Certificate, I have gained knowledge and skills surrounding early childhood development. This has given me the confidence and the know-how to instruct young children while also providing me with hands-on experience. Through this process, I have learned that I love the knowledge of education as it pertains to early childhood. As a result, I have a desire to pursue more education in the field of early childhood. I'm grateful for the Emerging Early Childhood Educators Program through the Chaffee County Early Childhood Council for giving me this drive and opportunity.