Infant/Toddler Quality Improvement Specialist

Alexandra is a RIE Associate and the Infant Toddler Specialist for Lane County's Quality Care Connections, Oregon’s Child Care Resource and Referral agency. Alex is a Master Trainer with the Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education, and has presented nationally and internationally on a variety of “birth to two” topics. Author of Simple Toys Make Active Babies, a book about play spaces for infants and toddlers, Alexandra earned her Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies with a Public Health focus at the University of South Florida. Alex’s prior advocacy and outreach efforts include; Member, ORAEYC’S Equity Committee, Member, Lane Community College Guided Pathways Communication and Engagement Team, Volunteer Home Visitor Lactation Consultant, Daisy Chain Parenting, Founding Board Member, Hillsborough County Breastfeeding Taskforce, and Founding Board Member, Pikler/Lóczy USA Fund to help the Pikler Children’s Home.

Grant Specialist

April-Kay has a degree in Early Childhood Education and an AMI Assistant’s to Infancy (birth to three) diploma. April-Kay was the co-founder of Zora Montessori located in West Eugene. April-Kay is a community trainer for the state of Oregon focusing on introductory workshops centering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. April-Kay is the Vice-President for the Ridgeline Montessori Public Charter School's Board of Directors. 

Outreach & Partnership

Crystal is currently working the Outreach and Partnership portion of our Stabilization Grant Team. She has been in the Early Childhood Education sector for 12 years. She has held many roles over the years, including operating her own program as a licensed DHS provider, Lead Infant Teacher and Assistant Director at Zora Montessori in West Eugene. She is passionate about Montessori education and is a Certified Montessori Assistant through the American Montessori Society. She is looking forward to working with providers in our area! 

Grant Mentorship

Dennis is a member of the Stabilization Grant Team with Quality Care Connections where he serves as a Grant Mentor. He operates Heart’s Content Child Care in Eugene OR - a certified in-home program for infants & toddlers. Dennis is also a Community Trainer for the Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education, and an Educator in Youth Bicycle Programs throughout Oregon and the U.S. He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration. Dennis has a long history with youth programs. Key among this is his work during the 1980's in youth development in rural Ecuador with the U.S. Peace Corps. As a Grant Mentor, Dennis is passionate about understanding and assisting child-care providers in stabilizing their programs.

Bilingual Grant Mentor

Patricia Perez is a member of the Stabilization Grant Team. She usually goes by Patty.  She has a degree in Early Childhood Education; and holds a Step 10 in the Oregon Registry: Pathways to Professional Development. 

Patty operates Little Stars Family Childcare Inc. a certified bilingual in-home childcare program for about 19 years. She also is a Community Trainer for the Oregon Center for Career Development in Childhood Care and Education.

As a Bilingual Grant mentor, Patricia is excited to  meet other Providers to give them support to sustain their childcare business.