Our Staff

Meet your new partners in parenting

Our staff are empathetic, warm, positive, and supportive, and we want to help your child thrive right from the beginning. We are eager to get to know you, your family, and what’s important to you. As partners with your family, we focus on using your strengths and parenting values to support the learning and development of your child. You will find that our staff are highly dedicated, non-judgmental, well educated, and have a good sense of humor. Most of all, you’ll find that they are a trusted resource you can count on no matter what’s going on. Meet our team below.

Interested in working with families and your local community? Our teams are always growing - check our current job openings or contact us if you'd like to join Mountain States Early Head Start!

Coeur d'Alene & Shoshone TeamLakeland TeamSandpoint Team

Coeur d'Alene & Shoshone Team

Jana Brooks, BA

Executive Director

Circle of Security™ Facilitator
Joined our team in 2004

Karen Dapron, AAS

Center Manager

Circle of Security™ Facilitator
Trust-Based Relational Intervention® Practitioner
Joined our team in 2017

Aleta Garcia-Clute, M.Ed.

Professional Development & Learning Manager

Circle of Security™ Facilitator

Joined our team in 2003

Mikayla Brown, BS

Community Outreach Specialist

Circle of Security™ Facilitator

Joined our team in 2021

Catie Kotmel, BS

Child Development & Disabilities Specialist

Circle of Security™ Facilitator
Trust-Based Relational Intervention® Practitioner
Joined our team in 2015

Laurie Klug, AA

Family Consultant

Circle of Security™ Facilitator
Joined our team in 2015

Sarah Howell, BA

Health & Safety Specialist

Mackenzie Gilbertson, BS

Family Consultant

Circle of Security™ Facilitator

Joined our Team in 2021

Jaki Waldvogel, BA

Family Consultant

Circle of Security™ Facilitator

Joined our team in 2022

Kaecie Rowe, MA

Family Consultant

Joined our team in 2023

Mackenzie Knoles, BA

Playgroup Coordinator / Family Consultant

Joined our team in 2023

Melissa Bennett, BA

Office Manager

Joined our team in 2022

Heather Woodie

Program Office Coordinator

Joined our team in 2023.

Deborah Fields

Family Consultant

Joined our team in 2024

Mackenzie Blumenauer

Family Consultant

Joined our team February 2024.

Lakeland Team

Sandra Menegas, BA

ERSEA Consultant

Circle of Security™ Facilitator
Joined our team in 1998

Teresa Rains, M.Ed.

Performance and Compliance Specialist

Circle of Security™ Facilitator
Joined our team in 2014

Lani West, AS

Family Consultant

Circle of Security™ Facilitator
Joined our team in 2005

Valerie Owen, BS

Family Consultant

Circle of Security™ Facilitator
Joined our team in 2010

Larissa Bennett

Family Consultant

Circle of Security™ Facilitator

Joined our team in 2022.

Heather Woodie

Program Office Coordinator

Joined our team in 2023.

Sandpoint Team

Molly Fay, BS

Family Consultant & Playgroup Coordinator

Circle of Security™ Facilitator
Joined our team in 2002

Jennifer Hepinstall, BSW

Parent, Family, Community Engagement Specialist

Circle of Security™ Facilitator
Joined our team in 2019

Irene Dreith, BA

Perinatal & Nutrition Specialist

Circle of Security™ Facilitator

Joined our team in 2022

Jayden Todhunter, MC

Family Consultant

Joined our team in 2023

Chelsea Asquith, BA

Family Consultant

Joined our team in 2022

Heather Woodie

Program Office Coordinator

Joined our team in 2023.

By the numbers

Our community is growing and thriving! Last year's theme focused on restoration. We reinforced the importance of trauma-informed work, trained staff, strengthened community partnerships, and improved our internal monitoring and communication practices.

231 children enrolled

serving ages 0-3 years in the local communities of Bonner, Shoshone, and Kootenai in 2019-2020

25% of children we serve

enter the program with developmental delay or disability

170 volunteers gave 19,490 hours

through volunteering, completing home-teaching between home visits, participating in leadership activities, and promoting our program

Volunteer today

What we do wouldn't be possible without our volunteers. Help our staff with classes, events, and so much more. Joining our team as a volunteer is a great way to be involved with your community and we're flexible working with whatever time you have to give back! 

Become a Volunteer