Teaching Staff

Angiolina Abugattas joined UFECC in October 2023. She holds a BA in Food Industries Engineer with knowledge in public nutrition. She also has worked in customer service and was responsible for the logistics and management of businesses. She is a Spanish native speaker and loves to work with international communities. Angiolina has worked with 2- to 6-year-old children in a project of Sustainable Development with a local community in Peru. She is passionate in teaching with love and patience and believes in foster life-long love of learning through everyday play. Angiolina loves to see sweet children’s faces when they succeed a new challenge in their daily activities. She is a proud mom of two amazing boys. She enjoys nature, watercolor painting, art projects and baking. She is inspired for people who deliver kindness to others to make the world a better place.

Becky joined UF ECC on September 4th, 2014.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from St. Leo University. Becky has worked in education for 25 years, teaching age groups from infancy to second grade. She is proficient in American Sign Language, specifically with infants, and feels that this is the first language an infant can learn to get their needs met. One of her key focuses as a teacher is helping children learn and grow in an independent environment, while focusing on their social and emotional skills. Music is her love and she enjoys playing the violin and piano. In her free time, she loves exploring the outdoors and spending time with her family.

Lauren recently moved back to Florida from Chicago with her teenage son. She started her teaching journey in 2010 and she holds a Bachelor’s Degree from University of Arizona Global Campus in early childhood education. She has worked with infants through 3rd graders as an assistant, lead, and co-teacher. She loves the 3-5 year old age group and seeing them have those “ah-ha” moments. She also loves letting their creative juices flow through the arts

Kate Ellington joined UF ECC in June 2022.  She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology and University of Central Florida.  In her 20+ years’ experience, Kate has worked with infants, preschool age, and school age children; as a nanny, gymnastics instructor, research intern, early childhood education and public-school teacher.  She loves art, music, and Mother Nature! Kate takes being silly very seriously and invites children to practice daily mindfulness with her. She is passionate about sharing her love of nature with children and encourages them to develop a connection of their own with nature. Kate enjoys supporting children as they develop their sense of self and their ability to think critically.

Anna joined UFECC in October 2023. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Development.  Anna has worked with children ages 0-4 for 4 years in different childcare centers and babysitting. She is passionate about helping children learn to build confidence by encouraging independence and using their words.

Lisa joined Baby Gator in October 2009. She holds a CDEA degree. Lisa has worked with infants and one year-olds for over 15 years. She is passionate about the children learning to talk, use silverware, and become independent.

Hope joined Baby Gator in August 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Florida International University. She has over 20 years of experience in childcare, teaching music to children between the ages of 3 and 12 and teaching Early Childhood Education to children between 2 and 4 years old. Hope enjoys creating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math centers to engage the natural curiosity in science and nature that appears evident in preschoolers.

Karlee Hawkins joined UF ECC in August of 2022. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education. Karlee has worked with infant to 7 years old, for 13 years. She volunteered for four summers as a camp counselor for Special Needs Children. where she provided round the clock care for the children. She worked as an EDEP Arts and Crafts Teacher at Caroline Beatrice Parker Elementary School. She has worked in a few different preschools such as Sonshine Preschool, this past Summer. She also worked at Santa Fe College’s Preschool, Little School. She is passionate about working with children of all ages. She enjoys being a creative planner, thinking outside of the box,  optimistic and loves to create new and exciting activities for children to be engaged in. Karlee is passionate about her work at Baby Gator. She enjoys interacting with many different age groups as the preschool floater and teacher here. What I love most about my work environment is working with such kind hearted, caring and welcoming staff. I love having different interactions while engaged with the children. As well as being able to make a positive impact in their lives. Baby Gator to me, is home and feels like we are one big happy family.

Savannah joined UFECC in July 2023. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Youth Studies from Florida Gulf Coast University. Savannah worked with grades 9th through 12th for two years until she changed to preschool age. She is passionate about seeing the children discover new things and loves making an impact in a child’s start on their educational path. In her free time she enjoys watersports, horseback riding, hanging out with my family and dogs.

Adrian Klempert joined the Baby Gator Team on August 7th, 2017. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, and a Master’s degree in Education with a concentration in instructional leadership. Her passion to help young children establish a foundation for learning that will last a lifetime. Adrian has worked with children, ranging from two weeks to nine years of age, for over 8 years. When it comes to children, she is inspired by their imagination and creative thinking. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and gardening.

Jamie joined Baby Gator in December 2018. She holds an Associate Degree in psychology. Jamie has worked with toddlers for four years, and has worked with preschool children of all age groups for six years. She is most passionate about helping young children blossom into the distinctive individuals that they are, as well as allowing them to each positively express themselves and share their feelings in their own unique way.

Chloe joined UF ECC in May of 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in Child and Family Studies. Chloe has worked with children of all ages for around 4 years. This includes teaching dance and working as a camp counselor. She is passionate about really getting to know all of the children she is around and creating a loving and supportive environment.

Ashley joined UF ECC in August 2022. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Psychology. Ashley has worked with children from birth to elementary-school age. She is passionate about encouraging imaginative playing and helping children learn to interact with their environment. Ashley is inspired by seeing children express curiosity about the world around them.

Angela joined UF ECC in July 2019. She holds a bachelor’s degree in art with specialization in Photography from City College of New York. Angela has been in Early Childhood Education for the past 19 years, ranging from infants to early elementary. Angela believes that children make the most of class lessons when they can take the lead in all provided activities. To help students Angela offers them plenty of time so that they can solve problems on their own and, make their own discoveries. She is passionate about early childhood education, and Angela strives/encourages children to explore their creativity and curiosity for the arts. In her free time, Angela enjoys photography, painting, riding her bike, going to the beach, and most of all spending time with her family.

Fariha joined Baby Gator in August 2016. She is an AMS and NCME certified Montessori teacher and is in the process of continuing her education. She has worked with children aged 3 to 6 in Montessori schools in NJ and has been teaching overall for the last 11 years. Fariha is passionate about teaching because she believes it is her calling. She believes in the children’s individual potential and believes that children see the world through a lens that adults cannot. She believes that every child’s truth is their reality and she loves that she gets to be a part of that reality as an educator.

Haley joined UFECC in August 2020. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education. Haley has worked with children ages 1 to 4  for 6 years in a preschool setting and such capacity. She enjoys reading books and doing puzzles. She loves working with children and enjoys helping them discover their interests and learning their sense of independence. 

Isamara Orama Soto joined UFECC in June 2023. She holds a bachelor’s degree in radiologic science. Isamara has taken care of children from birth to preschool age. She is passionate about teaching and helping children grow. She enjoys interacting with children of all ages. During her free time she loves spending time with family and friends. She is very excited to be part of a wonderful team of teachers at UFECC.

Ariana Pernalete joined UFECC in December 2020. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Ariana has 15 years of experience working with children 4-12 years of age. She is passionate about making their first experience the best of many more to come their way.

My name is Caroline Piñero and I joined UFECC in June 2024. I am currently an ordained chaplain and certified A/G minister. I also graduated in 2006 as an executive secretary. I studied K-3 education for two years at the University of Puerto Rico. I have worked with children for over 20 years, from infants to five years of age. My greatest achievement has been teaching children under the age of four to five to read and write. I am passionate about seeing children eat all their food and savor it. And I am always interested in making sure they are clean and healthy. I love children, but toddlers make me enjoy my work hours. Children inspire me to do more like them, genuine, kind, transparent, and very daring. I only hope to be a blessing to each child and their families.

Cathy joined UF ECC in May of 2013. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education, director credential, and has worked with young children and families for over 20 years. She also enjoys her role as a mentor to new UF ECC teachers. Some of her favorite things to do with children are encouraging an interest in the natural world, helping them learn to navigate their emotions, and engaging in meaningful play experiences. Outside of the classroom she spends time with her husband, preferably at Disney or in the mountains. She is also very passionate about supporting and advocating for foster/adoptive families.

Monica Reina joined UFECC in October 2023. She holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia. In addition to her duties as an engineer, she was an after-school teacher, helping children from elementary to middle school. In this role, she mentored students in math, science, and geography. She came to the United States with her family in 2019. She is a proud mother of two sons; her older son has a BS in Computer Science from UF, and her younger son is studying Biomedical Engineering at UF as well. Monica has over five years of experience working with children from newborns to 5 years old. In addition to enjoying teaching children through play, her passion lies in reinforcing values, encouraging children to be respectful, and helping them build confidence in themselves.

Abby Shaw joined UF ECC in November 2021. She holds a Child Development Associate Equivalency with over 30 years of experience. Abby has worked with all ages of children but enjoys 3-year-old children best. She is passionate about the growth of children and loves helping them succeed their development. With 5 older children and 6 grandchildren of her own, being surrounded by children is a true joy to her.

Mallory Smith joined UF ECC in April 2024. She is pursuing her degree in early childhood education at Santa Fe College. Mallory has worked with ages 0-13 as a swim instructor, dance teacher, and assistant teacher for 7+ years in places such as Frank DeLuca YMCA, Footprints in Motion Dance Studio, and Abacus Learning Center. She is passionate about child development and making sure children are loved and appreciated.

Maris Smith joined Baby Gator in August 2015. Maris has worked with children from infants to 5 year olds and currently works with the younger one year olds as a teacher. She loves watching them grow and enjoys developing them into unique individuals. Additionally, Maris enjoys witnessing the interaction of the children with their diverse backgrounds and their involvement with their classmates. Maris came to the United States from Cebu Philippines in 2008. She presently is working on her National certificate. As a mom of a Baby Gator graduate, she feels her child was greatly influenced by the wonderful atmosphere of Baby Gator.

Tongtong Song joined UF ECC in October 2023. She holds a master’s degree in English Language and Literature. Tongtong Song has worked with high school students for five years in Beijing, with elementary school students for two years at Almond Elementary School in Los Altos, California, and with toddlers as a co-op teacher for one year at Children’s Center of the Stanford Community.  She is always inspired by children’s innocence, creativity and smiles and ready to explore and grow with them.

Dimana joined UF ECC in November 2022. She has her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development and Education and 20+ years professional experience working in preschool settings. She likes to provide age-appropriate, play-based learning experiences for the children and to use the Conscious Discipline method to support their social-emotional development. 

Jasmine joined Baby Gator in May of 2023. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Nutritional Sciences. Jasmine has worked with infants to VPK children for over a year as a substitute and recently transitioned to a floater position in May of 2024. She is passionate about helping children learn, grow, and enjoy the years spent at UF ECC.

Trisha Wood joined UFECC in April 2024. She holds a bachelor’s in psychology. Trisha has worked as an Early Childhood educator for almost ten years. She has worked with babies all the way up to school-age children. She is passionate about teaching children the social-emotional skills they need to succeed in life.

Lilah Aguilar joined Baby Gator August 2024. She has her FCCPC (Florida Child Care Professional Credential) and has worked with ages birth-5 for 4 years. She is passionate about creating a loving and safe environment for the children to grow in.

Karen joined UFECC in June 2022. She holds a Florida Child Care Staff Credential. Karen has worked with 1-2 years old children for 2 years in a preschool setting. She is passionate about children feeling safe and comfortable to grow and explore.

AJ joined UFECC in June of 2020. She holds an MBA in Public Relations. AJ has worked with two- and three-year-olds in both childcare centers and in-home care centers. She is passionate about seeing children accomplish new independence milestones and expand their world with new learning experiences each day.

Lindsay Cooper joined UFECC at Baby Gator in June of 2024. She holds a master’s degree in arts in Medicine from the University of Florida. Lindsay has been teaching children ranging from sixth month of age to six years of age. She began her journey into early learning as an enrichment teacher for two years. She was an assistant and lead teacher for over two years while working on her graduate degree and raising her five-year-old son.

Her primary focus in early education is creating a space centered around wellness and learning through creative expression and child-led play. Outside of teaching, Lindsay loves being outdoors, swimming, photography, and handmaking wearable art. She is inspired by the natural world around her and the imaginative minds of her young students.

When it comes to teaching, Lindsay finds that creative freedom through art and child led play opens the doors for growth, learning, understanding and appreciation for the world around us. She is passionate about instilling empathy and compassion for others all while encouraging her students to learn and thrive in their own creative abilities.

Rene joined UFECC in September 2023. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education. Rene has worked with children and youth between the ages of 2 and 18 for five years. Her experience includes being a summer camp assistant, mentor, and Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). She is deeply passionate about working with students from disadvantaged backgrounds, supporting them as they defy the odds stacked against them.

Amanda has been working in a preschool childcare setting for over nine and a half years. She has her Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education, and is completing her Bachelor of Science in summer of 2022. She also has her Director’s Credential, Staffing Credential, VPK certification and is First Aid / CPR certified. When not at work you can find Amanda helping out at Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation educating visitors about the animals there.

Katie joined UFECC in June 2015. She holds an Associate of Science in Elementary Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Katie has worked with one to four year olds at A Child’s Academy and at Baby Gator. She is passionate about watching children learn and grow daily and seeing their progressions throughout the year.

Cherish joined UFECC in May 2018. She is currently working towards completing her Associates of Arts degree in Elementary Education. Cherish has worked with children from infants up to 8 years of age. She is passionate about teaching and helping children mature. Nothing makes her happier than knowing she is making a positive impact in a child’s life.

Gretchen L. Martinez joined UF ECC at Baby Gator in June 2024, bringing over six years of experience working with children ages 3-4 year old, VPK programs and school-aged children. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Emergency and Disaster Management, as well as a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Her background also includes several years in administrative roles, where she developed a strong foundation in program coordination and leadership within early childhood settings.

She is passionate about fostering a nurturing and safe environment where young children can explore, grow, and thrive. Her unique background in emergency management enhances her focus on safety and preparedness, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to learn in a secure and supportive atmosphere. What inspires her the most is seeing the joy and growth in children as they discover new things and develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

Ashley joined UFECC in June 2022. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Family Relations from the University of Idaho. Ashley has worked with all ages of children for 3 years in Idaho, for her last year of school she was a co-teacher to a preschool age classroom. She is passionate about high quality early childhood education and social-emotional education. The children she works with inspire her everyday with their eagerness to learn.

Mary McLendon joined UF ECC in September 2023. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education. She has been working in early childhood education for 14 years, mainly with children 2-3 years of age. Mary is deeply passionate about teaching and guiding young minds to reach their fullest potential and succeed in life. Seeing her students learn and acquire new skills makes her inspired knowing that she is a part of that foundation . She loves to travel and play mini golf with her family. 

Irma joined UFECC in May 2017. She holds a CDA and is now going to start on her Associates degree in Early Childhood Education. She has worked with children ranging from birth to 5 years old, children with special needs and as a homeschool teacher for about 10 years. She loves working with children because they are enthusiastic, loving and bring something new to her everyday. In the end, the children are the ones who inspire her.

Alba Orozco joined UFECC in April 2023. She has a degree in Art and Graphic Design. Alba has worked with children between the ages of 3 and 4 years of age as a preschool teacher for over a year. She is passionate about educating and teaching children through art, play, and music.

Sydney Ray joined UFECC March of 2021. She will be completing her Associates of Arts Degree in the summer term of 2021. Sydney has worked with children from ages 2 months to 5 years for the past three years, working mostly with 2-year-olds. She is inspired everyday by the joy and imagination of the kids she works with.

Claudia Real has worked at UF ECC Baby Gator for almost four years. She joined UF ECC in 2017 and worked here until 2020, she moved to Indiana, and returned in 2023. She holds a law degree from her home country of Colombia, but her true passion lies with children. Since working at UF ECC she has received her Florida Staff Credential. She has worked with children ages 0 to 12 for almost nine years. She loves watching children grow and is inspired by the opportunity to plant seeds of love and care for them to help create a better world.

Katiria Rivera joined UFECC in July 2022. She holds a degree in Radiologic Tecnology. Katiria has worked with children aged from birth through three years old. With 5 plus years of experience working in this field. Her being bilingual ignites her passion to teach in Spanish, and she also loves to learn about other languages and cultures. She is passionate/interested in loves/ enjoys is inspired by helping children working on their fine and gross motor skills, and social emotional skills. I really enjoy and love to work with children.

Graciela joined Baby Gator in July 2024. She has worked with children and youth ages 4 months to 17 years for 8 years as a summer camp counselor, a child care specialist in an emergency shelter/assessment center, and a nanny before joining the UF ECC team. She enjoys encouraging children to learn about their interests with creativity and curiosity.

Danisha Smith was a previous UFECC employee back in 2016, and has been recently reinstated this past April of 2021. She currently holds a Child Development Associates and has been working with infants to 2 year old’s for over 6 years. Her teaching style is that of nurturing, caring, and loving children as if they were her own. In her spare time she enjoys shopping, eating, and sleeping. One of her favorite places is the beach. Getting to see each child’s development, and learning first hand as they grown and flourish under her care is what in spires her to go to work everyday.

Haley Surprenant joined Baby Gator in August of 2024 and has her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. Haley has worked with children of all ages for over 9 years in various capacities. She has worked in afterschool programs, babysitting and teaching roles. She is passionate about early childhood development and is inspired by the constant growth of the children in her care.

Angel Szczech joined UF ECC in July 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education. She has worked with preschoolers/kindergarten ages from 3-6 years old for a year and a half. She enjoys working with kids and is interested in contributing to their growth and development by supporting their needs and interests. She likes to travel to other countries and experience different cultures. She is positive-minded and resilient.

Maria Torres joined UFECC in October 2021. She has an Associate’s degree in early childhood education. Maria has worked with preschoolers for over 15 years, helping her students acquire the skills they need to be successful in the future. Maria is very passionate about helping her young students master their academic and social skills. Her student’s energy and determination inspires her. Maria is aware that early childhood education is the cornerstone for future success and is more than happy to be there for her students as they overcome challenges and barriers.

Kekiyia Williams has worked at UF ECC at Baby Gator since June 2024. She has taught for 10 years and holds her Child Development Associates credential. She began her career in a two-year-old classroom which has been her go-to ever since. She loves and enjoys working with kids. She has been passionate about teaching since she was young and sees it as a great, fun learning experience. She knew she was always going to make a difference by teaching. She is glad to be a part of such a wonderful community and school and is beyond grateful and excited for the future at UF ECC!

Catherine Witt joined Baby Gator ECC in July 2024. Originally from France, she holds an AA Degree in Tourism. Catherine relocated from Orlando where she worked as a toddler lead teacher for the last 10 years and she is excited to be an infant’s teacher at UF ECC. She feels fulfilled each day when she gets to take care of and spend time with young growing minds. In her spare time, she likes to swim, play music and travel to discover the world.