Child Development

2 Day AM Preschool 

This program is designed for the developing 3-year-old. It focuses on socialization, creativity, as well as, pre-reading and pre-math skills. 

Time 

Tuesday / Thursday

8:15 - 11:00 a.m.

3 Day Preschool

This program is designed for the developing 4 and 5-year-old. It focuses on socialization, creativity, science, reading, math, and kindergarten readiness skills.

Time

Monday / Wednesday / Friday

8:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

4 Day Preschool

This program is designed for the developing 4 to 6-year-old child. It focuses on socialization, creativity, science, reading, math, and Kindergarten readiness skills.

Time

Monday - Thursday

11:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Veronica

Hi, I'm Veronica and I have worked at the Y for 12 years! I am a mom of four and I love contributing to the youth of the community where I grew up and raised my family. I started off working in B&A and then B&A and Preschool, B&A Coordinator, Busser, Child Development Director, and now Preschool Teacher. I am blessed to be able to do what I love! I obtained my Bachelor's Degree from the University of Northern Colorado a long time ago :)

Here's a little more about me:

• Favorite animal? Our 4-pound emotional support dog Bronxy :)
• Favorite shape? Heart
• What is the meal you could eat every day for the rest of your life? Mexican food!
• What's one thing on your bucket list? Visit all 50 states
• Slides or swings? Swings
• Grilled or fried chicken? Fried
• Favorite subject to teach? Everything preschool!

Harlee

My name is Harlee and I started working for the YMCA in September of 2017, and its been a wonderful three years!  I plan to go back to school in the Spring and graduate with my Early Childhood Education degree from Pueblo Community College.  My favorite proactive classroom management strategy would have to be greeting our students before every class, seeing their faces light up because they are so excited to come to preschool and hearing about their dinner the night before or all the cool things they did over the weekend!  

Nicole

I'm a wife and mom of three boys. I have two dogs and love everything outdoors like hiking, camping, hunting and fishing. I chose the Y because I loved the environment when I was a member and loved how kindly the children are treated. I obtained my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Colorado Technical University and my certificate in Dental Assisting from Blue Mountain Community College. I have aspired to be a pre-k or kindergarten teacher since I was a child. I love spending the day with the kids and watching them grow!

• If I were a superhero my power would be... To heal others
• What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Mint chocolate chip
• What is your favorite moment from the past year? Watching my son hunt his first buck
• Dogs or cats? Dog person for sure

Erika

Hello! My name is Erika and I have been working at the YMCA since November of 2017, and I have enjoyed it all very much. I chose the Y because it's very family-oriented, and there hasn’t been a time in my life where I haven’t been without family and caring for young children/babies. My favorite thing is when a child runs, or stops playing, to give me a random hug!

Here's a few of my favorite things:

• Favorite color? Periwinkle, black, & glitter 😁✨ 
• Waffles or pancakes? Does a crepe somewhat count as a pancake? Lol
• What's on your bucket list? I want to swim in the clearest water I can find and go to New Orleans to experience the Mardi Gras festival 😁
  

Hayleigh

I'm Hayleigh and I am a young mom of my 10-month-old baby! Our life just revolves around him and all of the Disney movies we watch. I have worked at the YMCA for almost five months. I started out with Summer Adventure Camp and now moving here has really been great.

I love kids, and I think I've always known that part of my life was going to be that I was a mom, and then the other part is being a teacher. You could look back at five-year-old Hayleigh's writing and everything would say, "I want to be a teacher." I always knew that's what I always wanted to do. We love to travel in Colorado, and I'm a very native person of Colorado. I love fishing and hiking in the mountains and doing it alongside my dog and my family. I'm a very family-oriented person, and when I'm not at the Y, I'm at home with my family.

• Favorite ice cream flavor? Mint chocolate chip.
• Early bird or a night owl? Night owl.
• Do you have a secret talent? I can do five backhand springs in a row.
• If you were a superhero what would be your superpower? Invisibility.
• A meal I could eat every day. Mac n cheese.

Jessica

I'm Jessica and I am new here at the Y! I'm a single mom of four, my oldest is in their late 20s and my youngest is 8. So most of my time outside of the Y is spent with my family being at dance class, doing arts and crafts, and baking. I came back to childcare because I am in the process of getting my degree in early childhood education and special education from Grand Canyon University. My daughter has special needs and I want to go back into that area of teaching to help if they need special services. 

• Favorite ice cream flavor? Pecan
• Early bird or a night owl? Both, I'm usually up early with my daughter and up late with school
• If you were a superhero what would be your power? The ability to sleep anywhere.
• A meal you could eat every day? Tacos

Chey

My name is Chey and I'm 25 years old. I'm originally from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and I moved to Pueblo with my family in 2016. I love animals and all forms of art! I started working for the YMCA in September 2022. I chose the Y because I want to be a part of a community that promotes health in all ways. I'm currently in my second year of college for Child Psychology at Pueblo Community College. I got into teaching to make my own positive impression of young, eager minds. My favorite classroom management technique is to allow the children to help decorate and establish rules.

• Favrotie topic to teach? Art
• Favorite moment from the past year? Adopting my dog!
• A meal you could eat everyday? Chicken tendies
• Dogs or cats? I have one of each so I can't decide...

Tia

Hi! I'm Tia and I have only worked at the YMCA for a couple of months, but the YMCA has been so welcoming and all of the people I see and meet at the YMCA are so friendly. I will be a Junior at CSU-Pueblo and my major is Psychology. I love all the different kids that I get to meet and experience new things from them every day.

• Favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla.
• Early bird or night owl? Early bird!
• If you were a superhero what would be your power? Reading minds.
• A meal you could eat every day. Chicken nuggets and fries.
• Dogs or cats? I am most definitely a dog person, if I could I would have five dogs of my own right now.

Piper

Hi! I've worked at the Y for over four years. The YMCA was my first job, and I started out at Camp Jackson for a summer, and then I liked it so much that I started working here. I've been coming to the Y since I was a kid, and I chose to work here because it's such a good community and environment to be a part of, to be here, and to help everyone. I love kids and working with them, I want to help guide the future generations of our world! I am also working to become a certified personal trainer!

• Favorite ice cream flavor? Chocolate
• Early bird or night owl? Neither. I hate being up early but I hate being up late.
• Do you have a secret talent? I can play the violin and I've been playing it for almost 10 years.
• Dogs or Cats? I am a dog person! My dog's name is Coconut and he is a terrier-mix.

Mike

I've only been working here at the Y for a few months but I love it so much. Everyone here is great, I love the kids. I chose to work here because I like what the YMCA stands for. Helping the community, helping people in our community, that's why I chose to work here. I've previously worked with special needs students at the elementary level, and I've always really enjoyed working with kids. In my free time, I love watching sports, attending concerts, and playing music! I've been playing guitar for about 15 years and I play the bass, drums, and piano as well.

Favorite ice cream flavor? Rocky road!

If you were a superhero what would be your power? Flying

Grilled or fried chicken? Fried

Dogs or cats? Definitely a dog person. I have a Shih Tzu Bichon mix, her name is MJ, named after MJ from Spiderman. 

Blake

I’ve been working at the Y for about 3 years now. I chose the Y because everything we do for our community and kids is inspiring. I’m in the 4th year of my marketing degree at Colorado State University Pueblo.

• Favorite ice cream flavor? Pistachio!
• Early bird or night owl? Definitely a night owl.
• A meal you could eat every day? Spaghetti.

Naydine

Hi my name is Naydine I have been working for the YMCA for about 4 years now. I really enjoy working with kids I have two kids of my own. I enjoy coloring and painting. When I am not working at the Y, I like to spend my time with my kids and I love to go fishing.

• What is your favorite ice cream flavor? Strawberry.
• Are you an early bird or a night owl? Night Owl.
• Favorite shape? Heart.
• A meal you could eat every day? Hot wings and fries.

Jessica

My name is Jessica Kelly. I’m married and a mother of two! I was born in Pueblo, but was not raised here. I moved back after high school. Shortly after arriving, I attended Pueblo Community College and obtained an AAS Degree. I was finishing school when my daughter became ill.

I actually chose the Y because for 2 whole years my daughter wasn’t herself and for the first time I saw my kid being a kid when her Cancer foundation had thrown a Halloween party that past year here at the YMCA. I think a place that can make that much of a difference in one kid’s day is something I’d be proud to be a part of.

I’ve watched so many kids thrive and grow in Child Watch. They come in and can be so shy and reserved, scared to be away from their parents and some with very little social skills. They end up making friends, playing, learning to share, and interact with children of all ages. I’ve seen it prepare kids to be in a classroom. It’s wonderful to watch and to be a part of that growth.

I’ve worked for the YMCA for 7 years this May.

• Favorite animal? Owls. LOVE OWLS!
• What's worse: Snakes or spiders? SPIDERS!!! I actually like snakes!
• What's one thing on your bucket list? I think it would be to ride across the country with my husband on our motorcycles. What an adventure that would be.

Megan

My name is Megan and I was born and raised in Clearwater, Florida. I moved here because my husband got stationed at Fort Carson. I've worked at the Y for about 4 months and I chose to work here because I love working with kids! 

• What is your favorite moment from the past year? Moving to Colorado!
• What is the meal you could eat every day if you had to? Mac n cheese with nuggets.
• Slides or swings? Slides.
• Dogs or cats? I love both!

Addyson

Valdia

I enjoy working with children and those who are in need, I am a mentor. I've worked at the YMCA for 1 year and I chose the YMCA and then the YMCA chose me! I have a bachelor's degree in sociology with an emphasis on criminal justice. I don't consider myself a teacher, I guide and help others and learn new choices and experiences.

• Favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla! It can go with any other flavor.
• Early bird or night owl? Early bird.
• A meal you could eat every day? Fried Chicken.
• Favorite shape? Octagon
• Dogs or cats? Dogs!

Sherine

Hi I'm Sherine! I am a mom of a 6 year old girl. I bowl in my free time, my daughter and I are on a bowling league! I love Halloween and I am born and raised here in Colorado. I wanted to work here at the Y to work with the little kids again. I took early child development in college and I wanted to work with kids since I have been in high school.

• Favorite topic to teach? Art.
• Favorite ice cream flavor? Vanilla bean.
• A meal you could eat everyday? Sushi.
• Slides or swings? Swings.