AMANDA

My specialty is working with infants and toddlers though I have experience working with children of all ages and have enjoyed various roles.  My earliest professional experience was working at a childcare center as a lead teacher in an infant and toddler classroom then substituting in the other classes when needed. My time in that position set the stage for my later career in the child development field.  It solidified my desire to make a positive difference in children’s lives, especially those who struggled to be understood.

The birth of my daughter then led me back into the child development field.  I returned to school to further my education in hopes of making a career that would keep my daughter close to my side during her early years.  I gained more experience working and volunteering in the child center on the college campus where my daughter also attended.  During this time, my daughter started receiving services through VMRC with an Infant Development Specialist (IDS). This was the turning point, I no longer wondered where my career path would lead, I knew – I had to do early intervention work with children, it immediately became my calling. 

My daughter’s IDS took me under her wing and started to mentor me. My daughter’s sessions started to have a dule purpose, they not only helped her to reach her developmental goals but they taught me how to help her and gave me hands on experience on how to help future children too.  I’m pleased to say that our IDS was Josie Frye; she was incredible to work with and I knew I wanted to follow in her footsteps. Later, when the opportunity arose to become an RBT and join the team she was building, there was zero hesitation. It was where I was meant to be and I’m thrilled to be here!  I have now earned my Infant/Toddler Teaching Certification, Early Interventionist Certification and I’m a Registered Behavior Technician.  

Aside from work and school - in my free time, I enjoy spending time with my daughter and my husband on our little farm in Calaveras County.  We have pigs, sheep, chickens and two wonderful livestock guardian dogs. I also love art, crafts, cooking and collecting children’s literature.  A fun fact about me would be that I have gone sky diving before and I would love to go again someday!  As for sensory corks or divergent tendencies, we all have them and one of mine would be that I am very fidgety with my hands and/or feet and I’m a creature of habit.