Center Spotlight: Administration
Our February spotlight shines on our Administration team.
Erica Ritter, Deborah Alamand, Krista Van De Flier, Flora Harmon, and Edwinna Ferguson work hard to ensure our teaching staff has the knowledge, skills, and materials necessary to provide the best educational experiences.
Erica Ritter, Director
Erica has been in Early-Childhood Education since 1997 and has been at Becky Gates Children’s Center since June 2017.
Erica received her M.Ed. from New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM in Early Childhood Education, in addition to a B.B.A. Marketing. Erica is also a 2nd year PhD student Texas A&M University, TLAC, Early Childhood Education.
She began her career as a teaching assistant for a non-profit early intervention center in a toddler classroom. She was later promoted to Lead Teacher and then to Program Coordinator. She has always been drawn to higher education campus child care programs and was given that opportunity at the Kansas City Kansas Community College.
“I truly enjoy the support of higher education in the early childhood field as well as teaching college students. It is so important for students to have practical experience that aligns with their educational path. It is good to be at a facility that embodies the highest quality and supports research-based, best practice methods in the field.”
Debbie Almand, Assistant Director
Debbie has been in the Early Childhood Education field since 1989 during which time she has been a teacher, director, college professor and she has served Becky Gates Children’s Center as the Assistant Director since 2014.
During undergraduate school, Debbie began working with a preschool motor development program. She development an interest in the importance of motor development for preschool children which lead her to graduate school at The University of Alabama. Since moving to CS, she was the director at a local church based program for 13 years and taught early childhood classes at Blinn College for 6 years while staying home with her children.
“Children learn best through hands-on play experiences and they will thrive emotionally, socially, physically and intellectually when they are actively involved with their environment and one another. Purposeful play is developmentally appropriate and is an integral part of the early childhood environment. First and foremost, the social and emotional needs of young children must be met. Children must feel safe and secure in their environment in order for optimal learning to take place.”
Krista Van De Flier, Administrative Coordinator
Krista Van De Flier has been working in Early Childhood since 2001. She began teaching at Becky Gates Children’s Center in 2012 as a Lead Preschool teacher. In 2015, Ms. Krista moved into an administrative role in order to serve the teachers, staff and parents.
Krista has completed the Child Development Associates credential certification and before moving into the Early Childhood field, she went to nursing school and completed a LPN Certification.
Krista says, “I love that children learn differently. Early Childhood Education is so important because their educational foundation is developed at this young age. Children are sponges and eager to learn.”
Flora Harmon, Instructional Coach
Flora Harmon is a Mentor Teacher, Lecturer, Research Assistant, and Mother. She is completing her Doctorates in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis on Early Childhood Education & Culture from Texas A&M University. She also completed her Masters Degree in Social Service Administration with a certificate of specialty in School Social Work from the University of Chicago.
Professionally, Ms. Harmon worked as a Mentor Teacher and Teacher Trainer at private and university based Reggio Inspired preschool and primary programs. Currently, Ms. Harmon is the new Instructional Coach at Becky Gates Children’s Center. Ms. Harmon’s research interests include Culturally Responsive Pedagogy in ECE and Teacher Training in Early Learning environments.
Edwinna Ferguson, Children’s Center Cook
Edwinna Ferguson has worked in the food industry for over 30 years. She has been the Cook at Becky Gates Children’s Center since 2014.
She loves to cook because meals bring people together. Her favorite meal to prepare is anything bright and colorful to peak the children’s interests and appetites. Stone Soup is a favorite children’s book she enjoys hearing the children read.
“I grew up in a family that cooking for others was a way to express love. Nutrition is an important part of early development. Children learn more easily when they are not hungry.”
