Meet the OCAEYC Board
The OCAEYC Board is comprised of Executive Board Members and Board Members at Large. Board Meetings are open to the community and if you are interested in volunteering with one of our committees please reach out to that person or contact the Director.
Executive Board Members
Cheryl Sosa, Ed.D
President
Dr. Cheryl Sosa is currently the Director of Accountability and Equity for the Westminster School District. Her background includes serving as an Elementary School Principal and Early Childhood Education Coordinator for the Orange Unified School District. In her role of ECE Coordinator, Dr. Sosa was responsible for the district’s Learning Links, State Preschool and Fee for Service child development programs. As a practitioner, Dr. Sosa is committed to positively impacting social and emotional development of young children, providing inclusive, high quality education to all children, and aligning systems.
Dr. Sosa’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Teaching and Learning in a Global Society, and a Doctorate in Education, with a focus on Organizational Leadership. She also holds a Program Director permit, Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and a Clear Administrative Services Credential. In addition to her daily work, Dr. Sosa continues to support children, families and teachers by serving as a subject matter expert for WestEd, participating on pivotal committees such as the CDE/CDSS Whole Child Community Equity Workgroup and as the President of OCAEYC. In her spare time, Dr. Sosa enjoys watching her daughter play water polo, going to Disneyland and spending quality time with her friends and family.
Sarah Shawesh, M.A.
Past-President
Sarah is a founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Building Resilience In Communities and Kids (B.R.I.C.K) Consulting, an adjunct professor, lecturer, early childhood educator, and development specialist. She received a masters degree in Human Development where her graduate studies focused on authentic parent-child relationships. Ms. Shawesh has spent most of her career helping families, educators and children understand development in a way that allows everyone to find joy in the day-to-day. She strives to break down development in a way that makes sense and increases positive outcomes for all!
Deanna Parga, M. Ed.
Vice President of Membership
Deanna Parga is a Help Me Grow Community Liaison with Help Me Grow, a program of Children’s Hospital of Orange County. She is responsible for providing outreach to families, providers and physicians throughout Orange County. She provides professional development to Early Childhood Educators and helps promote training in developmental screening for all children 0-5. She serves on several collaborative efforts in addressing the needs and concerns of families with young children and community work in improving children’s readiness for school. Deanna is also an appointed member of the Orange County Child Care & Development Planning Council and is an adjunct professor teaching Child Development and Special Education. Previously, Deanna has worked as a preschool teacher, an assistant director of a childcare center, an early intervention teacher, an infant specialist and a religious education teacher. For over 10 years, she was also the Director of Children’s Services, to a department that included overseeing all early intervention programs, therapy services and a childcare center. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development with a minor in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Special Education, both from California State University, Fullerton. Deanna also earned a Teaching Credential in Early Childhood Special Education. Deanna is passionate about supporting Early Childhood professionals and families with young children especially those with special needs.
Raissa Lee, M.S. Ed
Secretary
Raissa holds a B.A. in International Relations from the University of California, Davis, M.S. Ed in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education, California State University. She is the Owner & Director, ABC Mom Learning Center & Childcare (Dual Language Mandarin & English STEM Family Childcare)
Adjunct Human Development Professor, Irvine Valley College
Early Childhood Consultant, Program for Infant Toddler (PITC), WestEd. As Secretary on the Executive Board, her goal is to support OCAEYC's mission to represent and elevate the voice of Orange County's diverse early care and education profession; promote developmentally appropriate practice in settings serving young children ages birth through 8 years of age, serve as a resource for members; advocate for the importance of better pay in ensuring a skilled and stable early childhood workforce; and to promote public understanding of issues affecting children and their families. Despite being a brief moment in the mortal lifespan, the adventure of early childhood is a brilliant and beautifully precious foundation of the human experience. In light of this perspective, it is truly an honor to serve in this field as she journeys alongside those traversing through this sacred season- whether they be fellow educators and providers, community collaborators, families, and most important of all, our early learners. She strives to be a humble learner in shared spaces, to be respectfully curious in order to expand her understanding of the needs around her, so that she can be an effective helper, and to passionately advocate for the early childhood field and those connected to it.
Yumi Ramirez
Treasurer
Passionate about nurturing young minds, Yumi is a dedicated early childhood educator for 36 years. Originally from Japan she studied ECE and taught toddlers and kindergarten students. In Ontario, Canada Yumi received her child development teaching permit. She has obtained child development director permit in California.
Yumi is an experienced administrator for over 20 years with Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove, Early Leaning Programs. She has managed state contracts and federal grants along with developing strategic plans. Yumi also received her BFA in Graphic Design and helps with marketing and advertising for the organization and small business owners. Her recent work has been developing partnerships and collaboration within the ECE community and increasing pubic awareness in the field.
Yumi is committed to providing a foundation for lifelong learning and a love for education in the earliest years of life. She enjoys spending time with her new puppy, Angel and being in the nature.
Board Members At Large
Monique Rico, M.A.Ed.
Board Development Chair
Monique began her career as an ROP student and has over twenty years of experience in the early childhood education field. Her professional experience includes teaching in private faith-based and public early learning programs. Currently, Monique serves as a high school teacher for Coastline ROP, where she imparts her expertise in child development and early childhood education. In her role, she has developed a new pathway for early childhood education at Costa Mesa High School. This innovative program bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world experience by facilitating partnerships with local preschools and transitional kindergarten programs, in collaboration with the Newport Mesa Unified School District. She enjoys sharing her passion and knowledge and guiding aspiring students toward fulfilling careers in the child development and early childhood education fields. She believes in the power of education to inspire and shape the lives of young learners, and she takes pride in nurturing a new generation of professionals dedicated to serving the youngest members of their community. Monique holds a Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership in Early Childhood Education, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education, and a Career Technical Education Credential in Education, Child Development, and Family Services.
Poly Pantelidou-Zweigle, M. Ed.
Member Services Chair
Poly Pantelidou holds a BA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College and a Master's in Education with a specialization in Early Childhood Leadership from Brandman University. Poly started out working with children in high school in an ROP course which ended up influencing her that she wanted to work with preschool age children. With over 30 years of experience in the early childhood education field, Poly has served in numerous roles, including teacher, Director, Program Director, Senior Field Recruiter, and On-boarding and Trainer for a for-profit company. Since 2017, Poly has been an Associate Professor in the Child Development and Education Department at Saddleback College. Additionally, she also taught at San Diego Miramar College as an Assistant Professor and at UMass Global as a University Supervisor for ECE Practicum. Teaching higher education has been a goal for Poly because of the great professors and mentors she had as a student. She enjoys giving back to the field of child development and encouraging and mentoring new ECE educators. Passionate about early childhood education, Poly also volunteers working with young children. In her spare time Poly enjoys spending quality time with their own children at the beach.
Anabell Garcia-Chak
Family Child Care Committee Chair
Anabell was born and raised in Mexico, she holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business from University of Guadalajara, the second largest public University of the Country. She is a proud mother of two caring and smart young men that have been raised surrounded by children and the beautiful Spanish language and the mix of three cultures at home.
Anabell has been working for the past nineteen years as the owner of Ready Play and Learn Child Care teaching children from infants to school-aged. She currently offers a bilingual program in Spanish to Infants and Toddlers. She started her Family Child Care business while watching her own two boys grow. She was inspired to return to school in Early Childhood Education. She has obtained a teacher credential, participated in PITC courses and has gotten her program to be a part of Quality Start OC. In 2015, she formed a networking group of Family Child Care Educators in South Orange County, where she constantly shares information to improve business, professional development and empower Latino Women in their own language.
Anabell has helped several providers to start their Home Child Care business with the Peer Guide Program at OCAEYC. Most of the providers from her group that she has supported are enrolled in Quality Start OC. Anabell understands first hand what it feels like to operate a Family Child Care Business. She expresses how it can be overwhelming and sometimes a feeling of isolation which is why she is always willing to offer a helping hand to her fellow educators. Her professional mission is to offer the best quality and care for her program with infants and toddlers and to help her colleagues do the same.
Rakhee Parekh, M.A.Ed.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Chair
Rakhee holds a M.A.Ed in Curriculum & Instruction
Professional and is the Interim Director with UCI Children's Center & Lead Teacher. Her goal as DEI Chair is to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by collaborating with Early Childhood Education professionals, families, and community partners to implement equitable policies and culturally responsive practices. She is committed to advocating for students, ensuring that their diverse needs are met, and that all voices, particularly those from underrepresented groups, are heard and respected. Together, we will create environments where every individual feels valued and empowered to succeed. She believes Early Childhood Education lays the foundation for lifelong learning and development. By fostering inclusive, nurturing environments that prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion, she aims to support every child’s unique needs and cultural background. Her approach centers on play-based learning, encouraging exploration and creativity while promoting social-emotional growth like empathy and resilience. Through collaboration with families and colleagues, she strives to create equitable spaces where all children feel valued.
Wilhelmina (Willie) Burghard
Advocacy & Public Policy Chair
Wilhelmina “Miss Willie” Burghard has been in the field of Early
Childhood Education since 1980 in various capacities and is
NAEYC member ID#2. She currently holds a Master's in Education
with a specialization in Early Childhood Leadership from California
State University, Long Beach and has California Director’s Permit.
Since 2004 Willie has been a Professional Growth Advisor for
Orange County stipend programs and is currently working with the
OCDE Workforce Stipend Program mentoring current and future
educators. Willie has been heavily involved in the National
Education Association as a state delegate for California Teachers
Association at the NEA’s Representative Assembly. She has been a
Communications Chair and the Rules and Elections Chair for her
local Garden Grove Education Association as well as a Site Rep for
State Preschool Teachers in her district. Due to her advocacy for
State Preschool teachers she helped make financial gains, contract
enhancements and promoted the status of an often overlooked group
of teachers. Prior to GGUSD Willie has worked in ECE for the
Department of the Navy, Head Start, private for profit centers and
owned a Family Child Care Center in her home. She has been a
State Preschool for Garden Grove Unified for the last 24 years and
has earned awards by OCAEYC as an Outstanding Professional and
Outstanding Professional Growth Advisor. She looks forward to working with OCAEYC as the Advocacy and Public Policy Chair
and keeping its members informed!
Vanessa (Nessie) Sener, B.A.
Social Media Chair
Vanessa, an Orange County native, attributes her enduring love for the natural world to the formative years she spent exploring the beauty of her hometown, San Clemente.
With a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Pacific Oaks College, Vanessa brings over two decades of expertise as an inclusive Early Years Educator to OCAEYC.
Throughout her career, Vanessa has cultivated lasting connections with children, fostering a strong sense of self through play-based, child-led philosophies. Her approach encompasses providing unconditional acceptance, creating inspirational learning experiences, promoting independence, and encouraging reflective engagement.
Vanessa has established a strong foundation for collaboration and leadership, demonstrating her dedication as a mentor in early years education. She is a member of NAEYC and serves on the board of the Orange County Association for the Education of Young Children (OCAEYC), an NAEYC affiliate.
OCAEYC Staff
Dr. Kristina H. Atler PhD
Director
Dr. Kristina H. Atler PhD holds her doctoral degree in Leadership and Advocacy in Nature Based Education. She is the proud director of OCAEYC and prioritizes the mission and vision in all of her initiatives. She has been in Early Childhood Education for 25 years and values the meaningful learning experiences available in Early Childhood Education. She earned both her administrative and multiple subjects teaching credentials. Over the past two years, she served on the board as the OCAEYC professional development committee chair before moving on to the director role.
Contact Us
Let us know what you need....