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I love to travel and read. Spending time and laughing with my family and friends makes me happy. I am married and have three daughters and two cats. This is my 11th year at CMU and I enjoy my job. Some of the best parts include working with the CMU students, watching the children grow and communicating with the families. I also couldn't ask for a better group of Colleagues to work with! I truly believe the early childhood field is the best place to be.

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As the faculty director of the CDLL, I work directly with the CDLL staff, department faculty, and CMU students in order to facilitate collaboration between the lab and the CMU classes that study in the lab. This currently includes teaching early childhood development and learning courses such as HDF 200 Constructivism as a Tool for Learning and HDF 403 Best Practices in Early Childhood Education. I also review and respond to all research proposals requesting the involvement of the classrooms, children, families and/or staff of the CDLL. As a believer in the power of Constructivist practices and as a professional who is inspired by the infant/toddler and early childhood centers of Reggio Emilia, Italy, I am a member of the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (including the state and local chapters). These activities have resulted in the development of a study abroad opportunity for CMU students, visiting the programs of Reggio Emilia, Italy. Raised in Mt. Pleasant, I am a 2nd generation faculty member of CMU (my father, Burton Nelson, served in the Geography department for over 35 years before retiring), and earned both my Bachelors (Child Development) and Masters (Educational Administration and Community Leadership) Degrees from CMU. My Doctorate in Education degree (Child and Youth Studies) took me to warmer places as I studied at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. I reside in Shepherd, with my husband Kevin and teenagers Taylor and Walker and enjoy spending my summers visiting my parents on the shores of Lake Michigan in Mackinaw City.

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My name is Charlotte Galgoci and I am the Program Assistant. I have a background in Early Childhood Education and will be completing an undergraduate degree in Child Development in August 2013. My husband and I have four children ages 21, 19, 17 and 16. I enjoy spending time with my family and attending their extra-curricular events.family and attending their extra-curricular events.

Teresea Kauppi
Food Facilitator/Enrichment Teacher
kaupp1tl@cmich.edu

I am the Food Program Facilitator for the CMU CDLL. I graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Child Development Early Childhood Concentration. Since graduating in 2004, I have worked in classrooms ranging from toddlers to sixth grade. I recently become a member of National Association for the Education of Young Children and participate in the local MPAEYC chapter. I have also been a volunteer for Michigan Special Olympics for the past 7 years. My husband, Phil, and I enjoy traveling and experiencing new adventures. We have been Mt. Pleasant residents for over 10 years.

Stephanie Keck
Lead Teacher
Keck1sn@cmich.edu

Stephanie is a serious environmentalist who will find a way to reuse or recycle anything and can identity various trees, birds and flowers. Also an avid traveler, she has visited three continents and almost all fifty states. On these adventures and here at school you will find Stephanie with her camera, capturing every moment. She loves to share these passions for nature and travel with her family and friends, especially her nephew, Finn. You will find Stephanie in the Oak and Walnut classrooms sharing in the joy of learning with the children.

Ranay Gursky
Lead Teacher
gursk1r@cmich.edu

In 2007 I graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood Education. I have been working at Central Michigan University for eight years, five of which are at the Child Development and Learning Laboratory. I am a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and participate in the local MPAEYC chapter. I currently live in Lake Michigan with my husband, Scott and our two children, Justin and Elliana. We spend most of our time enjoying outdoor activities, such as taking walks, tennis, and soccer.

Anastasia Bristley
Enrichment Teacher
brist1a@cmich.edu

I graduated from Central Michigan University with a degree in Early Childhood Education. I have been working in the field of early childhood in varies roles since the early eighties. I have been teaching in the lab at Central Michigan University for eight yearsI am a resident of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. I am married and the mother of three daughters and the grandmother to one granddaughter. I enjoy spending my free time with my granddaughter Alexandra, reading, and walking my dog.

Jennifer Nims
Lead Teacher
nims1jc@cmich.edu

Formerly from Jackson, Michigan, my husband and I have lived in Mt. Pleasant for the past 37 years. Our three sons enjoyed growing up in the atmosphere of a small town, later going on to colleges in different cities within Michigan and Ohio. Graduating from Central Michigan University, I earned degrees in secondary education and early childhood. I have worked in the early childhood field for the past twenty years, eleven at the Isabella Child Development Center, and currently will begin my tenth year at the Child Development and Learning Lab, formerly HGDL. Professionally I participate at the national, state, and local levels of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, and most recently attended an early childhood conference in Reggio Emelia, Italy. My greatest joy and pastime is being with family and friends, especially our grandson, Evan.

Jackie Weller
Lead Teacher
welle1jk@cmich.edu

I graduated from Central Michigan University in 2001 with a degree in Child Development with an Early Childhood Concentration. I have been working in the field of early childhood education as a preschool teacher for the past 10 years. I have been teaching in the lab at Central Michigan University for 5 years. I am currently a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, North American Reggio Emilia Alliance, and participate in the local MPAEYC chapter. I am also the advisor of the student Association for the Education of Young Children's group on campus. I am currently living in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. I enjoy being outside, attending music festivals, reading, sewing, and most of all spending quality time with my family and friends.

Nate Jonaitis
Lead Teacher

jonai1nj@cmich.edu

I graduated from Central Michigan University with a BS in Child Development with an Early Childhood Concentration. I have a wonderful wife named Lisa along with my 9 year old stepson Sam, and my 3 year old son Oliver. I really enjoy about anything outdoors especially if it is with my family I am a huge CMU fan and chances are you will see me at many of the home sporting events throughout the year. In February you will find me jumping through a hole cut in the ice of one of the Rose ponds to raise money for Special Olympics Michihgan. This year will be my sixth year jumping. I have lived in Mt. Pleasnt for the better part of 17 years and I really enjoy it. I like to support our community and attend different events that take place throughout the year. I am a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and also the current Treasurer of the local chapter, MPAEYC.