Liz Allewelt-Smith, Director and A.M. Head Teacher
Liz Allewelt-Smith has lived in Davis off and on (a little bit of Napa and Munich, Germany mixed in) for over 20 years. She graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Psychology and then later received her teaching credential with an emphasis on cross- cultural education.
Her three boys are all graduates of DCCNS and the family holds many happy memories of friends and experiences here. She has worked with children in many environments, as a camp counselor, soccer coach, Campfire leader, and in the elementary schools, but her favorite place to be is our Nursery School classroom.
"It's magical to watch children, parents and families work, play and learn together."
Betsy van Kessel, P.M. Head Teacher
Betsy van Kessel enjoys her afternoons at DCCNS working with preschoolers together with the assistant teacher and the helping parents. Betsy joined the DCC Nursery school community in 1997 as director (from 1997-2007), Head AM and PM Teacher.
She is of Dutch origin and received her Bachelor and Master's Degrees in Education with a major in early childhood and elementary education. She taught for many years in the Netherlands, spending eight years as the director of a preschool-kindergarten.
In 1983, she moved with her husband, Chris, to Maui, Hawaii, and in 1986, they moved to Saskatoon, Canada. At both locations Betsy worked with young children. In Canada she worked for 9 years at the College Park Parent Co-operative Preschool in Saskatoon.
Betsy enjoys working with young children, whose enthusiasm and positive outlook she finds to be very contagious. She loves the spirit of a parent cooperative.
Brenda Mohr, Early Explorers Teacher, Toddler Head Teacher
Brenda Mohr, Early Explorers and Toddler Head Teacher, received her Bachelor of Arts from San Francisco State University in American Studies and her teaching credential from National University.
She enjoyed teaching kindergarten and first grade before having children. Davis has been home to Brenda, her husband Karl, and their three boys (all DCCNS alumni) since 1994.
She enjoys seeing the world through children's eyes and is enjoying working with young children again.
Patty Yeung, Toddler Assistant Teacher
Patty Yeung has lived in Davis since 1988. Her main and most important job has been a stay-at-home-mom raising 3 children (2 are DCCNS alumni) along with her husband, Dave.
She attended UC Davis and acquired her bachelor’s degrees in Human Development and Italian Literature. She holds a Masters of Art in Early Childhood Education from Sacramento State University.
She feels well connected to families and children in town and has taught religious education classes at St. James Church in Davis to 5 year olds since 2004 and has also been an involved parent on the Board at DCCNS from 2005-2007.
After 10 years in her primary role as a mother, she is eager to immerse herself professionally in the field of early childhood education. She enjoys contributing to the Davis community by teaching young children and working with families.
Rosa Gregorio, A.M. Assistant Teacher
Rosa Gregorio moved to California seven years ago from Spain. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Engineering and a California Preschool Teacher Permit.
She has been working as an Assistant Teacher as well as a Head Teacher for several years in a Parent Cooperative Preschool in Claremont, Ca. She moved to Davis one year ago with her husband Timothy and her son Roberto.
Katie Donovan, P.M. Assistant Teacher
Katie Donovan graduated from UC Davis in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in Psychology and Human Development. During her time at UCD she was a peer counselor, a student caregiver at the Center for Child and Family Studies and Leader of the UC Davis Lounge Lizards, an a capella singing group.
She is currently working toward her master's degree at Sacramento State University, with an emphasis in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling. Eventually she plans to work with young children as a play and art therapist. She's excited to begin her second school year with the wonderful children and families of DCCNS!
Ellen Watkins, Substitute Teacher
Ellen Watkins, is a credentialed teacher who has taught kindergarten and nursery school.
Ellen has been at DCCNS for over 16 years. She has also been a substitute teacher.
Ellen and her husband, Bill, have enjoyed Davis for 20 years and have two children, Megan and Grant.
Mary Cech, Substitute Teacher
Mary Cech, has been teaching (as both the Toddler Head Teacher and the AM Assistant Teacher) at DCCNS for more than 20 years.
She received her Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin in Speech Therapy Education. She has had various experiences in early childhood education as a speech therapist and teacher of both kindergarten and nursery school.
In Davis, Mary has aided in various school district programs and was involved in 4-H. Mary and her husband, Joe, have two sons, Greg and Scott.