Care ~ A ~ Lot -- Staff Bio

Staff Bios

THE OWNERS

Pat DePan - Patricia DePan is the Director and Owner of Care-A-Lot. She founded Care-A-Lot, which was originally located at Rt. 5 and Beach Roads, in 1985. She designed and contracted construction of the current building built for the specific needs of young children in 1987. She has a BS in Child Psychology and Certification in Early Childhood Development. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and has attended national conventions of the NAEYC in Chicago, Washington, Toronto and New York City as well as most local conferences. Her business education was accomplished at Bryant and Stratton Business Institute. She has also completed the Red Cross Infant- Child CPR Course. Mrs. DePan has four children: Stacey, Director of the Lakeview center; Eric, a local contractor; Jessica, Director of the West Seneca Center; Megan, Certified Music Therapist in Rochester. Pat lives in Angola with her husband of 40 years and is the proud grandmother of five! Pat enjoys spending time with her grandchildren doing art activities, singing and reading children's books.

Mr. Bill - Bill DePan joined our staff as Assistant Director on June 1, 2002. He has a degree in Business Management from Empire State College, which he earned during his 20 years with Ford Motor Company. He retired from Ford to run our office full time. He successfully completed our recent Red Cross Infant/Child First Aid Course. Bill is Pat DePan's husband and father of four children and three grandchildren. He brings us not only his talents in the office, but a variety of handyman skills and a beverage vending operation!! You will often find him on an errand with a young 'handyman assistant'. Welcome Mr. Bill!

THE DIRECTOR

Miss Karen - Karen Nau joined our Care-a-Lot family in November 2006. She has worked in the child-care field for 9 years including 1 year as a live in nanny. The other 8 years were spent as a Toddler Teacher at a local childcare center. Karen is a 1995 graduate of Lake Shore Central Senior High. She is a life long resident of Evans and is currently living in Angola with her husband, Eric, and her 2 lovely daughters, Elizabeth and Lindsay. Karen is our head teacher in the Toddler Room. She is CPR and First Aid trained and also has completed her Child Development Associate course.

THE TEACHERS

Miss Dawn– Dawn Swatsworth joined our staff in August of 2001. Dawn graduated from Lake Shore Central worked for many years in her mother's restaurant business before coming to Care-A-Lot. Since joining our staff, she has completed her Infant/Child Red Cross and CPR certification and attended many workshops and conferences, including the annual New York State AEYC Infant and Toddler Conference for 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2007. She earned her CDA Certificate in July 2003. She is a teacher in our Continuity of Care Program. Miss Dawn lives in Derby with her two daughters, Becca and Nikki.

Miss Dianne- Dianne Hubert moved to our area from Grand Island in 2001. She has been married to her wonderful husband for 19 years. Dianne has 2 children, Justin and Breann, as well as 2 step-daughters Michelle and Daniella. Her hobbies include traveling with her family and reading. We welcomed Miss Dianne to our staff in August of 2005. She has many good qualities that that make her a fine addition to Care-A-Lot family. Dianne has recently received her Child Development Assosicate Credential and is currently the Preschool 1 Head Teacher in our Continuity of Care Program. She feels that this is a great place for her to work because she loves to spend time with children.

Miss Bailey - Bailey Eastman is a graduate of Lake Shore Central. She is a valued part of our Continuity of Care Program and is now in her second year as head teacher of our Preschoolers. The kids love to see Miss Bailey come in to play with them as she is lively and full of fun ideas. Bailey has recently completed her work for the Child Development Associate credential and is on her 3rd year as certified CPR and First Aid staff. Evans was her home for most of her years and she is a new resident of Perrysburg, NY. She has a big family and is one of five siblings. Bailey recently became a mom herself, welcoming Amelya into the world! She is great with the children and we were glad to welcome her to our family in the fall of 2005!

Miss Tina- Tina Fuller is one of the first Care-A-Lot Staff members to participate in our Continuity of Care program. She began working here in November of 1993. Tina has worked with all of the age groups at one time or another. In 2001, Tina received her Child Development Associate credential and is currently undergoing her re-certification. A relocation took Tina away in May of 2003, but she returned in August of 2007 and has rejoined the Care-A-Lot Family. She is very excited to be back. Tina resides in Angola where she grew up.

THE TEACHER AIDS

Miss Amanda- Amanda Tomczak graduated from Gowanda Central High School. After school she worked at MacDonald's for five years, as a crew trainer and then a manager. Amanda is the mother of Hailey and lives in Angola with her, her husband, Leo, and two dogs and a cat! Amanda just loves being with kids of all ages!

Miss Diane- Diane Koczur is a resident of Derby and has been long enough to raise her children and now to see her grandchildren raised here. She joined the staff here in April of 2008. Diane graduated from Williamsville and has been working over the years at a variety of positions requiring people skills. Miss Diane has a loving and calm demeanor that brings a wonderful atmosphere to us in the afternoon. She is a team player and pitches in whenever there is a need. All of the kids pick up on the kindness that she has to share and hopefully so do the parents. We are glad to have her as she is just the kind of employee that we look for to add to our team. Welcome Miss Diane!

Miss Michele-Michele Militello has been a resident of Farnham for 40 years. She attended Lake Shore Central until she graduated in 1983. Michele has been providing in home child care for over 20 years. In addition to that she has been a homemaker and wife of David for 23 years. Michele has 2 children of her own, Jennifer and David Jr. We are glad to have Michele here with us as she is wonderful with the kids and has a great sense of compassion and responsibility. She is starting out in the school age room but in the fall of 2008 will be settling in the Nursery suite with Miss Bailey.

Miss Dawn- Dawn Bachert

Miss Sarah -