Staff Bio

THE OWNERS

Pat DePan - Patricia DePan is the Owner and Administrative Director 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 and five grandchildren. She lives in Angola with her husband of 37 years! In her spare time she can be found with her grandchildren doing art activities, singing and reading children's books

Mr. Bill - Bill DePan joined our staff as Assistant Administrative 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 four grandchildren. He brings us not only his talents in the office, but a variety of handyman skills!! You will often find him on an errand with a young 'handyman assistant'. Welcome Mr. Bill!

THE DIRECTOR

Miss Gabby - Gabrielle Smolinski has a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from SUNY Buffalo. She is currently working on her Master's Degree in Research and Curriculum, with a minor in multiculturalism in general music. She is CPR and First Aid certified and trained through the OCFS to administer medications. Gabby has been both Toddler and Preschool head teacher at our KenTon center and, most recently, assistant Director there. Gabby lives in Kenmore with her sons Elijah and Jackson, her Fiancée Eric and two dogs - Candy and Lucy. Her favorite pastimes are music and art, and her joy is making a difference in the lives of children! Gabby feels teaching young children is just so rewarding and is very excited to take the giant step up as Director at our West Seneca Center.

THE TEACHERS




Miss Braiden Braiden Samuelson graduated a semester early in 2001 from Estes Park High School in Estes Park, Colorado. Later she attended Central Arizona Community College in Apache Junction, Arizona where she studied EArly Childhood Education. Miss Braiden is currently enrolled in courses for her Child Development Associate Credential (CDA). Miss Braiden is very passionate about education and working with children. She has also been married to her husband Erik for five years and they have a Daughter named Ila marie. Ila Marie also attends Care-A-Lot, just across the hall in the nursery! Miss Braiden enjoys every aspect of motherhoodand looks forward to watching her daughter, as well as your children learn and grow!

Miss Debbie - Coming Soon!

Miss Debbie- Debie Himmelsbach grew up in Muncie, Indiana, where she graduated from Burris Laboratory, a part of Ball State University. She attended Ball State until moving to the West Coast and then Hawaii. She worked in Special Education Resource in Silverdale, Washington and Anchorage, Alaska. Miss Debbie moved to New YOrk in 2000, where she worked at St. Aloysius Catholic School. Miss Debbie has a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education through SUNY and has worked with children for over 25 yers. Miss Debbie is married to Tom and has a daughter named Danielle. She is also a foster parent to a very special little girl. In her free time, Miss Debbie is active in the restoring of the Buffalo Central Terminal. She is also a Civil War re-enactor and is a member of Western New York Ghost Hunters (part of T.A.P.S.)

Miss Sarah-Sarah Caryl was born in Flint Michigan. She and her fiance moved to Buffalo in 2006 to start a family in an environment that offered more opportunities. Miss Sarah's son, Malis Rae Firman, was born on February 8, 2007. After having her son she became very interested in all aspects of social, emotional, phusical and psychological development of cildren. Miss Sarah obtained her Associate degree in Early Childhood Education through the University of Phoenix in September 2009. Miss Sarah enjoys the contrasting differences and individual needs of each child. When she is not at Care-A-Lot, Miss Sarah likes to spend time with her fiance and son. They go to parks, the zoo, and attend other local events in our area!


THE TEACHER ASSISTANTS




Miss Ashley - Ashley Citron grew up in West Seneca and graduated from West Seneca East Senior High School. While in high school, she attended Erie 1 BOCES Potter Career and technical Center, where whe took Early Childhood Education for two years. Miss Ashley is currently in the final stages of completing her Child Development Associate Credential (CDA). She is the oldest of five siblings. In her free tie Miss Ashley enjoys speding time with her family, working out at the Gym and watching movies.

Miss Stacy - Stacy Tunis grew up in Angola, where she graduated from Lake Shore High School in 2005. She is the second oldest of six children and has been babysitting since she was young. She worked at Care-A-Lot in Derby May 2008 until July 2009. She moved to Lancaster with her family and transferred to Care-A-Lot West Seneca. Miss Stacy attended the New York Institute of Massage for a year and then decided to change career paths. Miss Stacy ha always had a love for children and, in March 2008, she had her first child, Hayden. When she is not working, Miss Stacy enjoys spending time with Hayden and her boyfriend Bill.

Miss Ashley - Ashley Daugherty is the cook here at Care-A-Lot! She makes sure that all the little timmies are stuffed and happy. Miss Ashley also loves to help out in all of the classrooms when she is needed. At home she is a mother of two amazing children...her daughter Maddy is four years old and her son Cruz is just one year old - they attend Care-A-Lot KenTon! Miss Ashley loves spending as much time as possible with them. She loves watching her children learn and grow, and loves watching your children learn and grow! Miss Ashley looks forward to coming to work, filling your child's belly, and talking and interacting with them. She has gotten to know every child here individually! Seeing their smiling faces every day has made Miss Ashley just as happy as seeing her own children smile!

Miss Ashley - Ashley Lango graduated from Lackawanna High School with a regents diploma in 2009. She also attended BOCES for two years for Early Childhood Education. Miss Ashley was a ember of the National Technical Honor Society. She has always had a special love for children and is in the process of obtaining her teaching degree. When she is not at Care-A-Lot, Miss Ashley loves to be outside or spending time with friends and family. An interesting fact about Miss Ashley is that she has lived in four different states and a different country because she lives in a military family.

Miss Lauren - Lauren Trimper was born August 2, 1988. She recently graduated from Erie Community College with an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education. She has taken classes in Early Childhood Development and Children's Literature. Miss Lauren enjoys making different arts and crafts and encourages creative and imaginative play in the classroom. When she is not at Care-A-Lot, she enjoys reading and listening to music. Miss Lauren is also an advocate for Autism awareness.