Early Learning Community Staff

We are proud to introduce our dynamic staff for 2009:

Mark Bailey - College of Education Professor,
Director of Child Learning and Development Center.
Mark is an early childhood specialist in the College of Education and has been a teacher for over 30 years. After beginning his career teaching preschool and Kindergarten, Mark joined the Pacific faculty 14 years ago with a PhD in educational psychology. For more than a decade it has been his dream to bring a state of the art early learning center to Pacific. Mark will oversee the relation between the university and the ELC and will coordinate research with the school.

Shelley Jorgensen - School Administrator of the ELC.
Shelley is serving as the administrator of our community and will be the smiling face who greets you and your child every morning. Shelley brings a range of previous experience in program administration to the ELC. While she specializes in administrative functions, is our graphic designer, and makes sure that everything in our school runs smoothly, Shelley is also a multitalented educator who leads the children in music activities.

Teachers at the Early Learning Community
Lead Teachers are educated and experienced in early childhood education, child development, and elementary education, and hold a current Oregon Teaching License. All of the Lead Teachers in the ELC hold the Master of Arts in Teaching degree.

Aja Appel - Kindergarten Teacher.
Aja Appel has a Bachelors of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences and a Masters of Arts in Teaching. Aja has experience teaching first grade in the Hillsboro School District and prior to becoming a teacher Aja was the site director of an afterschool program in Corvallis. When she is not teaching Aja enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and being outdoors.

Laurel Collison-Preschool 1 Lead Teacher. Laurel Collison holds of Bachelors of Science in Psychology from the University of Oregon and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Pacific University. Prior to becoming a teacher, Laurel worked with children within the social services field, focusing on child development and mental health. Laurel feels she has found her place here in the Early Learning Community. Laurel enjoys spending time with family and friends, organic gardening, snow boarding, cooking, and playing with her dog, Duke.

Rachelle Mejia - Preschool 2 Lead Teacher. Rachelle Mejia holds a Bachelor's of Arts in Social Sciences from Portland State University and a Master's of Arts in Teaching from Pacific University. She has experience teaching preschool through eighth grade. She most recently taught 3rd grade at the ELL summer academy for the Forest Grove School District.

Romy Leon -Preschool Assistant Teacher in Rachelle's classroom.
Romy has experience teaching in a Montessori school and is an experienced bilingual educator. This is Romy's second year at the ELC.

Katie Furgison - Assistant Teacher in Aja's classroom. Katie has a Bachelors of Arts degree from Oregon State University and a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Pacific. With prior experience teaching infants and preschoolers, Katie was also a student teacher in the ELC last year.

Pam Cash - Preschool Assistant Teacher in Laurel's classroom. Pam has experience in ECE and working with children with special needs. This is Pam's second year at the ELC.

Daniel Harris - Student Teacher. Danny has a Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Oregon. He has worked as a children's snowboarding instructor, and taught adaptive skiing and snowboarding. Danny is very excited to be student teaching in the ELC this year.

Sarah Lorence - Student Teacher. Sarah is a graduate of Portland State University. She has experience caring for young children and brings a background in Spanish and sign language to her work in Aja's Classroom.