Child Development Staff
Director of Child Development
Tracey McCrain
Tracey McCrain joined Eliada in 1989 as a staff member in Residential Treatment. She served for 10 years before moving to Child Development in 1999. Currently she holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Montreat College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Dowling College, Level III Early Childhood Director Credentials, and Early Childhood Credentials. She has served on the Buncombe County Research and Referral Committee; Buncombe County Kindergarten Readiness Committee; Buncombe County More at Four Committee, LICC Committee and was awarded Director of the Year in 2005 by Smart Start.
Assistant Director
Tonia Reed
Tonia Reed has over 18 years of experience working with children of all ages. She received her Child Care credentials from AB Tech and is currently working towards an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education
Program Managers
Ashley Trimnal
Ashley is certified through North Carolina with Early Childhood Credentials. She is working toward a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and is currently enrolled in a course to receive her Administrative Credentials. Her learned abilities to work with children has come from student teaching at Asheville City Preschool, A Child’s Place (Mission Hospital Childcare), Eliada’s school-age program as a group leader and as a teacher in Eliada’s NC Pre K program. She also has a three year old son who has taught her much about the importance of open communication with families and the true meaning of patience.
Assistant Program Manager
William Drake
William Drake graduated from the University of North Carolina at Asheville (Cum Laude, 2010) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature and History. William’s experience in childcare began in 2003 when he graduated from the Leader in Training program at Camp Don Lee in Arapahoe, NC, where he later served as a sailing instructor in 2005. From 2006 to 2007 William continued working in childcare at the Montessori Children’s House of Durham, where he served as a recess monitor and a substitute afterschool/classroom teacher. He has been working with children at Eliada Child Development since 2009.
Infant Teachers
Jamie Moore
Jamie has been working in child care for 14 years. She has her Child Care Credintials and is working towards an Associates Degree at AB Tech.
Holly Moore
Holly has been with Eliada since 1997. She has her Child Care Credentials and is completing her Associates Degree at AB Tech.
Toddler Teachers
Whitney Cline
Whitney Cline received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education from Lenoir-Rhyne University and has seven years of experience working with children.
Kerrie Miller
Kerrie Miller received her Child Care credentials from AB Tech and has over 18 years of experience working with children. She is also working towards an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
Two Year old Teachers
Sara Pienta
Sara has been working in Child Care for over a year and holds a BA in English and is attending AB Tech for her Child Care Credentials.
Treva Walters
Treva Walters is currently working towards her bachelor’s in early childhood education at AB-tech. She has been with our two year old classroom for over a year, and has lots of experience working with young children. Treva is also a certified swimming instructor, and is a certified First Aid and CPR Trainer.
Three Year Old Teachers
Brandy Dalton
Brandy Dalton is the three-year-old Lead Teacher at Eliada Child Development Center. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at UNC-Greensboro and is currently enrolled at Western Carolina University to add on a degree in Birth-Kindergarten. She has a passion for teaching young children and the close bond made through shared learning experiences. Spending her days with children allows her to be a big kid herself!
Tammy Scott
Tammy Scott has been with Eliada for 7 years. She worked in school-age for 2 years and then transferred to the Three yr old room 5 years ago. Currently Tammy has her Early Childhood Education Credentials and plans on furthering her education by getting an Associates at AB Tech.
North Carolina Pre-Kindergarten Program
Jeanna Maines
Jeanna has worked with children since 2000. Jeanna was previously an Exceptional Children’s teacher for two years in the public schools and then employed as a private consultant to the school system for the Exceptional Children’s program. Jeanna has been with Eliada for three years. She is currently the Lead Teacher in teh NC Pre-K 1 classroom. Her undergraduate is in Child Development and was received from UNC-Greensboro. She served as a board member for the Big Brother/Big Sister program and is trained as a Guardian Ad Litem. Jeanna has recently received her Masters in Business Administration from Montreat College
Shannon Bell
Shannon Bell received her Child Care credentials from AB Tech and has many years of experience working with young children. She is also currently working towards an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education.
Jennifer Barnes
Jennifer has been working at Eliada for five years and has six years of experience working with children. She has received her Bachelor’s Degree in Birth – Kindergarten and her North Carolina teaching license from Western Carolina University. She works in the NC Pre-K program formally known as More at Four. She loves her job and strives each day to be a positive role model for these children and to help them make a difference in their lives.
Casey Jones Jeter
Casey Jones Jeter joined The More at Four Program in 2005. She currently holds a Bachelors degree in Children and Family Relations. At the present time, Casey is pursuing her Birth-Kindergarten degree from WCU. Casey received the Family Choice Award in 2007 & 2008. Casey is very active in her church and enjoys giving hugs to help brighten you day. She loves working with Children “because I learn something every day”.
Lael Wadopian
Lael has almost a decade of experience working (an training) in some of the best 5 star child care centers in Western North Carolina. She has taught in a variety of settings including a three month teaching program in Malawi, Africa. She earned her B.A. in Psychology, and her Birth to Kindergarten teaching licensure from the University of North Carolina Asheville. She is now beginning the process of applying for her Master’s in Early Childhood Education. Lael is thrilled about being a part of the brand new North Carolina Pre-K program and looks forward to a wonderful year!
Megan Moore
Megan received her Early Childhood Credentials from AB Tech, her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology and her Birth – Kindergarten licensure from the University of North Carolina at Asheville. She has worked in child care for 6 years.
Norma Quinn
Norma received a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development at Western Carolina University. She has been with Eliada for over ten years and has worked with chidlren of all ages, from birth to thirteen years. Sheis currently a teacher in teh North Carolina Pre-K program and is working on her Birth – Kindergarten Licensure.
Our Floaters
Marion Jones
Marion Jones received her Early Childhood Education credentials at AB Tech. She has worked at Eliada for 12 yrs and been a Floater for 8 of those years.
Jo Ann Gregory
Jo Ann Gregory has a degree in math education from UNC-G. She has worked in child care for the last 20 years. Jo Ann has spent the last 3 years at Eliada.