Meet Our Staff
The value of any organization is measured by the quality of its people. That is why EDCC staff is of the highest caliber, who strives to make every service we offer you the best that it can be. Your child’s time before and after school should be filled with quality activities and supervised by excellent teachers.
Dr. Cheryl McElhany – President of the Board
Dr. Cheryl McElhany founded EDCC in 1986 when school age child care was limited or missing from most elementary schools at that time. Motivated by a need for a quality program for her own first grade daughter, she was successful in opening the first EDCC center at Walnut Grove Elementary School. An elementary principal at the time in a neighboring district, Dr. McElhany designed a superior school-age before and after school program, hired excellent staff to run the center, and continued to open new centers at other locations over the next 25 years.
Today Dr. McElhany serves as the President of EDCC. She has been a classroom teacher, school principal at the K-8 level, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent. She continues to work with teachers and instruct at the college level. The EDCC design of service and standards developed by Dr. McElhany are strongly aligned with the National After-school Association (NAA) Standards.
Marin McElhany, Vice President
Marin McElhany serves on the Board of Directors and holds a Bachelor’s Degree and MBA from San Francisco State University. Ms. McElhany assists with the annual human resources and technology training, as well as providing accounting support when needed. Having the distinction of being the first enrolled child at EDCC in 1986, Marin grew up attending EDCC as an elementary student, and working at EDCC during her teenage and college years. She maintains a close partnership with her mother in the oversight of the business operations of EDCC. Marin also serves as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for U.S. Capital Partners in San Francisco.
Doris Dannels – Executive Director
Mrs. Doris Dannels began her career over 30 years ago directing school-age child care programs in Concord, CA and Vancouver, Washington. Most recently, Doris was nationally recognized as the recipient of the “Quest For Excellence Award” presented by the School-Age Notes Foundation at the National Afterschool Association Conference. Doris was the Site Director at the Fred Center for over 13 years.
Wendy Totten – Business Manager
Wendy has been employed in our business office for over 18 years handling the day-to-day financial operations for EDCC. Her background in accounting and business management has greatly enhanced the efficiency of the Business Office.
Dougherty Elementary Center – Noreen Casabar
Mrs. Noreen Casabar is the Site Director at Dougherty Elementary School. She has a BA Degree from Cal Poly State University in Child Development and has numerous years of experience in the child care field. She was the Site Director at the Fallon Center and Walnut Grove before transferring to the Dougherty Site.
Murray Elementary Center - Ashley Branco
Ms. Ashley Branco is the Site Director at the Murray Center. Ms. Branco has over four years experience with EDCC at the Green Center. She obtained a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Sonoma State University with experience teaching in second and fifth grades.
Frederiksen Elementary Center – Laura Stankovich
Ms. Laura Stankovich is the Site Director at Frederiksen EDCC. She holds a bachelor degree from San Jose State University. Ms. Stankovich comes to us with numerous years of experience teaching and directing in after school programs in Palo Alto, San Ramon, and Antioch.
Dublin Elementary Center - Vanessa Sinclair
Ms. Vanessa Sinclair is the Site Director at the Dublin Elementary. She holds a Bachelor Degree and Teaching Credential from Sacramento State University. Vanessa taught 2nd grade in the United Arab Emirates as well as has numerous years of teaching K-6 reading, comprehension, phonics, and English Language Development in Southern, CA. Most recently she taught at the Frederiksen Site before transferring to the Dublin Elementary Site.
Walnut Grove Elementary Center – Katie Benn
Ms. Katie Benn is the Site Director at Walnut Grove. Ms. Benn holds a Bachelor Degree in Community Studies from the University of California Santa Cruz and holds a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Jose State University. Ms. Benn has six years of experience teaching and assisting in the primary grade levels. She has also worked as a Director of a K – 8th grade after school program in Santa Cruz. Most recently she taught at the Frederiksen Site before transferring to the Walnut Grove Site.
Kolb Elementary Center – Regina Valencia
Ms. Regina Valencia is the Site Director at the new Kolb Center. She holds a Bachelor Degree in Child and Adolescent Development from San Jose State University. Regina has numerous years of child care experience as a teacher and director. She started with EDCC as a teacher at the Walnut Grove Center before transferring to the Fallon Center as a teacher and then director.
Green Elementary Center – Carole Liu
Mrs. Carole Liu is the Site Director at John Green Elementary School. She graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Mathematics Education and earned her Master Degree in Education from the University of Missouri. She has experience in teaching a variety of students ranging from elementary age children to adults in the Missouri schools. Carole has been a Site Director at Green for over 3 years.
