MEET OUR STAFF
Jolie Brawner
Executive Director
Jolie Brawner joined WSCC as Executive Director in July, 2016. She fell in love with our Center during a year and a half stint as Administrative Assistant and then Community Program Coordinator in 2014. Jolie holds degrees from the University of Florida in History and a Master’s Degree from Florida State University in International Affairs. She spent several semesters abroad in Eastern Europe which only solidified her love of getting to know new people, multi-cultural interaction, and developing community. She is excited to bring her diverse skill set to our family, and is eager to grow with the Community Center. Jolie was instrumental in starting our Going Green Initiative two years ago, and is thrilled to continue that program. She is a resident of the West Washington Park neighborhood since 2013, and in her spare time enjoys camping, backpacking, and enjoying all Colorado has to offer with her husband Joey and their best friend Hermes the pug.
Phone: 303-733-4643 ext. 105
Email: ed@wscc-denver.org
Cristie Martin
Chief Financial Officer
Cristie Martin officially took on the leadership of WSCC in September 2015 after joining WSCC as the Chief Financial Officer in August 2014. She is a proven leader in non-profit management, public administration and program development with strong organizational, management, fundraising and problem solving skills. Prior to her employment at WSCC, she successfully ran a community development organization in Commerce City called Community Enterprise. While there, she grew the agency’s budget by four times.
Phone: 303-733-4643 ext. 105
Email: accounts@wscc-denver.org
Ellie Gould
Administrative Assistant
Ellie was born and raised in Denver and recently earned her BA in Political Science from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. Over the last few years, she has spent several months traveling around South America practicing her Spanish, climbing beautiful mountains, and eating delicious food. She hopes to continue traveling throughout the rest of her life. Ellie is passionate about sustainability and humans’ rights issues; she loves having deep conversations about society and politics and is excited to be part of a non-profit that cultivates community. Aside from these things, there is very little she enjoys more than a good movie marathon with her best friends.
Phone: 303-733-4643 ext 100
Email:
Jennifer Crandell
Education Coordinator
Pre-K Teacher
Jennifer has been working as a preschool teacher for the past six years in Denver. She also has experience as an after school program teacher at Cory Elementary. Jennifer holds an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in History, with a minor in Elementary Education, and is planning to attend Graduate School soon. She has extensive experience in planning and implementing different types of activities for many ages of children, and always ensures a fun and safe, atmosphere for the children she works with.
Phone: 303-733-4643 ext. 101
Email:
Adriana Lopez-Ayala
Pre-K Teacher
After being part of a management team for a well known bank, Adriana left in 2010 to start her career in Early Childhood Education. She then worked for Head Start for five years. During her time there she was able to learn and grow as a teacher. She then helped open and then ran a Montessori School for almost five years.
Her experience consists of teaching and licensing classrooms and schools. She holds an ECT Credential, Montessori Certification and a Director license for the State of Colorado. She is happily married with three children and a dog. Adriana loves working with young children because they are funny and creative.
Phone: 303-733-4643 ext. 101
Email:
Rachel Brown
Pre-K Teacher
Rachel has been working in Early Childhood Education for most of her life. She began working when she was really young and found many jobs working with children, such as after school programs and camps. She received her Bachelor’s degree in English and Art from Stern College for Women, and then taught first grade and preschool soon after she got married. She then realized that she wanted to further her education and knowledge of Early Childhood Education, so in 2014 she completed her Master’s degree in ECE from the University of Colorado Denver.
Rachel grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts, went to college in New York, New York, and then after marrying, lived in Memphis, Tennessee. She and her husband Adam moved to Colorado in 2005. She has two big kids - a daughter, Ariella, who is in high school and a son, Zach, attends CU Boulder.
Rachel likes to read, hike, travel and cuddle with her two mini dachshunds - Bailey and Koda.
Phone: 303-733-4643 ext 102
Email: preschool1@wscc-denver.org
Marissa Isch
Pre-K Assistant Teacher
Marissa considers herself a “native transplant” since she was born in Loveland but lived an American nomadic life for over 20 years—in Grand Junction CO, Omaha NE, Baltimore MD, Brooklyn NY, Cape Cod MA then finally returned to Colorado after starting her family. Her son Jackson is six-years-old and his little brother, Layne (in the Butterfly class), is four-years-old. She loves having all kinds of adventures, painting and poetry, Star Wars, and eating delicious foods. Marissa graduated from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn with a creative writing degree and attended The New School NY Media Studies program, so she holds a strong dedication to creative learning (and is forever grateful for the eight years of amazing nanny positions that supported and enriched her through college). Her background includes art instruction to children 3-12 years-olds, baby sign language, and early language & literacy advocacy, plus funding, program, and outreach development for a broad spectrum of nonprofits and grassroots organizations. Marissa joins WSCC in the Rainbow Fish room with a passion for fostering empathetic and happy kids.
Phone: 303-733-4643
Email:
Maggie D'Angelo
Pre-K Assistant Teacher
Maggie is from the greater Chicago area. She came to Colorado to successfully obtain her BA in sociology from CU Boulder. Maggie grew a love for early childhood education during her semester abroad in Italy. Maggie is fluent in Italian and if that wasn't cool enough, Maggie is also a Yoga teacher! Maggie's laid back demeanor is attributed to her love for the outdoors and being a Cat mom to her pet Ellie.
Phone: 303-733-4643
Email: preschool4@wscc-denver.org
Bryan Sherva
Assistant Teacher
Bryan was born in Minnesota and lived there for 25 years. He worked at Oxbow Creek Elementary for 2 years as a reading tutor as well as a before & after school child care assistant. Bryan believes all children should have a hands-on learning experience in and out of the classroom. He is currently taking classes at Red Rocks Community College towards becoming an elementary teacher. His loves are camping and going to concerts. He is also a diehard Minnesota Vikings fan.
Phone: 303-733-4643 ext. 101
Email:
Gaby Castillo
Assistant Teacher
Gaby is originally from California and has now been in Colorado for four years. She has several years experience working with children and absolutely loves it! She has studied and tutored abroad teaching English and Spanish in Mexico, Spain, Chile and Argentina. She believes her role as an educator is to recognize each student’s individuality and help them cultivate their unique qualities in a creative and positive environment.
Phone: 303-733-4643 ext. 101
Email:
Anita Martin
Graphics & Marketing Specialist