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 a Bachelor's degree 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, fostering 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 she is thrilled to continue that program. She has been 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, Granola the German Shepard.
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 earned her Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Colorado State University. Over the last few years, she has spent several months traveling around South America practicing her Spanish, climbing beautiful mountains, and meeting new people. 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 started her career in Early Childhood Education in 2010. She then worked for Head Start for five years where she was able to learn and grow as a teacher. After that, she helped open and run 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: butterfly1@wscc-denver.org
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 and completed her Master’s degree in ECE from the University of Colorado Denver in 2014.
Rachel grew up in Marblehead, Massachusetts and went to college in New York, New York. After marrying, she 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, who 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
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. He loves camping, going to concerts, and 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 of 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:
Mia Ries
Assistant Teacher
Mia is originally from Florida and moved to Denver in August of 2020. She earned degrees in Communications and English from Florida State University and has several years of experience working with children as a summer camp counselor and at a family entertainment center. She believes in creating a nurturing, accepting environment for all children and loves to inspire them to be creative and imaginative every day. In her free time, she loves to get outdoors and hike or stay inside and watch a good movie.
Phone: 303-733-4643 ext. 101
Email:
Anita Martin
Graphics & Marketing Specialist