HEATHER TRITTEN
Executive Director
“True change in family well-being happens when we support the children.”
As Parent Possible’s executive director, Heather leads the organization in defining its mission and driving its strategic vision. In addition to ensuring consistent and successful programmatic delivery, she oversees all aspects of the organization’s financial and administrative management. She is also responsible for promotion of parent engagement through advocacy and collaboration with other early childhood leaders across the state. Heather has spent her career working to address the two-generation poverty problem, focusing her efforts in recent years on parents as the critical pathway to a child’s future success. Prior to serving as executive director at Parent Possible, Heather was the vice president of Quality Programs at Qualistar Colorado, and Head Start Collaboration Director in the Office of Lt. Governor Joe Garcia. She authored Governor Hickenlooper’s early literacy plan, Colorado Reads: the Early Literacy Initiative. Heather holds a B.S. in Sociology from Grand Valley State University, and a M.A. in Administration, Leadership, and Policy Studies from the University of Colorado Denver. She has also completed a Buell Early Childhood Fellowship.
MARION BATAYTE
Deputy Director
“Prevention is so much more efficient than intervention, and has considerably greater returns.”
Marion has served the early childhood community in Colorado for over 20 years, working in a leadership position at Parent Possible since 2012. As Deputy Director she is primarily responsible for overseeing program operation, compliance and evaluation, and contributing to the overall development and strategic initiatives for Colorado’s HIPPY and PAT programs. Prior to joining Parent Possible, Marion was Director of Operations at Bright By Three (formerly Colorado Bright Beginnings), where she spent ten years advancing the quality and effectiveness of home visitation programs. Before moving into parent engagement, Marion worked for the Colorado Department of Corrections, Gemini Shelter, and HEAR NOW. She earned her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Colorado Boulder, and an A.S. in American Sign Language Interpretation.
MAIA ALBRECHT
HR & Operations Manager
“We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.” – Winnie the Pooh
As the HR & Operations Manager at Parent Possible, Maia supports the staff and Board of Directors with operations and administration. She is responsible for organization and maintenance of company records and data, as well as being a point of support for projects throughout the organization. She also manages Human Resource processes and procedures as well as the organizational facilities and infrastructure. As a parent of two young children, Maia is proud to support and promote parents in becoming the most valuable assets in their children’s early development. Maia holds a B.S. in Business with a concentration in Human Resource Management. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, traveling, and trying new activities!
RACHEL BRECK
Director of Reporting & Evaluation
“Strong families are the foundation for resilient communities and a more equitable future.”
In Rachel’s role as Parent Possible’s Data & Evaluation Director, she is responsible for managing program data collected throughout the state. She supports program sites by providing technical assistance, database management and quality assurance. After ensuring the data are accurate, clean, and complete, she prepares reports examining the fidelity and effectiveness of Parent Possible’s home visiting programs. Rachel’s past experience is a blending of numbers and nonprofits. She built and managed a database for tracking nonprofit organizations as a graduate assistant with the Indiana Nonprofits Project and conducted feasibility studies for community-based organizations while a Senior Summer Fellow at the Public Health Institute of Metropolitan Chicago. Rachel has a B.A. in Sociology & Political Science from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and holds a Masters of Public Affairs, with concentrations in Nonprofit Management and Information Systems from Indiana University.
KRISTEN CELLINI
Data & Reporting Manager
“There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” – Nelson Mandela
Kristen joined Parent Possible in 2019 and moved into the Data & Reporting Manager role in late 2022. In this capacity, she supports the data collection, reporting, and evaluation efforts of Colorado’s Parents as Teachers (PAT) and Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters (HIPPY) programs. Kristen’s work has centered around data management, analysis, and reporting for the past 15 years. Her previous roles include serving as a data analyst for a large, urban school district, a multi-campus university, and a national non-profit organization focused on ending K-12 educational inequalities. She holds a B.A. in psychology and English from Baldwin-Wallace College and earned her M.A. in sociology from Kent State University.
SILVIA COBOS
HIPPY Manager
“We Teach Who We Are. As I guide others, I project the condition of my soul onto them, my subject, and our way of being together. When I do not know myself, I cannot know who the people I partner with are.” Parker J. Palmer
As the HIPPY Program Manager Silvia is responsible for providing guidance, technical assistance, and support to HIPPY program sites across the state of Colorado to ensure quality and fidelity. Silvia has consecutively taken part in Early Education Programs like PAT, HIPPY, and Head Start for over twenty years. First, as a parent, then as an educator and supervisor, and lastly, as a HIPPY Manager at Parent Possible. She is currently preparing to graduate from CU Denver with her Bachelor’s degree in Education and Human Development with a concentration in Early Childhood Education. Since beginning her work in early education, she has understood the critical role parents and caregivers play in children’s development at their first stages of life. She believes children deserve to learn and develop their maximum potential in a safe and healthy environment. Educators can partner with caregivers to create that safe environment, so that caregivers can feel secure and informed. She believes that if we can make caregivers feel confident, they will transmit that secureness to their children and together will raise our future high self-esteem leaders.
JACKIE CORDOVA
HIPPY Program Director
“La familia es la base de la sociedad y el lugar donde los personas aprenden por vez primera los valores que les guían durante toda la vida” -J.P. II
Jackie joined Parent Possible in early 2016 as the HIPPY Program Director. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing, monitoring and providing technical assistance and coaching to HIPPY sites in the state to ensure site quality and model fidelity. She also provides start-up guidance and support for new site development. Before joining Parent Possible, Jackie worked at Clayton Early Learning as a HIPPY Home Based Head Start Mentor Coach, and as a preschool teacher and director in Guadalajara, Mexico. She served as a panel member for Home Visitation Programs for the Colorado General Assembly’s Early Childhood and School Readiness, and as a member of the Spanish language curriculum committee for HIPPY USA. Jackie is a HIPPY National Trainer and in 2019 she went to Santiago, Chile to provide training and technical assistance to start HIPPY in the country. Jackie holds a B.S. in Education from the Universidad Panamericana Campus Guadalajara, and a M.A, in Administration and Coaching in Early Childhood Education from the University of Colorado Denver. She has also completed a Buell Early Childhood Fellowship.
KAREN DUKE
Economic Mobility Program Manager
“Expanding child sensitive social protection is a critical underpinning for efforts to reduce poverty directly and supports the effectiveness of other policies and basic service provision for children.”~ Global Coalition to End Child Poverty
As the Economic Mobility Program Manager at Parent Possible, Karen leverages Parent Possible’s existing relationships with local early childhood home visiting sites to provide training and support for home visitors to promote the benefits of tax credits that support low- and middle- income families. She provides training to all of Parent Possible’s program sites regarding tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Child Tax Credit (CTC), and Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC), as well as connects sites with support for free tax preparation. Additionally, Karen researches and assesses effective strategies that Parent Possible can use to increase opportunities for family economic mobility in Colorado and is developing a plan for Parent Possible to engage more deeply in this work. Before joining Parent Possible in 2021, she worked as a kindergarten teacher in China, then transitioned to working in the nonprofit sector upon moving to Colorado. She developed a strong sense of devotion to nonprofit work that benefits underserved communities. Karen holds a BA in English and is completing her last semester of graduate school to earn her Master’s in International Community Development.
JESSICA EHINGER
Director of Finance
“When you teach your child, you teach your child’s child.” ~ Talmudic teaching
Jessica joined Parent Possible in 2020. In her role as Director of Finance, she oversees the organization’s financial and HR systems, as well as financial and funding compliance. Jessica started out her career as an academic, specializing in the history of Abrahamic religions, before transitioning to university administration and grants management. Before moving to Colorado, she served as the administrator for the Boston University Superfund Research Program, supporting public health research and community engagement surrounding the early life impact of hazardous waste exposure. She has also served as a financial officer for Service Employees International and helped create Colorado Care Workers Unite, an advocacy organization for homecare workers in Colorado. Jessica has a Bachelors degree in Arabic and Islamic History from the University of Chicago and a Masters and PhD in World Religion from Oxford University.
ALEXIS FOWKES
Training & Events Manager
“Our future is in the hands of our children – and the parents holding their hands in those first few years of life.”
Alexis joined Parent Possible in 2018. In her role as Training & Events Manager she is responsible for coordinating programmatic trainings, organizing the Annual Parent Possible Home Visiting Conference and supporting additional special events. Before Parent Possible she worked at ReinventED Lab as the Event Coordinator for the Tom Tom Youth Summit, an annual event celebrating student projects and innovation in Charlottesville, Virginia. Alexis earned her B.S. in Youth & Social Innovation from the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia.
INDIRA GALAVIZ
Parents as Teachers Program Manager
Certified National Parents as Teachers Trainer
“Every home is a universe and the parents are the teachers” Mahatma Gandhi
Indira Galaviz is the Parents as Teachers (PAT) Program Manager at Parent Possible, Colorado’s PAT State Office. In her role, she is responsible for providing guidance, fidelity monitoring, training, and technical assistance to PAT sites across the state. She has more than 16 years of experience working with under resourced populations. Indira started her enthusiasm for family services in Mexico, where she supported different health and hygiene campaigns for low-income children.
Prior to joining Parent Possible, she worked as a preschool teacher, and for a Family Resource Center in the Denver metro area. During her non-profit experience, she coordinated four different family programs that offered direct support to the demands of the Latino communities. Additionally, in her tenure as the manager of the organization’s Parents as Teachers Program, she obtained, for the first time, the Blue-Ribbon affiliate designation of quality for the PAT program.
Indira loves having the opportunity to impact her community by providing information and support networks to families. Indira’s educational background in in Early Childhood Education, Social Work, and Family Development.
She spends her time outside of work sharing her energy and passion for fitness with her fitness community. Along with wellness, her greatest passions are education, family, and unity.
SHELBY JONES
Vroom Program Director
“By instilling love, empathy, and hope in our children today, parents inspire a better tomorrow.”
Shelby joined Parent Possible in 2018 as the Vroom Program Director. In this role, Shelby is responsible for directing high-reach awareness initiatives for Vroom statewide, implementing installations and marketing campaigns, and managing corporate partnerships. Prior to joining Parent Possible, Shelby served as a research consultant for nonprofit, philanthropic, and public sector organizations, and spent five years studying parenting and child development. Shelby holds a B.A. in Psychology from St. Mary’s College of Maryland and an M.A. in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
SELIN KAHYAOGLU
Data Associate
“Families are like branches on a tree. We grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one.” — Anonymous
Selin joined Parent Possible in early 2023. In her role as Data & Reporting Associate, she is primarily responsible for supporting sites around data collection, program evaluation, PAT and HIPPY program reporting, and quality assurance. Before joining Parent Possible, she has served in both AmeriCorps NCCC and AmeriCorps VISTA with a variety of nonprofit and government organizations across the country. Selin holds a B.S. in Sustainability with a minor in Business Administration from St. John Fisher College. She has also earned the CNP (Certified Nonprofit Professional) credentials from Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and sits on the board of YNPN Denver (Young Nonprofit Professional Network).
LAURA KNUDTSON
Senior Director of Policy, Strategy & Innovation
“We build and sustain thriving communities through the support of and investment in families – particularly during the early childhood years.”
Laura joined Parent Possible in 2018 and provides strategic leadership, vision, and positioning for policies, initiatives, and opportunities that support family wellbeing and school readiness for Colorado families. Additionally, Laura has served as the Director of the Colorado Home Visiting Coalition and was responsible for elevating the voice of home visiting programs in Colorado through leadership, advocacy, and collaboration with other early childhood groups. Laura has a background as a child/family psychologist and in 2018 completed a Congressional Fellowship working on health and human services public policy in the U.S. Senate. Laura has worked clinically with predominantly under-resourced families in community mental health and integrated care settings and served as an American Psychological Association (APA) -Accredited Internship Program Training Director. She is a Colorado Psychological Association Board Member and serves as Colorado’s Representative to APA Council as well as serves on the APA Advocacy Coordinating Committee. Laura is a recipient of the 2021 Sarah Burgamy APA Citizen Psychologist Award and the 2017 Karl F. Heiser Presidential Award for State-level Advocacy and holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Wisconsin.
laura@cohomevisiting.org // laura@parentpossible.org
AARON LEAVY
Communications and Research Manager
“No man stands so tall as when he stoops to help a child” – Abraham Lincoln
As communications and research manager for the Colorado Home Visiting Coalition and Parent Possible, Aaron supports the efforts of all of Colorado’s home visiting programs. Aaron conducts research and analysis into the scope, impact and status of Colorado’s home visiting efforts. Prior to joining Parent Possible, he worked on political campaigns across the country, served as a researcher for a polling and communications firm, and as Senior Manager for Innovation and Learning for the Harwood Institute (where he authored the book Why We’re Here: The Powerful Impact of Public Broadcasters When They Turn Outward. As part of the National Civic League he developed community engagement materials, such as the All-America Conversations Toolkit, provided coaching and support to local engagement efforts and served as part of National Civic League’s community consulting team. He is a graduate of Oberlin College.
CHRISTINE O’BRIEN
DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT & TRAINING
“Children are not things to be molded but are people to be unfolded.” – Jess Lair
Christine has over 25 years of experience in the Early Care and Education field. She joined Parent Possible in 2022. As Director of Workforce Development and Training, she is primarily responsible for overseeing the Enhanced Home Visiting Program. Prior to joining Parent Possible, Christine worked for The City of Lakewood Head Start and Clayton Early Learning. She has had many experiences in the field including teaching, coaching, training and mental health consultation. She has spent her career advocating for young children and those who work with children. She earned her B.S. in Early Childhood Education at Towson University in Maryland, and a Master of Science in Applied Behavioral Science, with an emphasis in training at Johns Hopkins University.
SINDY PELAYO
HIPPY Program Manager
“Parents are teachers, and home is a child’s first and most important classroom.” – Hillary Clinton
Sindy joined Parent Possible in December 2021 as HIPPY Program Manager. In this role, she is responsible for providing guidance, technical assistance, and support to HIPPY program sites across the state with special focus on AmeriCorps HIPPY sites, to ensure quality and fidelity. Sindy has extensive experience in HIPPY and administrative areas. Prior to joining Parent Possible, she spent over a year as Secretary-Central administrator at Jeffco Public School for the Early Learning Department, overseeing five Native Language Preschools and processing CPP (Colorado Preschool Program) applications for all Preschools in Jefferson County with the intention to serve children who were at risk of starting school. Before that, she spent over five years working for Jeffco HIPPY starting as a HIPPY Parent then as a Home Visitor, Sindy supported parents with tools and information to be their child’s most valuable teacher. Then, she became the Assistant Coordinator for the program being responsible for the supervision of Home Visitors and working with community organizations to make connections of resources to families.
MICHELE PROVOST
Parents as Teachers Program Director
“Supporting and educating parents when children are young is the key to growing strong families and communities.”
Michele joined Parent Possible in January 2017 as the Parents as Teachers Program Director. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing, monitoring and providing technical assistance to PAT sites in the state to ensure individual site quality, as well as data collection fidelity. Prior to joining Parent Possible in 2017, she spent 12 years as the March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program Coordinator, serving families at Children’s Hospital Colorado and University of Colorado Hospital. In addition, she has extensive experience in child protection, home visitation and parenting instruction. She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a MSW from the University of Denver. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Colorado and has earned the Infant Mental Health Endorsement—Infant Mental Health Mentor (Policy).
LUCY SOFFER
Vroom Partner Manager
“If a community values its children, it must cherish their parents” – John Bowlby
Lucy joined Parent Possible in 2020. In her role as Vroom Partner Manager, she is responsible for building and sustaining a diverse network of Vroom partners throughout Colorado. Her work includes seeking out trusted messenger organizations and institutions to partner with, as well as providing training, communication, and support to current partners to ensure effective implementation of Vroom. Lucy started her career as a Kindergarten teacher in London. After several international teaching roles, she transitioned into adult training in Sydney where she supported the implementation of a Social-Emotional Curriculum in elementary and secondary schools. Prior to joining Parent Possible, she worked with the Head Start community in Denver as an Early Childhood Education Specialist. Lucy holds a B.S. in Education and Human Development from Oxford Brookes University, and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education from the University of Exeter.
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