Michelle Brown
Program Coordinator

Michelle joined CCPA as the program coordinator in November 2014.  She grew up in the area and earned her BA from Virginia Wesleyan College and her MSEd from Old Dominion University.  In June of 2000, Michelle moved to Oklahoma with her husband and began teaching at the University of Oklahoma’s laboratory preschool.  Her job grew to include teaching undergraduate courses, supervising and mentoring student teachers and first year teachers and planning and implementing service learning projects for both children and adults.  Michelle moved back to the area a few years ago and began teaching at a Reggio-inspired school, where she found herself challenged and rewarded in a new and dynamic way.

Michelle’s favorite part of working at CCPA is having the opportunity to build connections with so many amazing people, and to provide what she feels strongly is the best possible early education experiences for the children at CCPA.  When she’s not at school, Michelle enjoys spending time with her daughter, her extended family, and her dog.

Kenda Morris
Assistant Program Coordinator

If you’ve called our school, had a tour, or paid tuition, you know Kenda!  Kenda has been with CCPA for six years now and is basically the piece that keeps us all running smoothly.  She’s from Duncan OK, where she earned her Associate’s degree in Secretarial Administration.  She loves that her position lets her get to interact with both the preschoolers and their families.  In her spare time, she enjoys reading, crafting, and spending time with her family.

Julie Riegle
Fine Arts Teacher

Julie is our Fine Arts teacher, and we love to see what’s going on in her room!  She first experienced CCPA as a parent, and then joined seven years ago as a music teacher.  As we have moved toward a Reggio-inspired school, Julie has added “Fine Arts Teacher” to her resume.  Julie is originally from Lubbock, TX, and earned her BSEd degree from Texas Tech University.  Upon moving to the Virginia Beach area, she became a kindergarten teacher with Virginia Beach City Public Schools.  After taking a break from teaching to raise her two youngest children for a few years, she enrolled them at CCPA, and joined the staff shortly thereafter.

About her job, Julie says, “I love that I get to work with all of the children at CCPA.  Their enthusiasm is amazing and fills me up every day.  I love my job and feel I have the best job in the school!”  Julie also loves spending time with her family at the beach and trying new restaurants.  In addition, she enjoys shopping thrift stores, flea markets, and antique stores to find treasures she can turn into projects.

Two Year Olds

Becca VanBatavia,
Two Year Old Lead Teacher

Becca has her degree in Elementary education with a minor in science.  She loves seeing new discoveries through the eyes of little ones and the excitement they have in learning new things.  She is married to her high school sweetheart and has two children, Benjamin and Amelia.  She enjoys crafting, going to the beach, and spending time with her family.

Caroline Hamilton
Two Year Old Assistant Teacher

Caroline was born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  She received her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.  After college she met and married her Army husband.  They and their two children have lived all over the United States, but now call Virginia Beach home, once again. 

Caroline began at CCPA, as a preschool parent for two years and then joined us as a staff member.  Caroline loves the family community among the students, parents, teachers, and staff.  Most of all she cherishes her time with the children and all their sweet smiles, funny observations and getting messy with Art.  In her spare time, Caroline enjoys tennis, bike riding, reading, the beach and spending time with her family. 

Jennifer Jenks
Two Year Old Assistant Teacher

Three Year Olds

Mellissa Altemara
Three Year Old Lead Teacher

Melissa is from Pittsburgh, PA but has lived in Virginia Beach for the last 22 years.  She has earned her Associate’s degree from TCC this past fall, and we are thrilled for her!  She started out as an assistant in the 2 year old room for two years, then moved into a lead position with 3 year olds four years ago.  Her favorite part of teaching is developing relationships with the families and watching the kids develop and grow over the school year.  Melissa says, “It’s amazing how much they change in nine months!”  In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, camping, and scrapbooking.

Christy Straub
Three Year Old Assistant Teacher

Joyce Bolen
Three Year Old Co-Teacher

Kim DeWitt
Three Year Old Co-Teacher

Roberta Roth
Three-year Old Lead Teacher

Ms. Roberta was born and raised in Michigan.  She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, and has worked on her Master in Early Education in N.Y.C, Texas and Virginia.  Mrs. Roberta and her husband are proud parents of three adult children, and have now settled in Virginia Beach after Captain Roth's 30 year career in Naval Aviation. Ms. Roberta's happy place is in any public library. She is an avid ice hockey fan, and follows several Russian ballerinas on Instagram.  She loves working with young children and is passionate about nature, wonder, tinkering and play.

Kristen
Three-year Old Teacher Assistant

Four Year Olds

Ms. Mary,
Four-year Old Lead Teacher

Mary is from Norfolk, Virginia and has lived in Virginia Beach for 24 years. She attended Mary Washington University and received a BA in English Literature with a teaching certification in PK-4th grade. She has been teaching at CCPA since 2008.  She also has a wonderful husband and three great children.  Outside of school, she loves to travel.

Andrea Correia
Four-year Old Assistant Teacher

​Andrea was born and raised in Mountainside, New Jersey, exit 136 (a little Jersey humor).  She went to school at Hahnemann College of Allied Health in Philadelphia, PA and received an Associate’s degree as a Registered Nurse.  She worked as a nurse for over twenty years and then found the love and enjoyment of working with preschoolers.
Andrea has been part of the CCPA family since 2009.  She has worked as a four-year old assistant teacher for five years and will be continuing that role this year.  She is also the lead teacher for the morning (before care) program.  She enjoys watching and helping each of God’s children grow and succeed with their young lives.

Jenn Kubica
Four Year Old Co-Teacher

Stacey O'Connor
Four Year Old Co-Teacher

Stacey is in her 10th year teaching 4-year- olds at CCPA. She is originally from Massachusetts and received her Bachelors in Psychology from Northeastern University in Boston. The Navy brought her to Virginia Beach almost 25 years ago and it’s now her home!
She loves CCPA because of the wonderful teachers she gets to work with and all the children and families she gets to meet each year. Her favorite part of teaching is seeing the look of excitement on a child’s face when they learn something new or master a task they have been working on. When she is not teaching, she loves to spend time with her family and friends at the beach, reading, traveling and watching her favorite sports teams.

Jen Kerstiens
Four Year Old Lead Teacher

Jen grew up in Ann Arbor Michigan and got her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Indiana University.  She has completed several hours toward a Master’s degree from Mississippi State University as well.  Jen loves to watch her students learn and to experience the learning process with them.  She enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching CNU women’s soccer, traveling, and reading.

Anne Scalzi
Four Year Old Assistant Teacher

Anne hails from Linthicum, Maryland.  She received a Bachelor’s of Science in Human Nutrition and Foods.  She is a registered dietician and is currently working on her certification for Early Childhood Education at TCC.  Anne’s favorite part of her job is “working alongside children, talking with them, connecting with them, and seeing the ‘aha’ moments.”  In her off time, Anne loves to focus on her family.

Extended Care

Donna Newman
Extended Care Programs Supervisor 

Donna joined the CCPA staff in 2013 as a teacher with our Extended Care program.  Donna was born in Biloxi, MS and moved frequently due to her father being in the Air Force.  She earned a degree in Special Education from Lynchburg College and continued, taking several post graduate classes as well.  Donna taught junior high/middle school special education classes for several years before joining us at CCPA.  

Donna’s favorite part of teaching is learning from her students.  When she’s not at school, she enjoys spending time with her family and her dog.  Donna is also an avid supporter of the American Cancer Society.

Kindergarten and Afterschool Programming

Chelsea
Lead Teacher

Alexis
Teacher Assistant

Jacob Newman
Teacher Assistant

Jacob is from Virginia Beach and a Junior at Kellam High School.  He began working at CCPA in June of 2017.  Jacob enjoys spending time with his friends and playing XBOX.

Substitute Teachers

Robin Kilgore

Robin was born and raised in Virginia Beach and continues to call it her home. She began teaching Preschool in 1980 at her local library and her home church. Her educational credits are from Tidewater Community College and Old Dominion University.  She has four grown children and two grandchildren.

Roberta Lane

Roberta has been a substitute at CCPA for over 8 years.  Prior to joining CCPA, she has worked in the preschool industry for over 16 years.  She loves working with all different ages and teachers.  Her fun hobbies are camping and collecting uniquely shaped rocks, especially heart shaped.