About Us
Advisory Committee Members
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I believe I would be helpful to those on the committee. I am the Assistant Director of Child Care Licensing Services, so I have extensive knowledge of child care licensing rules/regulations and processes. I had already been working with different groups in the last couple of years on creating early childhood care options and would like to continue this work.
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Julia Brink, QI Program Coordinator, Child Care Innovations @ Red Rocks Community College and Triad Early Childhood Council. I have worked in early childhood for 15 years. I currently supervise the quality improvement work and workforce initiatives at our organization. Our department serves as the early childhood council, child care resource and referral agency and provides licensing services to Clear Creek County. Increasing access to high quality child care for all children has been my passion for a long time.
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Caitlin Morris, Director of Childcare for Clear Creek Metropolitan Recreation District. I’ve always had a strong passion in connecting our youth with experiences that are hands on and are special to our mountain community. We live in a beautiful place and I love helping kids explore the areas around us. Learning is all around us and comes in many different forms. I enjoy being able to bring those aspects to our youth and to our community.
“This work matters because our community deserves to have amazing early childcare that is special to our mountain towns!”
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Lalitha serves as the Strategic Community Development Manager for the Henderson Mine and Mill with Climax Molybdenum Company. Climax Molybdenum is a subsidiary of Freeport-McMoRan Inc. Lalitha is responsible for building and maintaining positive and productive business relationships with cities, towns, counties and other key stakeholders for Colorado’s operating communities (Clear Creek and Grand Counties) while executing the Company's social responsibility strategy and community development policies, standards, practices and programs which includes childcare initiatives. She manages social investments, local contributions, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, program promotion and evaluation, and internal business coordination for the Henderson Operations. Our three main social investment priority areas include education/workforce development, economic opportunity, and resiliency/capacity-building. Bringing forth affordable and accessible childcare to Clear Creek County aligns with our social responsibility strategy in achieving a sustainable and thriving post-mining community.
“This work matters because the children of Clear Creek deserve the best possible future we can provide them.”
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Pam Marsh, PsyD is a psychologist in private practice centering on children, adults and families. After completing her internship at the Children's Hospital Colorado (2003), she followed her passion for making a difference in children's lives through early intervention including community mental health. Pam's connection with Clear Creek County began a few years ago as a contractional psychologist within the local school system. When not enjoying Colorado's great outdoors with her husband, Andy, Pam loves traveling with her two adult children.
“This work matters because it changes young children’s lives.”
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I'm Erin Rupe, resident of Clear Creek county for 9.5 years and educator for 25 years. We moved to Clear Creek when our son was nine years old to offer him the wonderful opportunity to grow up in a small community surrounded by nature and plentiful outdoor experiences. Living here has given our family the chance to build many amazing memories! As a resident, I am grateful for this chance to contribute further to my community as a member of the Clear Creek Early Childhood steering committee. I strongly believe all children should have access to inclusive, equitable, and research-based early childhood programs that build strong foundations for physical, cognitive, and social emotional growth. My daily experiences as a special education teacher and a mother push me to work for better educational and community opportunities for ALL children and their families. I am excited to participate in the development of such a wonderful venture!
“This work matters because all children and families deserve quality early childhood centers based on equity and belonging.”
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Christine Crouse has lived, worked and played in the Clear Creek Watershed since 1990. She is currently a Program & Event Coordinator for the Clear Creek Library District. Prior to joining the library team, she established the first CSU Extension office in Clear Creek County and from the Fall of 2012 through 2021 was the solo Director, 4-H Agent, Mountain Horticulture Agent and Volunteer Coordinator. From March 2020 through January 2022, she also served as the County’s COVID-19 Public Information Officer. Before her CSU Extension post, Christine was the Executive Manager and Outreach Coordinator for the Clear Creek Watershed Foundation, as well as a Public Involvement Specialist with an engineering and environmental consulting firm. She received her B. A., cum laude, in Communication from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and is nearing completion of her Masters of Extension Education from CSU. She enjoys traveling, cooking, live music, outdoor activities, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
“Clear Creek County deserves action for having Early Child Education!”
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Executive Director for Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity. My husband, Joe, and I have lived in Dumont for 23 years. We raised our kids in Clear Creek and like to give back to the community where we live.
“This work matters because families are the heart of our community.”
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Becky is the Director of Teaching and Learning at Clear Creek School District RE-1.
“This work matters because our youngest learners deserve the best start in their lifelong learning journey.”
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As Clear Creek School District Early Learning Coordinator, I am involved with the administration and coordination of staff, programming, standards, and budgeting of the district's preschools and Early childhood practices.
“This work matters because every family and child deserves the best community resources so they can grow and thrive.”
Mission and Vision
Kids
Quality social, emotional, and developmental learning that prepares them for Kindergarten and beyond.
Engaging and fun learning that inspires curiosity and excitement for learning.
Children build connections to each other, their community, and the world around them through community connected and outdoor learning experiences.
Families
The center is a safe, affordable, accessible space that provides families with work-life balance and peace of mind.
The center will bring resources to young families and help to build a sense of community amongst the families that attend.
Community
The center will be a source of pride for the community and enable families with young children to return to or join the workforce and build strong economic foundations within the community.
The center and the services it provides will be a tool to recruit new businesses to the community and ease the challenges of childcare and child development for employees in the community.
Staff
Staff at the center will have voice in the development of programming, good pay, and learning opportunities that will grow their commitment to the center, the community, and the children and families they serve.
History
March 2024
Representative Neguse secured $1.6M in Community Project Funding for the Center's construction
October 2023
Planning through July 2024 funded by Freeport-McMoRan (Henderson Mine), Buell, and Clear Creek Schools Foundations
September 2023
National Wildlife Federation retained for design of outdoor spaces
August 2023
95% complete construction drawings delivered
June 2023
Architectural schematics completed
April 2023
Steering Committee site visits begin
Members visit highly effective centers in communities similar to Clear Creek
March 2023
Funding request to Appropriations Committee
$2M funding request referred to Appropriations Committee by Congressman Neguse, and Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet for total of $6M
Architectural and Engineering partners selected
December 2022
$220,000 capital grant awarded by the Buell Foundation
November 2022
Steering Committee of community members formed to guide the planning, design, and operation of the Center
September 2022
Clear Creek School District RE-1 agrees to lease 6,100 square feet of space in the new elementary school
$500,000 Employer-based construction grant awarded by Colorado Department of Early Childhood
August 2022
$200,000 CIRCLE Grant awarded for detailed planning and curriculum development by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood
March 2022
Clear Creek Schools Foundation begins fundraising for the planning and construction of the Center
February 2022
Clear Creek Metropolitan Recreation District agrees to operate the Center as an affiliate organization and join the Employer Group
Clear Creek County government joins the Employer Group and pledges $100,000 to support facility planning and construction management
January 2022
Clear Creek Schools Foundation begins advocating for an Early Childhood Center in Clear Creek County
October 2019
Community members define Early Childhood Education requirements and develop a business model with Executives Partnering to Invest in Children (EPIC)
Early Childhood Needs Assessment released (prepared for the Clear Creek Metro Recreation District by Roots Policy Research
December 2018
Henderson Mine Social Impact grants funds $30,000 for Early Childhood Needs Assessment
At Mountain Trails Early Learning, our mission is to provide exceptional early childhood education is driven by a team of passionate and highly qualified educators.
We take immense pride in introducing you to the heart and soul of our school—the remarkable individuals who are committed to nurturing young minds and fostering a love for learning. Our team is not just a group of educators; they are mentors, role models, and champions for children's, and professional, development.