Trainer Bios

Rhonda Kaiser
Educare Central Maine School Director

Rhonda Kaiser has a bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Family Relations with a concentration in Education, and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She holds a 282 certificate: teacher of disabilities birth–5 years and has a Family Services credential from Head Start.   Rhonda has been working in the field of early childhood for more than 20 years, working with infants, toddlers, and preschool children as a teacher and assistant director in a center-based early childhood program; as an early childhood special educator, assessing children ages birth–5 years old; and as a case manager for children with disabilities, collaborating with many providers including speech, occupational, and physical therapists to assure children received appropriate early intervention services.  After leaving her position in early childhood special education, she began working as a region manager/supervisor of early childhood educators.  Rhonda currently works with KVCAP Child & Family Services as the School Director of Educare Central Maine as well as the Education Content Lead in which she oversees assessments and curriculum for the program.

Erica Palmer
Educare Central Maine Education Manager

Erica Palmer holds a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maine at Farmington and has been working in the field of early childhood for more than 12 years.  Her experience in the field consists of direct service with infants and toddlers as a teacher, an early childhood coach, and supervision of comprehensive education services for children ages birth-5 years.   Currently she works with KVCAP Child & Family Services as Education Manager for Educare Central Maine where she supports a program of 60 staff dedicated to providing an integrated approach to early childhood programming and parent, family, and community engagement.

Erica has delivered numerous professional development trainings to Educare staff and providers Beyond-the-Walls at local, state and national levels. She has previously co-presented at the National Head Start Conference with Start Early and The Educare Learning Network on The Essential Practices of Educare as well as Engaging Rural Families.  Erica is trained in facilitating professional development offerings that include Touchpoints training, Data Utilization, High Quality Teaching Practices, Reflective Practice, Nature Based Education and more.

Nicole Chaplin
KVCAP C&FS Program Director, Somerset County Region Preschools

Nicole Chaplin has been in the field of Early Childhood Education for more than 20 years. Currently, Nicole works with KVCAP Child & Family Services in collaboration with Somerset County public schools to coordinate and provide preschool programming to more than 200 children and an Early Head Start program for 16 children. Her work includes advocacy for early childhood programming, Educare Beyond-the-Walls efforts, community education and participation on several committees that are working to enhance services to children and families. Her collaboration with MSAD 54 currently also encompasses planning for and designing the first school in Maine that will house children from birth through fifth grade under one roof (opening in the Fall of 2025).  Nicole holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, a master’s degree in 21^st Century Leadership and an Infant/Toddler certificate from the Erikson Institute. She is also a graduate of the UCLA Head Start Management Fellowship program and has experience in training related to Adverse Childhood Experiences.  Nicole is dedicated and passionate about her work and involvement in Somerset communities to enhance the foundation of learning for children and their families.

Tammie Davis
KVCAP C&FS Early Childhood Coach/Supervisor

Tammie works as a KVCAP Child & Family Services Early Childhood Education Coach and Supervisor at Educare Central Maine. She has a passion for her work and is dedicated to supporting classroom staff as they provide high quality care and education to children and families. She holds a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maine at Farmington and is working toward completing her credential in Training & Technical Assistance Approaches through Maine Roads to Quality. The vision and mission of KVCAP and Head Start programming are near and dear to Tammie’s heart.  Her personal experience as a former Head Start parent solidified her plan to spend her career in the field of early care and education. She began as a substitute teacher and over time grew professionally, obtaining her current role.

Brittany Foss
KVCAP C&FS Early Childhood Coach/Supervisor

Brittany is a KVCAP Child & Family Services Early Childhood Education Coach and Supervisor at Educare Central Maine. She started out as a teacher in an infant and toddler classroom working on her bachelor’s degree. After earning a master’s degree, Brittany moved into the coach and supervisor role for infant and toddler classrooms. Brittany also is an adjunct faculty at KVCC and is a Maine Roads to Quality certified trainer. Her passion lies with the youngest children and she wholeheartedly believes that the first three years are imperative to how the rest of their lives will be.

Abbie Giallombardo
KVCAP C&FS AmeriCorps Project Coordinator/ Substitute Supervisor

Abbie Giallombardo holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from the University of Maine at Farmington. She has 9 years of teaching experience during which she held various leadership roles and led several initiatives, all of which allowed her opportunities to mentor students and adults. Abbie joined KVCAP because she felt drawn to the agency’s vision, which reflects her own passion for helping others reach their fullest potential. Since joining KVCAP, Abbie has continued to develop the First4 AmeriCorps program, participated in volunteer management programs, and facilitated training for the AmeriCorps members and the substitute aides.

Joni Sprague
KVCAP C&FS Parent Ambassador Lead

Joni Sprague is the Parent Ambassador Lead for the Maine State Parent Ambassadors program through KVCAP Child & Family Services. Prior to this position, Joni was the family services supervisor at Educare Central Maine and a preschool teacher for many years. She holds a master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Maine at Orono. She was also a Head Start parent from the time her children were 10 weeks old until they went to Kindergarten. Joni is passionate about working with families and encouraging them to share their experiences and advocate for early care and education throughout Maine.

Sara Wilkes
KVCAP C&FS Early Childhood Coach/Supervisor

Sara Wilkes is a KVCAP Child & Family Services Early Childhood Coach/Supervisor for the part-day/ part-year preschool program at Educare Central Maine. She began her career at Educare in 2012 as a practicum II student with KVCC. During her practicum, she was hired as a substitute, and then hired as a full-time assistant teacher in December of 2012. Sara transitioned to a lead preschool teacher in 2015 once she completed her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from University of Maine at Farmington, and in 2019 she entered her current role as a coach/supervisor. Sara’s favorite part of her position is supporting preschool staff throughout the agency with professional development opportunities within the PreK for ME curriculum. Sara is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education.