The Center for Inclusive Child Care (CICC) provides free relationship-based professional development (RBPD) including support, training, modeling, and resources to child care programs throughout Minnesota.
Priscilla Weigel
Executive Director
Priscilla Weigel has worked with young children and families for 40 years. She has been a classroom teacher, staff development coordinator, mentor teacher, early childhood consultant, and CICC Coach. Priscilla has been a part of the work at CICC for over 20 years. She currently works as the CICC Executive Director, overseeing all staff and programming. In addition to successfully including and supporting children with special needs in community settings, Priscilla presents to teachers, parents and early care and education professionals throughout Minnesota and nationally.
Beth Menninga
Coaching Manager
menninga@inclusivechildcare.org
Beth Menninga, M.A.Ed, has worked in the early childhood field for over forty years. She oversees the coaching efforts at CICC, supporting the team of CICC Coaches while coordinating planning and oversight of coaching delivery, coach professional development, data collection and evaluation with other CICC team members and partnership organizations. With past experience as a preschool teacher and child care center director, her work over the past twenty-five years has focused on professional development efforts in the content areas of infant toddler caregiving, early literacy, early math and relationship-based professional development. She has been at CICC since 2018 and has her infant mental health endorsement through MACMH.
Amy Petersen
Finance Manager
petersen@inclusivechildcare.org
Amy Petersen has been with CICC for over 20 years. In her role as finance manager, Amy handles all billing, budgeting and record-keeping. She works alongside the executive director to establish our budgets and ensure each fiscal year runs smoothly.
Alicia Sandness
Human Resources Manager
Alicia Sandness currently serves as the Human Resources Manager with CICC. She has spent over 20 years in the human resources field. Much of Alicia’s work has been in compensation, talent acquisition, performance management, and employee relations management. She also has expertise in policy development, HRIS system implementation, legal compliance and training. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree and an MBA. Alicia started at CICC in 2020.
Becky Gillard
Coaching Intake and Data Coordinator
gillard@inclusivechildcare.org
Becky Gillard has been in the early childhood field for over 20 years, with a focus on system and program development, and continuous quality improvement. Becky works as the Coaching Intake and Data Coordinator with CICC, coordinating the implementation of coaching, managing all things data related and creating systems for sustained program development. Becky has been with CICC since 2017.
Becky Espersen
Learning and Development Specialist
espersen@inclusivechildcare.org
Becky Espersen currently assists the whole CICC team, serving as the Learning and Development Specialist. She maintains the resource library, supports the success of our coaching program and provides technical assistance to those accessing our online courses. She has worked with children most of her life- in both child care centers and as an elementary and substitute teacher. Becky enjoys helping children develop a love of learning. She has been with CICC since 2017.
Brenda Lowe
Coach Lead
Brenda Lowe has over 20 years of experience in early childhood. She has served as the director at numerous child care centers, operated her own family child care, and worked as the Director of Family Services at Head Start. She is also a trainer and teaches in higher education. Brenda started at CICC in 2016 as a coach and currently serves as one of our Coach Leads, supporting a team of CICC coaches throughout the state.
Jacy Nylander
Coach Lead
nylander@inclusivechildcare.org
Kara Kuehn
Early Childhood Leadership Development Lead
Kara has worked within the early childhood field for over 25 years as an educator, director, trainer, mentor, and coach. She holds bachelors degrees in both early childhood- and elementary education. Kara is a licensed early childhood educator and holds an Infant Mental Health endorsement through MACMH (MN Association for Children's Mental Health). Currently serving as CICC's Early Childhood Leadership Development Lead, Kara started with us in 2017 as a Relationship Based Professional Development Specialist focused on Infant/Toddler, Health/Safety, and Inclusion. Kara is passionate about supporting leaders throughout the State of Minnesota and advocating for high quality innovative early childhood education.
Susan Ruff
Administrative Assistant
Susan has over 30 years of experience in administration, office management, and customer service. Over the years she has obtained extensive experience in supporting mid and senior-level managers, providing them with consistent clerical support, and maintaining effective and efficient organizational workflow. Susan is also an experienced event planner.
