Member Bios
Meet some of the members of the Child Care Planning Council.
Jessica Borland
Child Care Provider
Member Since: Jan. 2022
Job Title
Coordinator of Child Development Programs
Affiliations
CACEYC
Employment History
I have worked in many different aspects of the child development field. I have been a Nanny, the owner of a family childcare facility, a preschool teacher, a site coordinator, and a director, and I currently oversee UPK and after-school programming for a school district.
Why are you involved in work that supports the well-being of children?
I love watching the development of children and know how important family support is to the well-being of the child. I want to help guide resources and be part of the county's child care conversation.
Nicole Fassold
Member Since: May 2025
Job Title:
Resource & Referral Director
Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County
Employment history
I have been employed with 4Cs for nearly12 years working with families and providers to increase access to quality child care and education. Prior to working at 4Cs I worked for Professional Association for Childhood Education Alternative Payment Program as a Program Supervisor for over ten years where I also focused on serving families and children in Sonoma County including access to child care subsidies and community resources.
Why are you involved in work that supports the well-being of children?
I am passionate about the well being of children and the educators and caregivers that help them reach their potential. Being a part of improving a child or the adults who care and educate them brings me great joy and has shown me that a little help can often make a big difference.
Soledad Figueroa
Discretionary Representative
Member Since: Jan. 2015
Job Title
Executive Director, River to Coast Children’s Services
Employment History
I began working with children and families in 2005 as a Receptionist and Resource and Referral Counselor at River to Coast Children’s Services. Shortly after, I started working in the Case Management Department, where I was able to help the families and children directly. I have also worked as a Child Safety Technician and Office Manager. I recently became the Executive Director. During these past nine years, it has been my pleasure to work with children and make a difference in their lives
Why are you involved in work that supports the well-being of children?
I believe that, as a community, we can support the well-being of children by helping them with resources to meet their needs and providing opportunities.
Lisa Grocott
Discretionary Representative
Member Since: Jan. 2015
Job Title
Director Head Start/Early Head Start, Community Action Partnership of Sonoma County
Affiliations
Board of Directors, Extended Child Care
Board of Directors, California Head Start Association
Employment History
22 years in the field of early care and education, including 18 years at Head Start.
Why are you involved in work that supports the well-being of children?
Children and families are at the core of what makes communities strong. I am passionate about supporting parents as the primary educators of their children and helping them to be advocates for their family. Connections to schools, communities, education, and resources are the foundation of family well-being which in turn benefits our society as a whole.
Kathleen Kelley
Community Representative
Member Since: June 2009
Job Title
Program Manager, Early Learning Institute
Affiliations
First 5 Sonoma ECE Committee
SRJC Child Development Advisory Council
Mentor Selection Committee
Mark West Elementary School Site Council
Employment History
I have worked with young children and families in a variety of settings for over 20 years. My professional career started in Michigan where I gained experience in special day class programs, family child care, and campus lab school settings. I landed in San Francisco after college and taught at the Tenderloin Childcare Center for 6 years. When I moved to Sonoma County in 2000, I left the preschool classroom for early intervention work at the Early Learning Institute. I am currently the program manager for the Behavioral Consultation Project, a program providing consultation to childcare and preschool programs throughout Sonoma County.
Why are you involved in work that supports the well-being of children?
My passion is working with the community to build high quality early care and education programs that are supportive of children, families and teachers.
Jennifer Perez
Public Agency Representative
Member Since: Jan 2023
Job Title
Faculty, Santa Rosa Junior College
Affiliations
Maternal Child and Adolescent Health Council
Employment History
Jennifer holds a Master of Social Work graduate degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development from Fresno State University. Jennifer comes with a diversity of knowledge of both the child development field and social work field. Jennifer has a specialty in children birth to five; with a focus on early attachments, maternal bonding, and postpartum health and wellness. Jennifer’s positions have also included: Teacher/Director positions of programs for preschool-age children; Infant/Toddler Coordinator positions for college lab sites; Adjunct Faculty positions teaching child development and developmental psychology course work for both Fresno City College and Fresno State; and course work for CSU Monterey Bay and Foothill College; Infant Mental Health Consultant for First Five of Fresno County; Program Manager for Head Start and Early Head Start Programs, and Clinical Social Worker/Therapist positions for women, infants, and children in county clinics and residential substance abuse treatment care. And last, but not least Nanny!! (super fun work:) Jennifer parents a sweet girl (who's a recent college graduate:)) along with three fur babies, Sassy the cat, Bia the lab, and Nell Bell the pit-doxie:) Jennifer also loves the Davenport Road House!
Why are you involved in work that supports the well-being of children?
I believe in supporting the Practitioners doing what I call, "the live work". When Practitioners have the skills, training, and support then the overall wellbeing of children is met.
Jason Riggs
Child Care Consumer
Member Since: June 2015
Job Title
Executive Director, Extended Child Care (ECC) Coalition of Sonoma County
Affiliations
California Child Development Administrators Association (CCDAA)
California Afterschool Network (CAN) leadership committee
Employment History
Prior to joining ECC, I was the Region 1 Lead for after school programs at the Mendocino County Office of Education. My prior experience also includes administration of after school programs for the Oakland and San Francisco Unified School Districts.
Why are you involved in work that supports the well-being of children?
I deeply believe that Expanded Learning Programs (before school, after school and summer learning) are a vital part of the education system preparing children and youth for college, career, and community success.
Chris Sorg
Public Agency Representative
Member Since: April 2021
Job Title
Program Planning & Evaluation Analyst-Human Services, Employment & Training, County of Sonoma
Employment History
I currently work for the County of Sonoma, Human Services Department, Employment & Training. For the past 8 years I have worked as an Employment and Training Counselor, Coordinator, and currently as an Analyst for child care and other programs.
Why are you involved in work that supports the well-being of children?
I think this is an opportunity for children to learn, socialize and start building the foundation for successful futures. These are the same reasons that both of my children attended child care prior to kindergarten.
Sonya Valiente
Discretionary Representative
Member Since: Sept. 2015
Job Title
Preschool Director, Sonoma Valley Unified School District, El Verano Preschool
Affiliations
California Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC)
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
Employment History
I have been working at El Verano Preschool as a director for 2.5 years. I was a site supervisor and lead teacher at YWCA’s A Special Place Preschool.
Why are you involved in work that supports the well-being of children?
I want to give children the best Early Childhood quality program and wake up their curiosity in their early years. I want to teach them the tools to be successful in life.
Cathy Vaughn
Child Care Provider
Member Since: Dec. 1991 (Original/Charter Member)
Job Title
Director, Montessori School of Sonoma
Affiliations
EveryChild, California
Montessori Association
A Women’s group
Employment History
I started the Montessori School (licensed for 24 preschoolers) in 1972, renting from a church. In 1984, I built our current facility (licensed for 86 children) that now serves infant, toddler, preschool and after school care children.
Why are you involved in work that supports the well-being of children?
Children make your life important. —Erma Bombeck
Yajuan (Vivian) Xiang
Public Agency Representative
Member Since: November 2021
Job Title
Associate Professor; Sonoma State University
Affiliations
A member of American Educational Research Association
Employment History
Associate Professor at Sonoma State University since 2019; Assistant Professor at University of Southern Indiana from 2014-2019; Adjunct Professor at The State University of New York at Buffalo from 2012-2014; Lead Teacher at Early Childhood Research Center at SUNY at Buffalo from 2008-2013
Why are you involved in work that supports the well-being of children?
It truly takes a village to raise a child. Children and families are at the core of building a strong society. I am passionate about supporting children's well-being and learning through developmentally appropriate, culturally and linguistically sustaining and authentic experiences with a collaboration with families, schools and the community.
Stephen Zollman
Public Agency Representative
Member Since: July 2023
Job Title
Sebastopol Councilmember
Affiliations
Sonoma County Mayors and Councilmembers Association Appointee and Sebastopol Councilmember, Sonoma County Nurse Family Partnership Advisory Board Member, Golden Gate University Master's Counseling Psychology Candidate, Sonoma County Legal Services Foundation Board Member
Employment History
San Francisco Public Defender's Office Juvenile Attorney, Law Offices of Stephen C. Zollman, Minor's Counsel, Domestic Violence
Why are you involved in work that supports the well-being of children?
As a former San Francisco Public Defender Office Juvenile Attorney for many years, I have seen how children whose trauma goes unaddressed and development as well as mental and physical challenges go undiagnosed end up in systems that are ill equipped to help them. Early intervention is key as is developing safe spaces where every child regardless of skin color, sexual orientation, gender identity, differently abled, etc. can be free to experience their full selves.
Melanie Dodson
CCPC Advisor
Council Member: Jan. 2009 - Aug. 2017 | Advisor: Sept. 2017
Job Title
Executive Director, Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County (4Cs) since 2008
Affiliations
Maternal Child and Adolescent Health Board
SRJC Child Development Advisory Board
First 5 Professional Community Advisory Committee
Employment History
4Cs Assistant Executive Director, 2004
4Cs Child Care Resource & Referral Director, 2001
Kenwood School, director of the after-school program
Roseland School District, elementary school teacher
Why are you involved in work that supports the well-being of children?
Early childhood development has always been a personal passion and being the mother of two young children continues to inspire my commitment to the field and our community’s investment in our children.