Alejandra (Ale) comes from a family of Early Educators. Ale’s mother worked with the Head Start program, and has been a 6th grade teacher for over 15 years. Two of her sisters were Owners and Directors of their own preschools, and another sister was the Director of an infant/toddler center in Rawlins, WY.
Before moving back to our area, Ale spent her summers in Rawlins, WY where she began her career in Early Childhood Education by working at her older sister’s preschool.
When Ale turned 21, she moved to Saratoga, WY where she helped open a brand new preschool and child care facility.
Over the four years she spent as Assistant Director/Infant and Toddler Director of for Tomorrow’s Promise Saratoga (later Little Wonders Learning Center), she worked closely with her Director to create an infant/toddler program from the ground up incorporating elements of the best current curriculums and classroom management programs including Handwriting Without Tears, Conscious Discipline, Love and Logic and focused on both Montessori and Reggio Emilia approaches. They were a play based and student centered learning center.
As the Assistant Director of those facilities, Ale gained valuable experience working with children in all age groups as well as day-to-day management of a child care center.
Ale recently moved back to her home town of Green River, WY to marry her high school sweetheart and begin a family of their own.
As Director of Play And Learn School of Wyoming, Ale draws on her background and experience to provide our families the best child care and make learning fun for everyone.
“I come from a very large family so I have always been surrounded by kids. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to work with children in some way. My biggest dream as a child was to be a Pediatrician however as I got older I started looking for other jobs that would still involve children in some aspect that was not in the medical field.”
“My mother and my sisters helped me realize that my heart and passion is in early education. In the four years I was in Saratoga my passion for children grew more than I could ever have imagined.”
“The facility I worked in allowed me to learn more about early education then I realized I could. We taught sign language, English, Spanish and focused heavily on social and emotional health and regulation.”
“I plan to incorporate all that I learned in Saratoga and so much more to the curriculum and every day learning at PALS. I am so excited to be able to create a loving, fun and educational environment for all of the kids that will be attending our program and am looking forward to growing as an early educator and Director.”
Moneasha Gold- Lead Teacher / Assistant Director
A wife, mother, bonus mother, and grandmother who grew up in The Uintah Basin of Utah (Roosevelt/Vernal area), Moneasha knew from a young age that she wanted to be in early childhood education. She started babysitting when she was 12 years old. In high school, she took classes geared toward Early Childhood Education and dreamed of opening her own daycare facility.
At the age of 18, she was called to the nursery of a church she was attending and thereafter always looked forward to Sundays so she could be with the kids.
When she turned 19, Moneasha moved to Texas, where she fell in love, got married, and started a family of her own. During that time, she again found herself in the church nursery on Sundays while parents had their choir practice.
Eventually, Moneasha made her way back to Utah and went into the Medical field as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. Then in 2017, she moved to Rock Springs, remarried, and started a new life in our community working for the School District in the Alternatives Academics Program, where she stayed for 3 years.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Moneasha took a year off to supervise her youngest son and a friend’s 2 daughters doing homeschooling. She also enjoyed incorporating arts/crafts and cooking/baking along with their computer and book work.
“My passion to be a facilitator in children’s education has been reawakened and I am excited to have the opportunity to be a part of your children’s lives!”
Rachel Mason – Assistant Director, Infant Care
Rachel is a recent graduate of Rock Springs High School, where she took classes geared toward Early Childhood Education. Her career in child care began when she started watching her little brothers at the age of 13, and then moved on to providing infant and toddler care at a Child Care Center in Rock Springs. She enjoys working with children of all ages.
Rachel loves taking kids outside to play. She also enjoys cooking, coloring, and taking her dog on walks. During the colder months she does themed crafts that focus on a certain holiday or event
“I enjoy working with children because I love to see how each individual child grows and learns in their own different way.”
Janae Mulinix – Lead Teacher
Janae has lived in the Green River/Rock Springs area all her life, where she was home schooled and later attended college at WWCC and Colorado Technical University. She has many years’ experience in childcare, first working in a Child Care Center in the early 2000’s, then owning and running her own in-home child care facility from 2005-2009.
Janae has always loved children, although she was never able to have any of her own. Besides working at PALS, she also teaches piano.
“Watching children experience things that are new is something that is so much fun and, seeing that ‘ah-ha’ moment!”
Monique Bruce
Monique is a colorful person who loves learning new things. She loves to paint, color, and draw. When she’s not enjoying art, she can be found reading or spending time with her family.
Monique has spent much of her life around children, babysitting neighbor’s kids on weekends or helping her friends with their children. She continues to help with her nephew when she can, and loves making him laugh. Having family members who are hard of hearing, Monique acquired some skills in American Sign Language (ASL).
“Working with kids is my dream job as I can watch kids grow into beautiful people. When I was in Junior high school I was a teacher’s assistant for the special education class and I loved helping the kids understand what they were working on and seeing the lightbulb go on when they finally understand.”
Joslyn Dimick
Joslyn was born and raised in Rock Springs. She is a new mother herself, and has been working with children most of her life babysitting for her aunt and her sister, as well as others.
Joslyn loves music and art, and believes these are important for children to learn as well.
“Growing up, I always knew I wanted to work with children. Watching each child learn and grow from when you first meet them is a real accomplishment. I am very excited to be able to have the opportunity to help teach these kids.”
Maryann (Annie) Wright
Maryann (Annie) Wright has lived in Green River/Rock Springs her entire life. As a new mother herself, she has always looked forward to being involved in childcare. After graduating high school, she enrolled in college and finished her first semester in Early Childhood Education.
Maryann comes from a very large family where her brothers and sisters are roughly a year and a half apart, and she has multiple bonus siblings as well!
“What I love most about children is being involved in their creativity. They are growing minds full of curiosity and creativity and I like being a part of that and watching them discover themselves. As a new mom being able to shape her individually and the young minds of her generation and those to come has been my passion. “
Livia (Liv) O’Hurley
Livia (Liv) came to the Unites States at a young age after being adopted from Russia, and has lived in Wyoming for the last 5 years. Liv loves to spend time outdoors exploring all that our state has to offer, from fishing and hunting, to riding on her side by side or playing with her fur babies (she has 2 German Shepherds and a miniature poodle who are spoiled beyond measure)!
Being the oldest of 4 girls in her family, Liv has been around children most of her life. Besides growing up with and caring for her sisters, Liv also spent her time babysitting the neighborhood kids and helping friends with their children.
“I love working with children because I feel like they always have something to teach us and have a magical and unique way of looking at the world that we as adults sometimes tend to forget. I look forward to expanding my career and knowledge in childcare and seeing where this adventure takes me! “