Our Early Education Specialists
Lead Teachers
Kim Parker arrived in Jackson Hole Wyoming in 1989 for “one ski season”. One ski season quickly became one summer season and then another ski season and the rest is history. Kim spent the first 4 years of her career in Jackson Hole as a lead teacher at a local childcare program, a substitute teacher for the Teton County School District and nanny-ing for local families. In1993 Kim settled in as the head early childhood educator and program director at Pumpkin Patch Preschool. She added a Summer Camp program that quickly became a popular summer option for both local residents and guests to Teton County. For three decades, Kim has been a leader in early childhood best practices servicing hundreds of preschoolers. Developmentally appropriate activities are the foundation of the curriculum she has cultivated. Kim has mentored other teachers and early education entrepreneurs, setting them up for success in their own classrooms and programs. Her current and previous volunteer work includes Girl Scout Leader for two troops, Elementary School room mother, Lacrosse Manager, Skating Club of Jackson Hole board, Wyoming Early Childhood Association regional representative, Teton County Childcare Association and the Board of Director’s for The Old Wilson Schoolhouse Community in Wilson. Kim grew up in Vermont and has two adult daughters. She lives in Jackson, WY with her husband.
Owner / Lead Teacher - Pumpkins
Kim Parker
Valerie’s career began at the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts (CAPA) where she served as the Director of Public Relations. While devoting most of her time to raising three children, Henry, Mary Grace and Norman Peter, Valerie also continued consulting with such organizations as the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Unique Lives and Experiences and the Upper Arlington School District. As the children grew, Valerie returned to more ful- time work with the Capital Crossroads and Discovery Special Improvement Districts.
Upon moving to Jackson, Valerie served as the Marketing Director for the Art Association of Jackson Hole before becoming a substitute teacher in the Teton County School District. For the past 7+ years, Valerie has continued to pursue her passion for teaching children as a Preschool Teacher at Pumpkin Patch in Wilson. In the community, she has donated her time to the Jackson Hole Lacrosse Club, Bronc Backers, and the Jackson Hole Cupboard.
Lead Teacher - Blossoms
Valerie Goettler
Betsy Carlin, MS-ECS spent the first 25 years of her career as a public school teacher and an early childhood program administrator. Since 2012 she has split her time as an on the floor teacher/facilitator in a toddler classroom at Pumpkin Patch Preschool and as an advocate for equitable programs and systems for young children and their families. This combination allows her to have fresh stories from her classroom to share as she works to promote the need for high quality, affordable, and accessible programs for all children and families. She is a dedicated volunteer leader with experience on multiple boards of directors, including The Children’s Learning Center in Teton and Sublette Counties, Wyoming; the Wyoming Early Childhood Association; chair of the Nation Association for the Education of Young Children Affiliate Council, as well as the boards of Womentum and the Off Square Theater Company both in Teton County WY. She has also served as an elected Teton County School Board Trustee for over 7 years. Betsy grew up in Ohio and now resides with her family in Wilson, WY where she loves to hike, bike, and ski.
Lead Teacher - Sprouts
Betsy Carlin
Owner / Lead Teacher - Pumpkins
Kim Parker
Support Teachers
Karen is a movement artist with over 25 years of dance experience who has been designing arts-integrated children's movement classes for over 25 years. She currently reaches over 90 children weekly through a variety of creative dance classes in preschools throughout Jackson Hole. Karen has presented her work at national and regional early childhood education and dance conferences. Karen holds an undergraduate degree in Architecture and a Master of Science in Dance, and her diverse background informs her multidisciplinary, arts-based approach to education.
Support Teacher / Movement Artist
Karen Hogan
Eliza, from Riverside, Connecticut. She’s a recent graduate of St. Lawrence University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Education, and Spanish. She’s passionate about working with young children and loves creating a fun, nurturing environment where kids can learn, explore, and grow.
When she’s not in the classroom, Eliza enjoys hiking, skiing, swimming, sailing, and playing tennis. Eliza grew up ski racing in Vermont and was a collegiate lacrosse player. Spending time outdoors is one of her favorite activities, and she loves sharing that adventure with the children she teaches. Now living in Jackson year-round, she’s excited to be part of the community and looks forward to making a positive impact on the lives of the kids she works with.
Support Teacher
Eliza Keller
Annie was from Wisconsin and got her BA in Geography and a certificate in Environmental science from the University of Wisconsin Madison.
She moved west for the summer of 1989 to work in Yellowstone and fell in love with the area. Eventually Annie moved to the valley and have been here for more than 32 years! She was a nanny for several families until she started teaching preschool in 2008. Annie also coached gymnastics starting from a young age of 12 years old and continue to still coach today. Annie absolutely love children. She also own Annie’s Gardens and Caretaking, which she does in the warmer months of the year.
Support Teacher
Annie McInnes
Maggie grew up in Minnesota and graduated from The University of Minnesota Morris with a BA in biology. In 2009 she moved to Jackson for “1 winter” and fell in love with the community and beautiful mountains. She has been teaching preschool since 2014. In the winter she turns into a ski instructor at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort where she has been instructing children to ski since 2012. She loves working with young children in and out of the traditional classroom.
She is proud to be a volunteer EMT/firefighter with Jackson Hole Fire/EMS. In her free time she loves seeing live music, especially bluegrass. She also enjoys snowboarding, skiing, and riding her e-bike
Support Teacher
Maggie Stewart
Support Teacher
Liza Kimmel
Support Teacher
Jen Nissenberg
Support Teacher
Jackie Zinke
Support Teacher
Lindsay Brandenburg
Support Teacher
Patrice Kangas
Admin Assistant
Jennifer Houston
Summer Counselors
JHHS Work Base Intern
Lindsey Dufault
My extracurriculars are my Book Club at the Senior Center of Jackson Hole; Jackson Hole Sexual Assault Response Team; Student Representative, Varsity Soccer, Model United Nations, National Honor Society, and Spark magazine at the Jackson Hole High School
Summer Counselor
Lucy MacCauley
Summer Counselor
Cake Mercury
Summer Counselor
Madi Moore
Jackson Hole High School (JHHS) Work Base Interns
My extracurriculars are my Book Club at the Senior Center of Jackson Hole; Jackson Hole Sexual Assault Response Team; Student Representative, Varsity Soccer, Model United Nations, National Honor Society, and Spark magazine at the Jackson Hole High School
JHHS Work Base Intern
Lindsey Dufault
JHHS Work Base Intern
Lucy MacCauley