Faculty

Bridget Ingram
Program Coordinator, Associate Professor
Bridget holds an AAS in child development from the University of Akron, a BS in child development from San Diego State University and a master of education from Ashland University. Much of her graduate work was also completed at the University of San Diego.

Prior to assuming her current role at Clark State, Bridget served as the director and executive director of Grant/Riverside Children's Centers in Columbus where she resides. Her experience also includes serving as master teacher and director at the University of San Diego Child Development Center, as program coordinator and center manager with the US Naval Centers Child Care Programs, lead teacher at the San Diego State University Campus Children's Center, as well as teaching preschool, toddler, infant and school age children for over a decade.

Bridget's hobbies include reading, watching the Food Network and TLC, gardening, shopping, movies and watching the Browns and Buckeyes play football and cheering on the Cavaliers in basketball. She adores the special people in her life: Walter, Cortney, Chelsea and her mom Joyce.  She also shares a home with Spike, her boxer and Scarlet and Graydee her kittens.  Her recent awards include the CSCC 2002 & 2005 Professional Excellence Awards, the SOCHE & NISID Faculty Excellence Awards, Best Practices in Program Assessment and a Distinguished Teacher nomination.  She recently joined the Early Childhood Quality Network team of instructors to present curriculum modules to pre and inservice teachers in Ohio.

As the leader of the program, a priority for Bridget is to assist faculty in raising the standard of quality expected of all ECE students. Another goal is the consistent delivery of content using a variety of methods to meet varying learning styles. "The challenge of finding new ways to teach old material is exciting and fulfilling." Three words that describe her are passionate, insightful and sincere.

Pamela Healy
Assistant Professor
Pam is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a BS in elementary education and of Antioch University McGregor with a master's degree in educational leadership. In addition to teaching at Clark State, she teaches a vast range of in-service classes on current issues in early childhood.  Pam has a passion for teaching and learning, and one cannot resist joining in her excitement as she delivers every compelling lecture.

Pam assists her husband Chuck, senior pastor of Troy Abundant Life Church, in a multitude of tasks in the church. She taught preschool for 14 years at The Creative Learning Center, and prior to that was an instructor at the Montgomery County Board of Mental Retardation for 13 years.

Pam currently coordinates the Early Literacy Certificate and teaches in the newly created Child Development Associate program.  She has developed online courses in early literacy, as well as special needs courses for that degree option.  She was recently named the OAEYC Teacher of the Year in 2002, and also is an instructor for the Early Childhood Quality Network team which presents curriculum modules to pre and inservice teachers throughout Ohio.
Pam and her husband have three daughters, Katie, Elizabeth and Rebecca. Pam is devoted to her church, family and teaching.

Debra Kimble
Adjunct Instructor, Director of the Early Childhood Education Center
Deb is a graduate of Antioch University with a BA in cultural and interdisciplinary studies, teacher education program. She holds current Ohio teaching certificates in grades 1-8, K-3 and Pre-K. She is an alumnus of Clark State, dual majoring in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Education Administration, and holds a master's degree from the University of Dayton in educational leadership.

Deb has been involved in early childhood since she was old enough to "baby-sit," but professionally for over 20 years. She has a wide range of practical and theoretical knowledge of children, gained from operating a state licensed in-home child care center, teaching in non-profit centers for ages 18 months through school-age, teaching third grade in the Dayton Public School system, being the childcare in-serve coordinator at the Springfield Family YMCA, as well as teaching in the Early Childhood Education program at Clark State. Deb is a good resource person who likes to assist students and families.

Deb truly loves her vocation, however her number one priority is family. She is happiest and truly content when surrounded by a houseful of family and beloved friends. Her family includes her husband Steve, daughter Keli, nieces, nephew, dad, mom, step dad, sisters and great nephew.

Deb enjoys boating with family and friends, traveling, reading (Stephen King), craftiness and celebrating nature.

Barbara Yontz
Tech Prep Program Director, Adjunct Faculty
At 12 years of age, Barbara was teaching young children to swim at the local YMCA in Bethlehem PA., and claims that was when she knew she wanted to be a teacher forever.

Barbara was a middle child with an older sister and younger brother. Her mother was a music teacher and her father was a mechanical engineer. She went to Liberty High School in Bethlehem, a very large high school with many opportunities for education and extracurricular activities. She graduated from Kent State University with a degree in health education, physical education and therapeutic recreation. Barb recently completed a master of education degree at the Antioch McGregor College of Education.

Barbara married her college sweetheart in 1974 and settled in his hometown of Springfield, Ohio. She taught physical development at Town and Country Day School and did graduate course work in special education for four years before starting a family.

From 1984-2004 she was the director of Covenant Nursery School. In 1999 a kindergarten class was added to the program, which is now called Covenant Children's Academy. Covenant Children's Academy has been accredited by the NAEYC since 1993. Barb  was the coordinator for Clark State Community College's Outreach to Instructional Aides Project in 2003-2004, and is currently the Director of Tech Prep Programs at Clark State.

Barbara enjoys cross-country skiing, reading, gardening and her family. Barbara and her husband Rick are the parents of a married son and daughter, and the grandmother of three year old Claire.

Deborah Mickey
Early Language and Literacy Specialist, Adjunct Faculty
As the oldest of four children and the daughter of a teacher, teaching seemed like the natural career choice for Deborah Mickey. She cannot recall a time when she did not want to be a teacher and spent many fun hours playing “school” while growing up. Debbie tutored younger students while in middle school and earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education in 1981.

After she married her husband, Jim Mickey, in 1978, Debbie finished that degree and taught part-time in the Milford, Ohio, School district for three years. She opted to stay at home and raise their two sons, Jamie and Chris, both now in college (and planning to become teachers). After the family moved to Springboro, Ohio, in 1985, Debbie provided home child care to four families, volunteered in her son’s school, was a Cub Scout leader and a team mom for various sports teams. In 1991, Debbie became a preschool teacher and in 1994, became a director. In 1995, she became the director of a new facility, The Day Academy Preschool and Daycare and remained as administrator until coming to Clark State in June of 2004.

After several years of directing, Debbie started her own side business providing in-service training for early childhood professionals in 2002. She believes that well trained early childhood educators are the key to providing the best early learning experiences for young children. Debbie received a master of arts in education at Wittenberg University and plans to continue to focus on pre-service teacher preparation.

Debbie’s job as the early language and literacy specialist (ELLS) is part of a state-wide initiative to help early childhood educators of all educational background implement the new state of Ohio Early Learning Content Standards for English and Language Arts. Debbie, along with ELLS based at nine other community colleges will provide courses and mentoring for early childhood professionals with an eye to improving the literacy of our young children. She will also assist the other ECE instructors with observations of students, acting as a resource for students and teaching some classes. Debbie is a proud mother and grandmother.

Sherry Chen
Adjunct Faculty
Sherry feels strongly about improving the ways in which our culture interacts with children. As an instructor at Clark State, Sherry will be able to impact the lives of children by touching the lives of those who touch the lives of our children.

Her full-time job is as a pediatric occupational therapist in the public school system. She has been a Montessori-trained preschool teacher, an early intervention specialist and a home care therapist. Sherry has worked in private schools, MM/DD schools and public schools. Although her work has been primarily with children with disabilities, she has worked with typical children as well. "I have learned from children in every setting and continue to learn from them. I firmly believe that children are our best teachers."

Sherry is married and has four sons, two young adults, ages 24 and 20, and seven year old twins. She has a strong interest in environmental concerns and is happiest when she interacts with nature, the outdoors and her family on their farm.