tiny-k Alliance Board of Directors
Kelly Frantz-Langford, MS Ed., IME®-II
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Kelly is the Assistant Director and the tiny-k Coordinator for TARC Children’s Services. Kelly has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Education - Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Kansas.She has the Level II - Infant Mental Health Endorsement (IME®-II) from the Kansas Association for Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health (KAIMH). Kelly has additional graduate hours in Autism Spectrum Disorders and is a part of TARC’s Autism Diagnostic Team. She has been working with children, families, and programs for over 13 years.
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Teran Frick
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Teran Frick earned her bachelor's and master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education from Kansas State University -- Go Cats! Before coming to early intervention, she spent a long time in the classroom with infants and toddlers at K-State and at the University of Kansas. While a student, Teran had the opportunity to travel abroad several times and study education in Scotland and Hungary. Teran is currently a provider and the coordinator for PWITS in Wamego, where working with families and her team has been so fantastic!
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Carrie Grosdidier, OTR
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Peggy Kemp
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Peggy is the Executive Director of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC), Peggy Kemp is a recognized leader and tireless advocate devoted to quality services to families of young children with disabilities and the professionals who serve them.
Previously, Peggy was involved in a variety of early childhood initiatives in Kansas -including serving as a member of the state leadership team for the Kansas State Systemic Improvement plan (SSIP), a member of the original Kansas Early Learning Standards development team, lead team member for the Primary Service Provider Initiative and co-author of the Kansas Early Years online training modules. Peggy most recently served as statewide technical assistance provider for the Kansas early intervention programs through her position at the University of Kansas, Kansas Inservice Training System (KITS). Prior to her time at KITS, Peggy served as Kansas Part C Coordinator, local Part C program director, early intervention teacher and early childhood teacher. Peggy spent the early years of her career within the military childcare system serving in various capacities including teacher, education specialist, assistant director and center director. |
Monica Ross
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Monica graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2000 with a Master of Science degree in Speech-Language Pathology and from Pittsburg State University in 2018 with her Masters of Science in Educational Leadership. She worked in Virginia for three years as a pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist before moving to Kansas in 2003 and starting at Infant Toddler Services of Johnson County (ITSJC). Since 2003, Monica has worked at ITSJC in various capacities including Speech-Language Pathologist, Team Evaluator/Intake Coordinator, Assistant Director and in 2018 became the Program Director. Monica has presented at the Kansas Division of Early Childhood (KDEC), the Division of Early Childhood National Conference, and at the Alabama Early Childhood State Conference on various topics related to early intervention. She is certified in Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) for Young Children with Autism and Hanen’s More Than Words program. These programs support children under the age of 5 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders to increase social communication, imitation and play skills. Monica serves on the Kansas Coordinating Council for Early Childhood (SICC) and the tiny-k Alliance Board of Directors. Outside of work, Monica enjoys spending time with her daughters, officiating basketball and volleyball, hiking with her dogs, and reading.
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Rachel Raydo
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Rachel Raydo, bio coming soon!
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Susan Harsh
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Susan graduated with bachelor’s degrees in social work and family and child development from Kansas State in 1982. She completed her master’s in social work at Washburn University in 2000. Susan worked in mental health, long term care and public health, prior to beginning her work in early childhood. She has worked at Rainbows United since 1993, first as a site social worker in Wichita, and since 1997 as the coordinator for Rainbows, Bright Beginnings in Butler County. Susan is married to Bob, and has two children, Baylie and Abby. So far, she is a boy grandma. She has learned a lot about Marvel characters, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and she loves hanging out with her 4 grandsons whenever she can. Susan enjoys cross stitching, gardening and football. She cheers for the K-State Wildcats and Kansas City Chiefs!
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Sara Biggs
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Sara is the Director of Programs and Services at Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas where she oversees Employment Services, Nursing, Family Services and Custom Creations.
Beginning her 23 years at DSNWK in direct service, Sara moved up the career ladder as a Individual Service Coordinator and now as a Director where she supervises more than 80 staff members throughout the 18 counties of northwest Kansas. Born and raised in Phillipsburg Kansas, Sara attended Phillipsburg High School and moved to Hays Kansas where she graduated from Fort Hays State University with a major in Psychology and a minor in Criminal Justice. As a long time resident of Hays, Sara and her husband Barrett are very active in the community, and especially in the lives of their three daughters who participate in dance and soccer. Sara is grounded in the roots of northwest Kansas values and has dedicated her life to service. She takes great pride in having dedicated her life for the betterment of services for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. |
Erica Walsh
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Erica Walsh, bio coming soon!
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Jennifer Oborny
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Jennifer has been involved in Early Childhood Education, including Part B and Part C programming for 25 years. Currently, she is Part B/Part C ECSE provider for Northwest Kansas Educational Service Center, Oakley, KS. She was previously the Coordinator of Infant Toddler Services at Hays Area Children's Center, Hays, KS. She has been involved with KDEC serving on the Board and was on the State Interagency Coordinating Council. She enjoys working with families of young children with developmental disabilities. She enjoys empowering families to advocate for their child and helping connect families with services within the state of Kansas.
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Lori Soo Hoo
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Lori is the Coordinator, ECSE teacher and Family Service Coordinator for Infant-Toddler Services in Marion County. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education K-9 from Tabor College. While at Tabor, she also completed additional endorsements in Special Education Interrelated K-9 and Early Childhood Special Education through ACCK. She has been working in the field of early childhood since January 2001. Prior to joining the Infant-Toddler Team in Marion County in 2017, she had worked with the Harvey County Special Education Cooperative as an ECSE 3-5 teacher and with Marion County Parents as Teachers as the Coordinator and an educator. She also has a passion for using music as a teaching, connecting
and engagement tool with children and their families. In 2005, she was trained in Musikgarten and has periodically led music and movement classes for various groups in Marion County and Chase County. She lives in Hillsboro with her husband and her two children. She enjoys spending her free time with her family, serving in her local church through the nursery ministry and worship board and participating on the Families and Communities Together Board. |
Liz Stone
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Liz Stone, bio coming soon!
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Jenny Brase
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Jenny is a Technical Assistance provider working for Kansas Inservice Training System (KITS). For her job she supports multiple Tiny K programs across the state of Kansas by providing assistance and training to them. Prior to joining the KITS team, Jenny spent 22 years working for early intervention programs, both Part B and Part C, in Kansas. In addition to her job, she is currently on the Kansas Division of Early Childhood, KDEC, board serving as the Vice President.
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