Sonja Bracey, Registry Manager
Sonja Bracey is passionate about systems. As an adult learner, Sonja was the first in her family to obtain a bachelors degree and understands the importance of continuing education, no matter the age or perceived barriers. Prior to her years of rewarding work helping students from 7 area high schools become the first in their families to graduate from college, Sonja held various positions in the information technology field. This provided her with the opportunity to travel the country to install point of sale software systems in restaurants at premier resorts and create & conduct targeted training for novice, intermediate & experienced users. Sonja loves working with people and data, creating reports and writing documentation including user manuals, helpdesk reference guides, project management and business process diagrams and has never met a problem Excel couldn’t solve. Her ability to create and foster professional relationships combined with her knack of seeing the big picture while attending diligently to details mesh well with the functions of the registry team.
Ammie Collins, Resource Advisor
Ammie is passionate about helping others reach their goals, whether it be educational, career, or personal. She takes pleasure in mentoring professionals as they make their journey through the field of early childhood education. Prior to coming to Northern Lights, Ammie operated a registered and licensed home child care program for 26 years, working directly with children ages infant through school age. She holds an AS in Early Childhood Education and the Vermont Program Director Credential. Additionally, she brings with her a vast knowledge of home-based family child care. In her free time, she enjoys camping, vacationing in Florida, and spending time with her family, especially her 4 grandchildren.
Laura Dailey, Records Specialist
Laura is passionate about learning and sharing knowledge. Prior to joining Northern Lights, she was an Assistant Town Clerk in Woodbury, learning new systems and software and teaching other town officials. She managed the website, worked for the town select board and did several special projects, in addition to handling public records. Laura has worked in many customer service and office roles, earning an Office Technology program certificate from Randolph Vocational Center while employed in the school office. She holds an A.S. from CCV in Accounting and is enrolled in another degree program at this time with CCV. Laura also attended yearly conferences with the Municipal Clerks Association and multiple record retention trainings over the years. Laura was offered a position within an embedded mentoring program two years ago at CCV in Montpelier in addition to tutoring students in the learning center. She has worked in various roles within CCV, covering the office staff, proctoring exams, and teaching Canvas to other students. She also designed and implemented an art journaling workshop for students and community members and hosted it at CCV. As a result, she was named as a Leadership Scholarship recipient. She is a mother of three, a “Mee-ma” to two, a wife, daughter, sibling, life-long student, and a homesteader. She enjoys foraging in the wilds of Vermont, hunting, fishing, canning, cooking and all art. She has a small farm with animals and vegetables and enjoys teaching and providing for loved ones and friends.
Elise Doner, Resource Advisor
Elise Doner is passionate about encouraging people to reach their goals! Elise holds a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education from Champlain College. She enjoys educational research and has published an article about transition planning with families in Childcare Exchange Magazine. Elise has worked in early education for over 30 years, teaching pre-k in center-based programs, public pre-k, Head Start, Early Childhood Special Education and Early Intervention. Elise spent her early career bringing the joy of dance and creative movement paired with literacy to childcare programs, libraries and after school programs. She enjoys seeing the children she once taught as 3 years olds, now all grown up, when she goes out into the world!
Tia Fotion, Resource Advisor
Tia Fotion is passionate about helping others! She enjoys building relationships with individuals and families she works with, meeting them where they are at and helping them reach their goals. Tia joins Northern Lights from 25+ years working with young children and their families, most recently in a Parent Child Center setting. She started her journey in ECE working with infants and toddlers, then preschoolers, including a Montessori school. Tia holds a bachelor of science degree in family studies, with a concentration in early education at The University of New Hampshire. She enjoys walks with her dog and spending time with family and friends in her free time.
Becky Millard, Director
Becky is passionate about systems! Throughout her career, she’s served in a variety of roles that benefit the lives of children and families. Becky worked in the greater Boston area as a preschool teacher, music teacher, preschool director, and eventually as director of child care programming for a YMCA in Newton, MA. Since moving to Vermont in 2009, she has served in several leadership roles including four years as regional coordinator for Central Vermont Building Bright Futures. Becky received her undergraduate degrees in psychology and music from Smith College and her master of education degree in early childhood education and creative arts in learning from Lesley University. She holds a certificate in nonprofit management from Marlboro College Graduate School and was a member of the inaugural class of the Snelling Center for Government Early Childhood Leadership Institute. In her free time, Becky enjoys working on projects with many local theatre companies.
Tiffany Miller, Records Specialist
Tiffany is passionate about helping people achieve their goals. Prior to joining the Northern Lights team she worked as a records specialist for a local insurance company and was a recording secretary for Washington County School boards. Tiffany has had the opportunity to live in and travel to many places throughout the country, growing up as she self describes, a “military brat”. Her mother, an educator, taught her the love of learning and supporting education. Tiffany holds a bachelors degree in history, and claims she’ll finish her master’s “one day”. Currently she spends most of her time with her three children, traveling, and crafting.
Deb Norris, Senior Administrative Assistant
Deb is passionate about helping people grow and learn! She has spent the majority of her professional career doing just that in various roles whether as a teacher in a toddler classroom or afterschool program, assisting families in navigating the financial aid process in order to secure grants, scholarships, and loans for college or most recently planning and executing diversity recruitment and yield events for UVM admissions. Deb holds a B.S. degree in Psychology focusing on developmental psychology in particular. She’s excited to be part of the Northern Lights at CCV team assisting them in their work with early childhood and afterschool professionals – a field that has always been close to Deb’s heart as a professional and now as a parent too. Deb was born and raised in Vermont and currently resides in Colchester with her spouse, two kids, cat, and dog. She enjoys being outside especially in the summer and taking spin classes at the gym. You can often find Deb on the side lines of a soccer field watching her two boys play or at a track and field meet watching her kiddos run and jump.
Benj Rackliffe, Records Specialist
Benjamin is passionate about education. His experience focuses on combining hands-on work with more formal education, whether it be working with UVM’s agricultural extension office in Montpelier or tutoring sustainable agriculture students at Green Mountain College. Before joining Northern Lights Benjamin was part of Middlebury College’s Human Resources team where he developed a knack for data entry and working with educators. Whether out in the field digging carrots or behind a desk managing spreadsheets, Benjamin likes methodical work and working with a close-knit team. He enjoys being out on the water, especially on his family’s catamaran Twin Sisters.
Brendan Rooney, Senior Administrative Assistant
After spending the better part of a decade in Early Childhood Education, Brendan is excited to be a part of Northern Lights at CCV, where he helps teachers gain access to high quality professional development. Brendan holds an B.A. in Anthropology from Purchase College, with a concentration in ethnomusicology. Brendan has lived with his partner in VT since 2018, and now lives in the Burlington area, where he is an active part of the local music scene. He enjoys exploring the natural beauty of Vermont, and especially enjoys biking and roller-skating along the waterfront.
Joanne Rouleau, Resource Advisor
With thirty years’ experience as an educator, Joanne cultivates a focus on leadership and mentoring. She holds a master of education degree from Trinity College and a bachelor of elementary education from the University of Vermont. Her background includes seven years’ focus on early education, working in infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms. Her direct service background in both center-based programs and elementary schools paired with her experience mentoring others is a terrific foundation for her work as a Resource Advisor with Northern Lights at CCV. In her free time, Joanne enjoys outdoor adventures in the mountains and on the water.
Amelia Struthers, Resource Advisor
Amelia is a passionate advocate for early childhood and afterschool professionals. She has more than thirty years of experience working with children, families, and professionals. Amelia has taught and directed preschool, elementary, and afterschool programs; taught and directed children’s theatre; and is a highly qualified adult instructor including work as faculty at CCV. She holds a B.S. and M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College. Amelia is also an award-winning children’s musician and storyteller, improv comedian, performance artist and plays in a singer/songwriting duo with her husband.
Adri Taylo-Behrman, Resource Advisor
Adri is passionate about helping people find their ideal professional pathway. Prior to joining the Northern Lights at CCV team, she worked as outreach coordinator for the Vermont Child Care Industry and Careers Council (VCCICC). She is eager to continue working with early childhood and afterschool professionals, including those seeking non-traditional pathways toward degrees and credentials. Adri is a CCV alumna, earning her associate degree in Early Childhood Education followed by a bachelor of Liberal Arts from degree from Johnson State College’s External Degree Program. She has deep experience balancing work, school, and family commitments and is thrilled to bring her knowledge and experience to the Northern Lights team. Adri moved to Vermont 24 years ago and enjoys spending time outside, and playing ping pong.