Board of Directors
rcboard@redcaboosechildcare.org
Phil O’Leary
Board Treasurer
I currently operate my family farm in Rock County Wisconsin and am an emeritus University of Wisconsin-Madison engineering professor. I am an agricultural and environmental engineer. As Engineering Professional Development chair, I coordinated outreach programs across a wide range of engineering disciplines. I also created and directed, Camp Badger Engineering Summer Program, a large middle school experiential leaning initiative.
Audrey Conn
Board Secretary
KC Gilbertson
Board Member
I have a social work degree and have been working with children and families for many years including as a Site Supervisor and Camp Director with Red Caboose since 2008.
Cheryl Heiman
Board Member
I have been a teacher with Red Caboose since 1974 and have been the Lead Teacher in the Turtle Room for most of those years. Things have changed over the years, but our commitment to providing exceptional care and early childhood education continues.
Stefania Hoffman
Board Member
I’m a current Red Caboose parent, whose family moved to Madison in summer of 2020. I have spent my career working for various educational and leadership nonprofit organizations and am now at the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association. I’m happy to be serving on the Board, supporting a well-established organization that is seen as a leader in childcare.
Chris Sewell
Board Member
Leadership Team
Lisa Fiala
Executive Director
I have been with Red Caboose for many years in various roles including School Age Program Director, Executive Director and now Project Administrator. I am excited to be working on Red Caboose’s new facility project and our New Tracks Capital Campaign to make it happen.
Wendy Rakower
Director Emeritus
emeritus@redcaboosechildcare.org
I served as the Executive Director at Red Caboose for many years. I am grateful to continue to support Red Caboose’s development efforts.
Ashlee Causey
Preschool Program Director, Board Member (non-voting)
I’m excited to join the Red Caboose Family! I’ve worked in Early Childhood Education for the past 11 years as a teacher. I’m originally from Southern California and received my Bachelor of Science in Child Development from Fresno State. I’ve always been passionate about working with children, families, and colleagues who share that same passion. I believe in order to create a safe and fun space for children to flourish, staff must feel the same! This is the environment I hope to cultivate with all of you!
Laura Rogers
School-Age Program Director, Board Member (non-voting)
school.age@redcaboosechildcare.org
I am the School Age Program Director. I have been working with school age children since 2005. In 2012 I earned a master’s degree in Nonprofit Management and Leadership. I was also a Peace Corps volunteer in Romania.
Administrative Team
Jennifer Roughen
Billing Coordinator
billing@redcaboosechildcare.org
Joining the administrative team at Red Caboose is an opportunity to combine my accounting experience and my child care experience. I am also utilizing my childcare nutrition experience to support our Nutrition Program. I am looking forward to working with and supporting all of our Red Caboose families.
Beth Feeney
Enrollment Coordinator
sapenroll@redcaboosechildcare.org
I am a Madison native who recently moved back from Los Angeles with my daughter. I have a degree in Secondary Education from UW-Whitewater, and have been working with youth of all ages for over 12 years in various capacities and regions of the country, including Brooklyn, NY and San Diego, CA.
Nutrition Program
Kaylidh Gunnon
Nutrition Coordinator
My family and I relocated to Madison from Colorado high country. I have been in the culinary industry for over 10 years and am a professionally trained chef with specialties in French and wellness cuisine. I’m excited to merge my cooking career with being a mother and cooking at Red Caboose while growing with this community.
Preschool Program Teams
Turtle Room Team
Cheryl Heiman
Turtle Room (11-24 mo.) Lead Teacher, Board Member
turtles@redcaboosechildcare.org
I have been a teacher with Red Caboose since 1974 and have been the Lead Teacher in the Turtle Room for most of those years. Things have changed over the years, but our commitment to providing exceptional care and early childhood education continues.
Kathy Barkus
Turtle Room (11-24 mo.) Teacher
I have over 25 years of experience in Early Childhood Education. I am fortunate to have worked with a vast and diverse population of children over the years. I earned an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education and graduated with high academic honors.
Morgan Cutler
Turtle Room (11-24 mo.) Teacher
I have been working in the early childcare field for a few years. I recently graduated from Madison College with an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. A couple of years ago I got recommended to come and work at Red Caboose, and I have been here ever since.
Elephant Room Team
Katie Draeving
Elephant Room (2-3 yrs.) Lead Teacher
elephants@redcaboosechildcare.org
I have been working with children for over 20 years and have been with Red Caboose since 2015. I enjoy craft projects and hobbies like sewing
Ida Brown
Elephant Room (2-3 yrs.) Teacher
I have been working with children in an early childhood education setting for five years. I like to interact and play with the children both indoors and outdoors. I was born in Milwaukee, and grew up in Madison. I love Red Caboose! I am excited to be part of a team where everybody is so warm and welcoming.
Bumblebee Room Team
Heidi Schaaf
Bumblebee Room (3-4 yrs.) Lead Teacher
bumblebees@redcaboosechildcare.org
I have been in the field since 1999 and started at Red Caboose in 2002. In 2007, I left to spend time raising a child and worked at another center here in Madison. I returned to Red Caboose in June of 2020. I continue to study Early Childhood Education (ECE) at UW Milwaukee’s School of Education, where I most recently earned the Leadership Credential.
Jane McCarthy
Bumblebee Room (3-4 yrs.) Teacher
I have fifteen years of experience as a stay-at-home mother of four and ten years of experience working with children in a childcare program within a health and fitness center. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and hold a Wisconsin Preschool Lead Teacher certification. I am excited to be part of the team at Red Caboose and work with the children in the Bumblebee classroom.
Dionna Blathers
Bumblebee Room (3-4 yrs.) Assistant Teacher
I developed a love for teaching from my sixth grade teacher, Ms. Lindburg at Sennet Middle School, who showed me a love for learning which turned into a love for teaching. Years later I was honored to be an assistant special education teacher with MMSD. I am the mother of three wonderful children and two adorable fur babies. I am engaged to a great man who’s very supportive and eager to see where this new journey takes me. I can’t wait to get to know my new Red Caboose family, including children, parents, and staff. Stop by the Bumblebee room and say hello!
Grasshopper Room Team
Leigh Szuch
Grasshopper Room (4-5 yrs.) Teacher
I have been an early childhood educator for over twenty-eight years! For seventeen of those years I was a Teacher in the Grasshopper Room here at Red Caboose and am very excited to return. Every day there are new things to discover about this world, inside the classroom and outside. I get to really know each child in my care, mostly by using my sense of humor, knowledge of art, and by really listening to the kids. There’s no other job like it, and nowhere I’d rather be!
Tyler Lane
Teacher
Amy Flinn
4K LT Sub
School Age Program Teams
Lapham After School Program Team
Sydney Warwood
Lapham After School Site Supervisor
lapham@redcaboosechildcare.org
I have been part of Red Caboose since 2018. I am most proud of the variety of my work with kids for the past 8 years, ranging from lead teacher at an accredited daycare to substitute teaching at all grade levels. I earned a Bachelors in Education from University of Montana-Missoula, and happy to be living in Madison now! My mission as a supervisor and in my work with kids is to treat everyone with respect and care, and to ensure that everyone is included and celebrated in our community.
Freida Escamilla
Lapham After School Assistant Teacher
I started working the the children and families at Red Caboose back in November of 2021. This is my first position working with school age children and Red Caboose is a great place to learn new skills from the experienced staff here.
Haley Roughen
Lapham After School Teacher, AM Center Float Staff
I am excited to join the team at Red Caboose and work with the students at Lapham. I have completed Assistant Teacher early childhood coursework and worked with children for one year at a childcare center in Deforest where I grew up.
Marquette After School Program Team
Beth Feeney
Marquette After School Site Supervisor
I am a Madison native who recently moved back from Los Angeles with my daughter. I have a degree in Secondary Education from UW-Whitewater, and have been working with youth of all ages for over 12 years in various capacities and regions of the country, including Brooklyn, NY and San Diego, CA.
Jasper Harth
Marquette After School Teacher
I have been working in education for two years. I taught English in Vietnam, was an AVID tutor at Memorial High School, and a Site Supervisor with MSCR. My goal is to earn a master’s of education degree and continue work in education.
Delaney Kiernan
Marquette After School Teacher
Hi! My name is Delaney Kiernan and I am a senior at UW-Madison. I love working with kids because it brings me joy seeing them grow and get excited about new things as they continue to experience the world! I have been babysitting since I was 15, have had practicum in different elementary classrooms, worked as a special education camp counselor, and a tumbling coach. I am very excited to be a Captain at Red Caboose this summer!
Evelyn Vazquez
Marquette After School Assistant Teacher
Bio coming soon!
Community Partners
Steve Goldberg
Fund Development
I am working with Red Caboose on the New Tracks Capital Campaign. I retired from the CUNA Mutual Group after serving the company in various positions, most recently as Executive Director of the CUNA Mutual Foundation. I then served as Gift Development Specialist for Madison College. I continue my community involvement by consulting with nonprofits on their fund development strategies, emceeing community functions and attending numerous nonprofit events. I am an active member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Madison Chapter.
HRIS
Human Resources
Chuck Michaels
Janitorial Services
I am the owner/operator of Chuck Michaels Janitorial Services and have been providing those services to Red Caboose at the Child Care Center for decades. I make sure the Red Caboose facilities are clean and safe and am looking forward to doing the same in the new Red Caboose facility on Winnebago Street.
Numbers 4 Non Profits
Accounting
At Numbers 4 Nonprofits we manage money with mission by providing cost-effective accounting solutions for nonprofits. We are inspired by the mission of Red Caboose and the work they do in the community. We take our commitment to helping Red Caboose fulfill it’s mission to improve the lives of others very seriously. Our role is to be a partner in the development of Red Caboose. We deliver timely, meaningful and accurate financial information, and use that to support the financial decision-making process of Red Caboose.
