Meet Our Teachers
Miss Amy
Hi, my name is Amy Clouse, I am the Executive Director of Grandma’s Place Child Develop-ment Centers and the on-site director of Clark Family Center. My parents and I opened Grandma’s Place in 1997 with the mission of offering affordable, flexible and quality child care to Portland Families.
My wonderful husband of 20 years has been a great support throughout my business venture. In addition to his love and support, my three children have also supported me as they grew up in our centers.
I have been working in the child development field for 20 years. I started out as an infant teacher for the first 5 years, and then I have spent the rest of my time working with all age groups.
In 2004 I participated in the pilot program for the Director Training Certificate. This was a wonderful program that has opened many doors for me. I am one of officers for the Metro Affiliate of Oregon Association of Child Care Directors, as well as a state board member. In Spring of 2011 I will receive my Bachelors in Human Development from Warner Pacific College.
I have also recently received my Director’s Credential for the State of Oregon. This is a new credential for the State of Oregon, and an opportunity to gain an increased knowledge of managing a Child Development Program.
I look forward to getting to know each and every family. It’s our goal to create a loving warm environment for the children to grow. We strive to meet the children’s individual needs while supporting the whole family. I am excited to part of your child’s life!
Mr. Jack
Hi! My name is Jack Weisenberger. I am the Co-Director here at Grandma’s Place at Clark Family Center. I have been working with children my entire life. Growing up on Guam I had a very large extended family. Being one of the youngest in my generation I was usually left watching my older cousins’ children. I always enjoyed watching children; there is something about the way they see the world that fascinates me and I try to emulate that. I find that when I am having a bad day just spending some time with a child helps calm me and make me feel better. I truly believe that children teach us as much as we teach them.
After I graduated from high school I moved out to Portland for college. It was the summer of my sophomore year (2003) that I got my first job at Grandma’s Place. I started off as a weekend aid, then the afterschool teacher, then the evening closer, and finally after I graduated Grandma’s Place offered me a promotion to be a Co-Director here. I have been with Grandma’s Place for 7 years and am very appreciative of all the opportunity this company has given me.
Infant Room
Miss Nicki
My Name is Nicki. I have been working in child development for over nine
years. I spent four years as a toddler teacher, and the rest of my time has
been with infants. I have been working for Grandma’s Place since 2008 and before this I worked for the YMCA for 6 years.
I have two beautiful daughters who I love spending time with. We enjoy
camping and the outdoors as Oregon weather allows.
I love what I do for a living I can’t imagine a better way to spend my day.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of your child’s life.
Miss Amanda
My name is Amanda Green. I have been working with Grandma’s Place since June of 2008. Before coming to Grandma’s Place, my experience with children was teaching violin to beginners of all ages. Watching children learn and discover is the best part of my job, I can’t imagine a better way to spend my day.
I come from a very large family. I am number five of seven children, and have fifteen nieces and nephews, and counting. After leaving my family in Minnesota, and moving to Oregon with my husband in 2007, I decided that I still needed children in my life. I love playing with and teaching your sweet children!
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband and our birds. I have also spent many years working in a photo lab and enjoy photogranphy.
Miss Hawa
Hi, my name is Hawa Mohamed. I have three brothers and
I am the only girl in my family. I have lived in the United States for
15 years. After my graduation from High School, I dreamed about
becoming a teacher.
My future is to get my degree in teaching, and move to my
home country of Somalia. There I hope to help my country by
teaching there.
I have been teaching at Grandma’s Place since December of
2010. I have always loved working with children, they always put a
smile on my face.
Working at Grandma’s Place has made a difference in my
life and I look forward to being part of the children’s lives here at
school
Miss Darcy I have been working in the child care field for about 8 years with many years of ba-by-sitting experience also. I love working with the babies because I love snuggling with them and watching them learn, grow, and explore the environment around them. Playing with the babies on the floor and helping them discover their bodies is something I’m passionate about and believe strongly in. Developing a strong sense of self and independence is also something I strive to help the babies in my care accomplish. When it comes to the children in my care, I have always been good at recognizing the schedules that they naturally gravitate towards and then using those natural schedules to help establish routine for the baby.
I am the eldest of 5 children and come from a very close family. I graduated from college with a bachelor’s of science in 2005, and am looking into getting my Infant/Toddler Credential from the State of Oregon. Ever since I can remember, I wanted to work with children and have always had a passion for working with babies.
It is my goal to always be available to the parents of children in my room for whatever reason! If you have anything at all regarding your child that you wish to discuss, please feel free to!!
Ones/Wobbler Room
Miss Elizabeth
My name is Elizabeth Westmorland. I have been working with children in-
fant to 3 years old for more than 10 years. I love to explore the world
through their unique and loving eyes. I hope to some day teach elementary
school.
I took time off to raise my daughter who is now 4 years old and starting
school in September. I am so excited to be back in the classroom with these
great kids, I have missed it so much.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my daughter, family, boyfriend
and friends. Some of my favorite things are going to yard sales and thrift
shops, going to the movies, and visiting the zoo
In the past year working for Grandma’s Place I have fell in love with my one
year old class. Watching them learn and develop puts a smile on my face
every day.
Miss Alexis
Hi, my name is Alexis Brien. I have worked in preschool and child
care for five years. My experience ranges from infancy to six years
old.
I grew up in Olympia, WA and attended The Evergreen State Col-
lege. My BA focused on psychology and education, both theory and
practice. After graduating in the fall of ’09 I moved to SE Portland.
In my free time I enjoy riding my bike, cooking, listening to music,
and watching Netflix streaming. However, most of the time you will
find me with my nose in a book.
My favorite thing on earth is hanging out with my cat Parsley (9
years), my dog Poppyseed (7 months) and my boyfriend Paul.
I love being in Portland, OR and am very happy to have found a
center and community like Grandma’s Place.
Toddler Room
Miss Jenny
Hi my name is Jenny. I have been working with children since I was in middle
school. I have always wanted to be a preschool teacher ever since I could remem-
ber. I have been a teacher at my church for about 15 years. I volunteered at my
daughter’s old childcare center for 3 years and also did volunteer work at MHCC’s
child development center for 2 years as part of my schooling. I have been working
at Grandma’s Place since May of 2011.
I am a recent graduate of Mt Hood Community College. I graduated in June of
2011 with my Associates in Applied Science for Early Childhood Education. I am
also going to University of Phoenix for my Bachelor’s in Business management; I
am working to gain a business background that will help me open my own business
someday.
I have an almost 5 year old little girl that I love to spend time with. In my free time I
love to read books by Mary Higgins Clark. I also like to bowl; I have been bowling
since I was in high school. I love to scrapbook, and I have many scrapbooks started
that I still need to finish.
I love working with your kids and the other teachers, and I look forward to being
here as part of the Clark Family Center Community
Pre-School
Miss Erin
Hi my name is Erin. I am very excited to be working in the pre-
school at Grandma’s Place. I have worked in the field of early
childhood education for almost 18 years. I have earned my as-
sociates degree in Early Childhood Education and I will be fin-
ishing my BA in Human Development at Warner Pacific this
year.
When I’m not at Grandma’s Place, I spend my time with my
wonderful daughter Faithy. We enjoy going to the park, work-
ing on art together, and traveling around Oregon. Faith and I
belong to a great church with supportive community, and we
spend time with our friends at church.
The first five years of life are the most important ones, and I
want to work with the families in my class to make it the best
possible.
Miss Bernetta
My name is Bernetta Parker-Zermeno. I have been working in the field of
early childhood education for 29 years. I’m a strong advocate for children and chil-
dren’s rights. I believe children should have the best care possible from infancy
throughout their lives. I have 29 years of experience in providing professional
teaching with the gift to reach every student and ignite a love of learning to last a
life time.
I possess a talent for creating age-appropriate lesson, and activities that teach
fundamental academic and social skills as well as proven ability for offering indi-
vidualized support, ensuring that all student unique needs and goals are met. I pride
myself as a hardworking and motivated educator, with strong communication and
interpersonal skills to cultivate working relationship in my childcare community.
Being in the field of early childhood education has helped me to grow and I
continue to strive to learn more and to push myself in being one the best teachers in
this field. I am also continuing my education in early childhood by working earn
my degree and maintain an emotional, intellectual and physical balance. The work I
do is one of the world greatest jobs, as well as a very busy one. I’m very pleased to
be in this stage of my life and very thankful to God for this blessing.
A little bit about me and my family. I'm happily married to a wonderful man
for the past 13 years and I’m the proud mother of four grown children and the very
proud grandmother of eleven wonderful grandchildren, 8 granddaughters and 3
grandsons.
Now to be working at Grandma's Place is a great pleasure, and it is great
joy to be given the opportunity to reach for my degree. I’m looking forward to a fun
ride.
Pre-Kindergarten
Miss Cheryl
Hi, I’m Cheryl Aiman. I’m a mother of two wonderful children. My
daughter is studying business at Washington State University and my
son is in the Navy. My husband of twenty-three years and I are very
proud of them.
In have an associates degree in Early Childhood Development from
Clark Community College. After receiving my degree I went to work
for a Head Start Program in Washington State. I worked as the pre-
school and Pre-K teacher there for fifteen years before coming to
Grandma’s Place.
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family. We love to
travel, including taking cruises. My favorite cruise was around the Ha-
waiian Islands.
As the Pre-K teacher I look forward to getting your kids ready for Kin-
dergarten so they can have the best experience as they start their school
career.
Cook
Miss Pat
Hi, my name is Pat. I am lucky enough to have been born the second old-
est of eight children, so loving and caring for children has been part of my
life since my earliest years.
I have six years experience in child care and have completed Partnership in
Parenting through the Tennessee Foster Care-to-Adopt Program.
I have a beautiful daughter, Norma who is the light of my life. We adopted
each other when she was 91/2 years old, and I am blessed and proud to be
her mom.
I love my job at Grandma’s Place. I love being part of an atmosphere of
nurturing, caring and helping each child realize just how special they are. I
believe there is nothing more important to a child than to know they are
loved and special. I am so proud to be part of that.