Meet The Parenting Educators
Co-Founder and Executive Director, Betsy Kane-Hartnett, oversees all aspects of Forty Carrots Family Center. Betsy, B.S. in Human Development & Family Studies and a M.A. in Curriculum Design, is an early childhood specialist.
Parenting Program Director: Christina Rodrigues, M.S. in Education with specialization in Early Literacy, has been part of Forty Carrots since 1998. She initially worked with the agency as an Early Childhood Educator in the NAEYC accredited Preschool, and as a Parenting Educator working at Cyesis in Sarasota. After a couple of years, her primary focus became working with at-risk families. She helped initiate parenting classes at Janie Poe Sarasota Housing Project, Children First, and Cyesis at North Port High School. Today, as Parenting Program Director, she continues to show her passion for her work, supporting families and a talented group of Parenting Educators. The Parent Program offers various classes in eight Sarasota County Libraries, three community agencies and several discussion and play based classes at the Forty Carrots location.
Alison, B.A., in Humanities, with a major in Literature and History of Art. She joined us in 1998 as a Parenting Educator and currently leads Studio 40 classes, Welcome to Our World classes, and Partners in Play (PIP) groups in various locations. Alison has a post graduate certificate in Education and has taught elementary school in the U.K. Her first encounter with Forty Carrots was when she participated in our play groups as a mother with her children. She is married and has two children.
Cheryl, M.Ed., in Early Childhood Education, B.S. in Elementary Education with specialization in Early Childhood. Cheryl recently moved from Arizona where she taught kindergarten for the last 10 years. Cheryl has also taught at the University level and is currently teaching an on-line class: “Play in the Center of the Curriculum”. She joined our group of Parenting Educators in 2010, and facilitates Partners In Play (PIP) classes at the Parenting Center and also at two library locations. She looks forward to living in Sarasota with her husband of 23 years.
Elizabeth, B.A. in Fine Arts, began in 2002 as a Parenting Educator and is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Education. Elizabeth came to Forty Carrots with a background in elementary and middle school education. She facilitates Talk and Play (TAP) classes at Cyesis Teen Parent Program at Riverview High School and North Port High School. She also leads Partners In Play (PIP) classes at library locations. Elizabeth is a native of Sarasota.
Natalia, M.S., in Mother-Infant Nutrition & B.S. in Biological Sciences. Introduced to Forty Carrots by a friend, she first came as a mother taking parenting classes with her first child in 2004, and began working with us in 2008. Natalia also teaches Breastfeeding classes at the Sarasota County Health Department and Prepared Childbirth classes at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, in Spanish. Natalia joined us as a Parenting Educator in 2010 and facilitates Partners in Play (PIP) classes at Sarasota County Libraries’ south locations. Natalia is originally from Peru, is married and has two children.
Nikki, B.S. in Special Education & B.S. in Occupational Therapy, worked at Health South Rehabilitation Hospital as an Occupational Therapist. Her first experience with Forty Carrots was as a mother attending parenting classes with her children in 2002. She became a Certified Car Seat Technician through National Highway Transportation Safety Association and in 2004 initiated the Car Seat Check Program at Forty Carrots as a volunteer. Nikki joined us as a Parenting Educator in 2010, leading Studio 40 and Welcome to Our World classes.
Rebecca, M.A., in Psychology has been a Parenting Educator since 2006. She is completing her PhD in Clinical Psychology with a child/family concentration. Rebecca launched our Parenting Blog in December 2008, and most recently she is the face behind the Forty Carrots Facebook page. She completed the Infant Mental Health training based out of New York City and initiated the Infant Mental Health Program at Cyesis with mothers and their babies. Rebecca facilitates Talk and Play (TAP) classes at First Step, SOLVE Maternity Homes at Manatee County, and Riverview High School with the Cyesis Teen Program.
Wendy, M.S. PreK/Primary Education; B.S. in Communication, joined the Forty Carrots family with her two boys when they attended Partners In Play classes and the Preschool. She began working as a Parenting Educator in 2008. Wendy co-facilitates at-risk Talk and Play (TAP) classes at First Step, SOLVE Maternity Homes, and North Port High School with the Cyesis Program for teen parents and their children. In addition, she leads Partners In Play (PIP) classes in-house for families of toddlers and twos. Her first role in the education world was teaching preschool. Prior to starting a family, she also taught kindergarten in Sarasota County for two years. She is working to obtain a Reading Endorsement for her certificate. Wendy has been married to Scott for 13 years.
