CDC Staff

Heidi Allen has been a teacher at Cerro Coso Child Development Center since 1998. She has been working in the field of Early Childhood Education for 29 years, working at several other centers in Ridgecrest before beginning work at the Cerro Coso CDC.

Heidi is a graduate from Burroughs High School and has attended Cerro Coso Community College studying child development.

From a young age it has been Heidi's goal to work with children in any capacity. When she began babysitting at age 12, she realized that her passion was for very young children-toddlers & preschoolers.

Heidi currently holds a Master Teacher Permit issued through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Annette (Annie) Champion has been part of the Child Development Center for since 2007, starting as a student intern. She graduated from Cerro Coso with an AS in Social Science and an AA in General Education. After graduation and finding joy in working with children every day, she decided to return to school and receive her AS in Child Development. She has served as a Teacher since 2014 and currently holds a Site Supervisor Permit though the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Watching children learn and grow through new experiences is what she enjoys most in her job. Being a mother has helped her understand the importance for the children and parents to feel safe and comfortable with the learning environment and care they receive from the CDC. She looks forward to being part of your children's lives.

Joana Galvez began working with the Cerro Coso Child Development Center in 2009 as an Associate Teacher. Her career in child development began in 1997 and she has had the privilege of working with children aged 3 weeks to school-age. Joana holds a Master Teacher's permit through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. In 2014, she received her AA in Child Development.

Jessica Krall began working at the Cerro Coso Child Development Center in 2004 as a student worker/ associate teacher. She became a teacher in August of 2004 and became Program Manager in April 2014. She graduated with her AS in Child Development from Cerro Coso in 2003 and her BA in Early Childhood Education in 2011 from National University. She holds her Program Director permit through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

Vanessa Palacios began working at the Cerro Coso Child Development Center in 2013 as a student intern. After her internship she was hired as an Associate Teacher. She worked as an Associate Teacher for 3 years before being hired as a Teacher in 2017. She has worked with children of all ages. She also works as a behavior therapist using ABA methods. She graduated in 2015 with an AS in Early Childhood Education from Cerro Coso Community College and currently holds her Teacher's permit through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.