Meet The Great Start Collaborative Executive Team
Deirdre Bartells
Deirdre is the Administrative Assistant at Great Start Collaborative. Deirdre grew up in Ireland moved to USA in 2009. Deirdre worked for WMU prior to joining the KRESA team in 2015 and has worked in different fields within KRESA before joining the GSC team in 2019.
Deirdre and her husband have 1 daughter with whom she enjoys sharing her hobbies of traveling and art.
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Aubrie Burns
Aubrie Burns currently serves as the Operations Manager at Southwest Child Care Resources that supports over 800 child care providers in eight counties in Southwest Michigan. Aubrie is a lifelong resident of Southwest Michigan and has dedicated over 14 years to the field of early childhood serving roles such as a teacher, early childhood coach, and now Operations Manager. She feels honored that she can serve the community and promote the high-quality education for our youngest learners. Aubrie lives in Portage with her husband and two young boys. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, traveling, photography, and going to yoga!
Ashley Drenth
Throughout her career in education, Ashley has worked as an elementary teacher and instructional coach, an instructor in adult education, and currently as a family liaison with the Kalamazoo County Great Start Collaborative. She enjoys connecting with and learning alongside families and community organizations. She is an Alliance Certified Trainer for the Strengthening Families Protective Factors and is also trained in Be Strong Families Parent Cafés and Zero to Thrive Strong Roots Cafés. She lives in Kalamazoo with her husband and two children, ages 7 and 9. Ashley enjoys spending time outside, visiting Lake Michigan, reading, eating at new restaurants, and traveling. Ashley received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Western Michigan University.
Ashley Drenth
Throughout her career in education, Ashley has worked as an elementary teacher and instructional coach, an instructor in adult education, and currently as a family liaison with the Kalamazoo County Great Start Collaborative. She enjoys connecting with and learning alongside families and community organizations. She is an Alliance Certified Trainer for the Strengthening Families Protective Factors and is also trained in Be Strong Families Parent Cafés and Zero to Thrive Strong Roots Cafés. She lives in Kalamazoo with her husband and two children, ages 7 and 9. Ashley enjoys spending time outside, visiting Lake Michigan, reading, eating at new restaurants, and traveling. Ashley received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Western Michigan University.
