Idaho AEYC welcomes our newest Board members, elected in July 2007 by Idaho AEYC members. Board members serve two year terms as Members At Large. They may be elected by the Board to serve on the Executive Council. Here are their brief biographies:

Melissa Bandy

Melissa Bandy was reelected to serve a second term on the Idaho AEYC Board of Directors. She will continue serving as Board Treasurer.

Melissa has been working in the field of Early Childhood Education for over 10 years. She gained experience with young children in teaching at The Children School of Boise in the K2 classroom, as well as the Cooperative Preschool at St. Michael's as a Two's teacher. Melissa also co-owned an Infant and Toddler Program called The Whole Child for a couple of years.

She received her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with the emphasis of Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education at Boise State University. She also received her master's degree in the Blended Certificate (Early Childhood/Special Education) in 2005. Melissa is currently teaching in the Early Childhood Studies Department at Boise State University as an adjunct faculty member.

Melissa lives in Eagle. She's been married to Phil for 14 years and has three young children: Craig 12, Mitchell 7, and Sam 15 months.

Betty McQuain

Since acquiring her bachelor's degree in child development in 1978, she has had a variety of professional experiences in working with young children and their families. Not only has she spent many years in the early childhood classroom as a teacher for Head Start and a number of private and public preschools, but has also worked as a licensed family child care provider and child care program director. She has provided training to parents through parent education programs and to peers through early childhood conferences and in supervisory capacities. Currently she works as a college instructor in the Child Development Program at Idaho State University.

Betty lives in Idaho Falls and is the mother to four daughters, a grandmother to 6 grandchildren, and a perpetual student!

Margie Gonzalez

Margie Gonzalez has more than 27 years of experience in Idaho working in diversity and community outreach. Margie has been actively involved in building community partnerships and involved in working for social change for Hispanics in the state.

Continuing her service to the State of Idaho and its Hispanic population, Margie is the Executive Director of the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs (ICHA). As Director, she works with community leaders, national leaders, and state Legislators representing and advocating for the needs of Idaho's Hispanics. She has been with ICHA for nine years and during her tenure she has taken the lead in bringing programs and resources to our state that focus on the needs of our population. Prior to working with the state of Idaho, Margie worked in the early childhood field for over twenty years.

Margie lives in Caldwell. She is a mother of four children and a grandmother of five beautiful grandchildren.