Discovery offers families a supportive, knowledgeable staff that is educated, experienced, and committed to developing relationships with the children and families in their care. Classroom teachers have backgrounds and degrees in Early Childhood Education, Child Development, and other related fields. They offer a developmentally appropriate and child-centered program focused on helping children gain social and emotional competence, in a hands-on, play-based setting. Low adult / child ratios ensure that everyone receives special attention and quality services. Individualized programming based on observation and documentation is provided for all children in the program. Discovery’s staff includes:
Devin Saucy
Executive Director
Devin’s Bio:
Devin joined Discovery staff in February 2021 and oriented quickly to the pre-K classroom routine to become the pre-K teaching assistant. She was mentored by Torree Heaton to become a co- lead teacher, and held that position for 2 years before applying for, and accepting the job of Executive Director! She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology & Human Services from Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia, and completed the MT Early Childhood Apprenticeship Program (MECAP) through the Dept. of Labor. Devin and her fiancée, Hunter, have a son, Emmett, who also attends DDC!
Megan Coe
Lead Pre-K Teacher (Ravens/Bumblebees)
Megan’s Bio
Megan joined the DDC team in 2022, bringing her prior childcare experiences from another center and a mixed-age group program with her. She has an Associate’s degree from FVCC and a Bachelor’s from Salish Kootenai College, both in Early Childhood Education. She has worn many hats throughout her time here from assisting in all of the classrooms, to being a lead teacher in multiple rooms, and occasionally helping in the kitchen. Outside of work Megan can often be found spending time with her husband and family, enjoying the outdoors, or tackling a DIY home project.
Meredith Mikkola
Lead Preschool Teacher, Otter/Dragonfly Class
Meredith’s Bio
Meredith joined the Discovery staff in July 2015. She has worked and cared for children in a variety of capacities throughout high school and college, including volunteering during college years with an after-school program and with Girls, Inc. She also worked in a Kindergarten classroom as a 1:2 instructional assistant in Massachusetts after graduation from college. She graduated from Salem State University with BS degree in Early Childhood Education and Psychology and is P-3 certified in Montana.
Cloe Hodges
Classroom Assistant
Cloe’s Bio:
Cloe is our versatile classroom assistant, helping with meals, transitions, and providing support during afternoon mixed-age programming. She pursued higher education through FVCC and has early childhood experience working at Smith Memorial. Recently, she completed her MT Infant-Toddler Certification and is now considered an ECLT (Early Childhood Lead Teacher)!
Avery Role
Classroom Assistant
Avery’s Bio:
Avery is another one of our versatile classroom assistants, helping with meals, transitions, and providing support during afternoon mixed-age programming. Avery is a Red Cross Certified lifeguard and swim instructor, and has experience with young children in that setting. She will be providing her lifeguard services on field trips this summer!
Barbara Otey
Assistant Director
Barbara’s Bio
Barbara was recruited to join Discovery after taking a class with Collette at FVCC! She started in September 2017 in a dual-position that includes work as Director’s Assistant and afternoon teacher, but she spends plenty of time in all the classrooms and the kitchen. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree from Alma College (Alma, MI) in Physiology & Health Sciences, and 20 ECE credits from FVCC/UM Western. Barbara also teaches dance at the Northwest Ballet Company & School. When she is not working, she enjoys kayaking, rafting, and general adventuring.
Tamara Pitman
Pre-K Co-Teacher (Ravens/Bumblebees)
Tamara’s Bio
Tamara joined Discovery staff in December 2010 as a part-time substitute and aide while maintaining employment at Glacier National Park in the summer months. She transitioned to full-time employment in September 2012. She has an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education from FVCC, and over the years, has intermittently completed online coursework through University of Montana Western in pursuit of a Bachelor’s degree in ECE. She has been working in the field since 2007.
Shurae Calahan
Preschool Co-Teacher Otter/Dragonfly Class
Shurae’s Bio:
Shurae is a recent graduate of Salish Kootenay College, where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She relocated to Kalispell to take this job, and we are thrilled to have her on our team. Welcome, Shurae!
Autumn Ekeberg
Chipmunk Classroom Asst.
Autumn’s Bio:
Autumn was Devin’s first hire after Devin became Director, and has been an invaluable member of our team since! Autumn balanced working part-time at DDC with her full-time schooling as she finished her nursing program. Now a graduate with her BSN, Autumn is preparing to take the NCLEX and wants to work in pediatrics.
Bre Levanen
Kitchen Assistant, Non-Provider Staff
Bre’s Bio:
Bre graduated from Glacier HS and has taken Continuing Education classes at FVCC, including Sign Language with Preschoolers, which she shares with the staff & children at DDC. Bre is the oldest in her family and is very comfortable being around young children as she regularly assists in caring for her younger siblings. Her early childhood experience includes an internship at Smith Memorial Daycare and employment at Trinity Lutheran Child Care.
Heather Jenkins
CACFP Manager & Cook
Heather’s Bio
Coming soon!
Denise Parmelee
Pre-K Co-Teacher (Ravens/Bumblebees)
Denise’s Bio:
Denise joined us in October 2024 to learn the routines of the Pre-K Raven classroom so she could cover Devin’s maternity leave. In January, she transitioned full-time into the Otter classroom with Meredith. She has extensive experience as a substitute teacher, mostly in the Lakeside/Somers district, and has worked with many DDC alumni who are now in elementary school. Her own daughter attended DDC and had Torree as one of her teachers!
Shay Reynolds
Lead Toddler Teacher, Chipmunk Class
Shay’s Bio:
Shay joined the Discovery staff in February 2018 as part of a required ECE practicum for college, and worked in all three classrooms before landing in the toddler classroom. She holds an Associate’s degree from FVCC in Early Childhood Education, and completed her Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education through Salish Kootenai College in 2025. Now she is pursuing a Master’s degree in Infant-Toddler Mental Health.
Brinya Lehtola
Chipmunk Classroom Asst.
Brinya’s Bio:
Coming soon!
