Our People

WVAYC Staff

Kristy Ritz is WVAYC’s first executive director. This position was made possible through The Earlier, The Better project, a 75th anniversary Benedum Foundation grant. Kristy is a past Child Care Resource and Referral Director and Head Start Teacher.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Child Development from Fairmont State University and Master of Business Administration from Salem International University.  

Executive Director

Kristy Ritz

2024 WVAYC Board Members

Our board comprises experienced professionals committed to enhancing early childhood education in West Virginia. United by a shared vision, they advocate for inclusive, high-quality learning experiences and the professional development of educators. Meet the dedicated team behind our mission to foster lifelong learning from the earliest stages.

The WVAYC Board is comprised of representatives from the early childhood community.

It includes public school teachers, childcare center directors, childcare teachers, college faculty, and retired teachers.

President

Helen Post-Brown* [email protected]

Past President & SECA Representative

Connie Stout O’Dell*
[email protected]

Vice President

 Suzi Brodof*

Secretary

Tiffany Gale*

Treasurer

Tammy LaBarge*

*WVAYC Executive committee member

​Communications + Technology

Mariah Burnley

Historian

Tanya Stewart

Member-at-Large

Nancy Cheshire

Student Group Liaison

Shelly Haynes

Theresa Wascom

Pamela Ramsey

Dr. Jamie Jeffrey