First 5 Commissioners recently welcomed a new member to the board. Cristina Sotelo officially joined the Commission this month, bringing a wealth of knowledge around early childhood development and the needs of families living in South Monterey County. Commissioner Sotelo replaces Chris Shannon who served on the Commission for six years as a Community Member. We extend our thanks and gratitude to Chris for her time and expertise—she will be missed!
Commissioner Sotelo currently works for Door to Hope/Action as a Parent Initiative Coordinator/Therapist Intern and has worked within different First 5 Funded Programs since 2007. She holds a Masters in Social Work from CSUMB and her early childhood education experience includes an Associate's degree in early childhood education from Hartnell College, a Child Development Program Director permit, and classroom experience as a site supervisor and preschool teacher in King City. She also brings parenting development training and program implementation experience, including Parents as Teachers, Positive Discipline, and Abriendo Puertas.
We are excited to welcome Commissioner Sotelo. Our Commission will benefit greatly from her local experience, knowledge, and voice for our Funded Partners.