Meet the Team
Dedicated & Certified
Renea Pesina
Director
Renea Pesina has proudly served the children and families of Community Early Childhood Center for the past 10 years. With a strong background in early childhood education and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Renea brings a unique blend of organizational expertise, leadership, and genuine care to her work each day. She is passionate about creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where children can grow socially, emotionally, and academically.
Throughout her career, Renea has developed well-rounded understanding of child development and inclusive classroom practices. She has extensive experience supporting individualized learning needs, collaborating with families and staff, and implementing developmentally appropriate activities that help every child succeed. Her strengths in communication, problem-solving, and relationship-building allow her to create strong partnerships with both families and colleagues.
Renea is known for her attention to detail, positive attitude, and commitment to providing high-quality care and education. She believes in building strong foundations for young learners and takes pride in supporting children during their most important early years.
Karen Stevens
Opener/On-site Supervisor
Karen Stevens has been a dedicated part of CECC for 20 years, bringing warmth, leadership, and heart to the center each and every day. As our opener and one of our on-site supervisors on the management team, Karen helps ensure the day starts smoothly for staff, children, and families alike. She holds her CDA and brings both experience and professionalism to her role.
Karen is deeply passionate about childcare because she truly loves watching children grow, learn, and discover the world around them. For her, there’s nothing better than seeing milestones happen in real time — except maybe the hugs she gets along the way! Her favorite part of CECC is the relationships she builds with both the kids and their families, creating connections that last far beyond the classroom.
Outside of CECC, Karen enjoys relaxing with her husband of 38 years, Lyle. She also loves visiting Disney and making magical memories. Fun fact: Karen has a twin brother!
We are so grateful for the love, leadership, and dedication she brings to CECC every day.
Sara Baker
Kitchen Manager
For as long as anyone can remember, Sara Baker has been at the heart of our daycare—filling bellies, brightening days, and bringing comfort through every meal she prepares. Loved by children, families, and staff alike, she’s known not just for her delicious food, but for the kindness, consistency, and care she pours into her work every single day.
With years of dedication to our center, Sara has become a familiar, friendly face that little ones run to greet and parents trust wholeheartedly. Whether she’s preparing a nutritious meal, offering a warm smile, or making a child feel special with their favorite snack, she makes our daycare feel a bit more like home.
Her passion for creating healthy, kid-friendly meals—paired with her unwavering commitment to our community—has made her an irreplaceable part of our team. We are incredibly grateful for Sara, and our days (and menus!) simply wouldn’t be the same without her.
Amy Rozales
Executive Assistant
Amy Rosalez has been a valued part of CECC for 5years and recently stepped into the role of Executive Assistant. In this position, she has taken on expanded responsibilities and plays a key role in keeping the center running smoothly behind the scenes.
Amy is a numbers guru with a talent for problem-solving. She manages DHHS bookkeeping, oversees staff training, completes bank reconciliations, and consistently ensures accuracy and organization. No matter the task, she is always willing to lend a helping hand wherever needed.
What Amy loves most about CECC is the people — her colleagues, the families, and most of all, the children. She especially enjoys seeing the children’s smiles each day.
Outside of CECC, Amy enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, and hitting the golf course whenever she can.
Hope Brown
Closing Supervisor
Hope and I serve as the Closing Supervisor at Community Early Childhood Center. Her entire life has been dedicated to supporting children and young adults and helping them grow and succeed.
When her own children were young, she operated a state-registered daycare, which sparked her passion for early childhood care. Over the past two years, Hope has worked as a Social Worker at the Early Childhood Center With the Fort Dodge School district, supporting children and families in our community. Nearly a year ago, She was excited to join the team at Community Daycare and continue doing the work She loves!
Before moving to Fort Dodge, She worked with young adults ages 16–24 at Denison Job Corps, helping them pursue further education and build a path toward their future.
When She's not at school or daycare helping our little learners, you’ll most likely find her traveling to spend time with her eight wonderful grandchildren. Hope truly believes every child deserves to feel loved, supported, and nurtured, and She strives every day to make sure the children in our care feel exactly that.
DeAnna Hernandez
Closing supervisor
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