Kachemak Kids has a Board of Directors made up of 9 members The Directors of the Organization are individuals of diverse backgrounds who are interested in and willing to assist with the furtherance of the Organization’s purposes and governance.

If you are interested in joining the KKELC Board of Directors, please contat the KKELC Board Chair for more information.

Board of Directors Job Description

Board of Directors Officer Description

Kachemak Kids By-Laws

Board Minutes

For a copy of Board Minutes please contact the Board Secretary or the Executive Director.

Board of Directors

Chair:    Lolita Brache

2 yr. Term Ending 10/2010

Vice Chair:  Diane McBride

2 yr. Term ending 10/2010

Secretary:   Emilie Otis

2 yr. Term ending 10/2009

Treasurer:   Nancy Tappan     

2 yr. Term Ending 10/2012

Member:  Shannon McBride-Morin   

2 yr. Term Ending 10/2010

Member:  Ginger Bryant

2 yr. Term Ending 10/2012

Member: Jenny Martin

2 yr. Term Ending 10/2010

Member:   Open

2 yr. Term Ending 10/2009

Member:   Open        

2 yr. Term Ending 10/2010

Board Bios 

 Chair- Lolita Brache

Lolita was one of the original members of the group that envisioned Kachemak Kids Early Learning Center. Lolita has lived and taught around the world, from Africa to Central America. She has been an educator for over thirty years and has worked in child care, taught kindergarten and primary grades, English as a second language with both children and adults, and run an Even Start family literacy program in which she taught parenting and adult education while providing an educational environment for infants through preschoolers.  Lolita is currently employed at the Kachemak Bay Campus, KPC where she teaches English as a second language and adult reading and vocabulary classes in the GED/adult education program.  Lolita’s two daughters (19 and 22) are now in college, so she deeply appreciates the opportunity to be around the young children at the learning center.

 Vice Chair- Diane McBride

Diane McBride has been a local resident for 40 years.  She has her Masters in Elementary Education, and has  worked and volunteered in education in Homer.   Diane and husband Michael, own and operate the Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge, in China Poot Bay, and are volunteers and founders of the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies, a non-profit with emphasis on environmental education for all ages. Diane has served on numerous non-profit boards for the past 25 years. Diane's granddaughter attends Kachemak Kids.

Jenny Martin

Jenny is one of the original six who started Kachemak Kids as a work group made up of dedicated and motivated parents and educators in Homer.  Jenny's education includes an associate degree in hospitality management, a bachelor in psychology, and a master in adventure education. She has experience managing budgets, organizing and developing programs, and working with youth.  Jenny created one of the first wilderness therapy programs in Homer and also was the coordinator for the Youth Job Training Program at the local Kachemak Bay Campus-KPC/UAA. Besides Kachemak Kids, her board of director and leadership experience includes Big Brothers Big Sisters, Child Advocacy Coalition of Homer, and the Women's Professional Group of the Association for Experiential Education.  Currently, Jenny is the Executive Assistant and Membership Services Coordinator at the Homer Chamber of Commerce. 

 Secretary - Emilie Otis

Emilie officially joined the Kachemak Kids Early Learning Center Board of Directors in June 2008 as the Location Committee Chair, but has been involved with the planning of the center since the early meetings of Kachemak Kids when the idea started 3 years ago. She has worked in fisheries biology, as a naturalist, as an educator and served in the Peace Corps.  She currently works as a Physical Therapy Assistant at South Peninsula Hospital. Her past board experience includes her role as a founding member of the Friends of Kachemak Bay State Park.  Her family consists of her Husband, Ted, and her 2 children Casey (4) and Elsa (2), who both attend Kachemak Kids.

 Shannon McBride-Morin

Shannon has a background in non-profits, political campaigns, fundraising, event organizing & wilderness guiding.  Born and raised in the Homer area, Shannon went "outside" to get a degree in Political Science, then worked in Seattle for the non-profit Brainerd Foundation as a Program Assistant making grants to conservation organizations.  She worked on various campaigns in Seattle including as events and volunteer coordinator for an Initiative, then for a growth management organization, 1000 Friends of Washington (now called Futurewise) as special events planner, and in Public Relations for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  She & her husband moved back to Homer in 2004 to raise their family. Shannon is the mother of 2 small children, and works part time in the summer as a manager of wilderness lodge and guide.