Learn more about our plan to expand services to more children and families in our community
Our Staff
At Youth & Family Outreach we seek out kind, experienced, and skilled teachers to lead our classrooms and serve the children and families in our community. Learn more about our teachers and program staff below.
Camelia Babson-Haley, Executive Director
My son, Jeremiah, is the reason I am in the field of Early Childhood and have been since 1989. I was a young 20 year-old single mom of a 5-month old when I enrolled at the Community College of Southern Nevada. I earned my Associate's degree and worked in the lab school where Jeremiah was able to attend with me. In fact, he went everywhere with me! He went to the East Wilton (Maine) Head Start, the Clifton Child Care Center in Atlanta and he spent most of his afternoons with me here at YFO when he was in elementary school. I finished my Bachelor's degree at UMF and I have been at YFO since March of 2000.
YFO is my home, my passion and I love every minute of my work here. I was drawn to YFO because I felt the desire to work with families that might have come from a similar background as myself. I was a young, single mom and I understood the difficulty of being poor in this world. I am now married to a wonderful teacher/musician and we live together in Portland. My favorite pass time is spending time with my BIG, beautiful family.
Morgan Harper, Infant/Toddler Program Coordinator
Hi! I’m Morgan, I grew up on Long Island, New York and found myself here in Portland Maine in 2015 with my now husband, Nathan. I found YFO 6 months into motherhood when I needed a job and care for my daughter, Penelope. Not a day goes by that I don’t thank my lucky stars that I nestled myself into this community. I have met my best friends, my kiddos have met their best friends, and we’ve made connections that have made parenting life feel so much more connected. The support and friendships here helped keep my head above water in those first few years of motherhood. I hold a BA in Marketing and worked in that field before leaving in search of something more aligned with myself. I started working in the field in 2012 and I love working in ECE because it fills me with joy. It’s one of the hardest jobs I've done but it rewards me with some of the best moments. I’ve learned so much about myself and healed some parts of me through this work. Being open to viewing children as whole people and being curious about how their world view is unfolding allows for great interactions. Now, after years of experience in multiple classrooms and a second kiddo (Hugo), I realize Early childhood education is my passion. I want kids to feel safe enough to voice their needs and come to me for support and ask all the questions they can think of, oh, and to laugh! That’s essential!
When I'm not at work I enjoy slow weekend mornings with a quiet cup of coffee, dance parties in my kitchen, taking hikes with my family, and sharing a meal with friends. I miss New York a lot but I love Maine so much, experiencing the change of the seasons here in so many different types of scenery, it makes me so happy to be a human. But, if I had to be an animal instead…. I’d be a whale, hands down! Gentle, aquatic giants; there’s something a little magical about them.
Evelyne Kanku, Curriculum Coordinator
I'm Evelyne. I live in Gray with my wonderful husband, Thierry and together we are blessed with four smart and beautiful girls; Trevy, Ashley, Benny, and Gracy. I am from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Before I left the Congo I did five years of college with a major in Administration and Commercial Sciences and a concentration in Pedagogy. In 2019 I graduated from The Southern Maine Community College with an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education. I began my work in child care and with YFO in March of 2012. I started as a floater before moving into a primary teaching position in the Tykes room. I strive to make students feel like they’re ready to have fun and learn when they are in a classroom with me. I love the impact I can make on the future of our children and I love the way YFO cares and worries for each other, staff & families. When I am not working I like to cook, to sing, to dance, to visit different places and to be with my family. If you were an animal which would you be: Dolphin, because of the ocean freedom and being one of the smartest ocean animals
Lubna Ramadan, School Chef
More about Lubna coming soon
PUBLIC PRE-K (Portland 4 year olds)
Anoff Cobblah Pre-K Teacher
My name is Anoff Cobblah and I am the lead teacher in the Pre-k Program here at YFO. I live in Westbrook with my wife, Jaime, and our two sons Weston and Roman. My boys keep me on my toes as well as provide a refreshing new outlook to life, love and the pursuit of dreams. I grew up in the small town of Maynard, Massachusetts with my younger brother and two adoring parents who still live in the same house I grew up in. My father is from Ghana and my mother was born in Oxford, England. I feel very proud of both my African and American heritage and embolden my students to feel the same.
Within the almost ten years I have lived in Maine I received my Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education from The University of Maine Farmington while working within the educational field in several different facilities. I have worked in a variety of different classroom spaces and enjoy greatly the challenge and responsibility of meeting each and every child that walks through the door where they are on the developmental spectrum.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family. Together we enjoy walking, playing in the park, fishing, camping, hiking or just sitting around our fire pit in the backyard and looking for bats flying in the sky.
I am Very exited and honored to be on the YFO team.
Nathan Higgins, Educational Technician Pre-K
You can call me Knate (yes, the K is silent!)! I am honored and so incredibly excited to be back teaching with the YFO Family. I taught here at YFO in the Tykes and Pre-School room from 2002-2006. After leaving YFO in 2006 I worked as an Arts Programmer/Curator for Theatre, Art Galleries, and Music Venues all around the Northeast. I've been a contributor for NHPR, a Pechakucha storyteller, and a TEDx speaker (all on a variety of subjects!). I'm a Gorham Maine native and have a deep passion for hiking, gardening, and film. I came back to work at YFO in 2018, and during these difficult times it has been like coming home, and I'm grateful to work with these amazing children every day.
Malinda Julson, PreK Teacher
More info on Malinda coming soon
Cara Rousseau, Educational Technician PreK
More info on Cara coming soon
PRESCHOOL (3.5 to 5 year olds)
Melissa Gilbert, Preschool Educator
Melissa Grew up in Pittsfield Massachusetts and started working in the early childhood field in 2008. When she’s in a classroom Melissa hopes that children and families feel safe, ready to learn and have fun. The best part about working in early childhood education is watching and participating in the growth of young families, while the best part YFO for Melissa is being part of a community that respects the diversity of everyone. Outside of work Melissa is a DIYer, gardener, painter and reader. Some of her favorite things to do are thrifting, collecting sea glass, going to the beach and catching up with friends. If given the chance to become an animal, she’d be a squirrel! They seem so happy and energetic. They look like they are always jumping and scampering from tree to tree gathering nuts and there seems to never be a sad squirrel.
Estella Nyapir, Assistant Preschool Educator
I came to YFO as an early childhood intern at Portland Arts and Technology High School in the fall of 2016. I love being with the children, laughing with them and playing.
TODDLERS (12mos. to 2.5 year olds)
Erica Glidden, Toddler Educator
Erica grew up in South Portland and began working in elementary after school care in 2018, and then took some time off to work in the restaurant industry for a couple years. She rejoined childcare in 2022 here at YFO and works hard to have children feel confident and valued in her classroom. Erica really enjoys watching children’s confidence grow and personalities blossom and loves that YFO gives her the opportunity to teach right in downtown Portland where she can turn the city into their classroom. Outside of the classroom Erica likes to watch survivor, NBA docuseries, and enjoys portland nightlife. She loves that Maine keeps her close to the ocean but also enjoys visiting her sister in DC. If given the chance to be any animal, she’d chose to be Mae’s cat Aurora who she says is so loved and worshiped.
Kimberly LeClair, Toddler Educator
I have lived in Maine my whole life and raised my three daughters Nina, Natasha and Katie here. Now I'm lucky to help raise my six grandchildren. I have always enjoyed hearing children's laughter through their play. This has led me to work in the childcare field. As a child grows you see many different parts of their growing. Being at Youth and Family Outreach since 1999, I am happy to say I have had the pleasure of taking care of so many children! What a magical feeling to be a part of.
I am a lifelong learner and go to trainings to help keep up on the new ways to help teach the children. But I also believe they children teach us every day. On my time off I enjoy summer days at the beach, spending time with my wonderful friends and family and the love I get from my tea-cup Yorkie, Gracie!
Infants (6 weeks - 12 Months old)
Fatima Ribeiro, Lead Infant Educator
More about Fatima coming soon
Lisette Mbangu, Floating Educator
More about Lisette coming soon
Ummay Rani, Infant room Foster Grandparent
The Opportunity Aliance’s foster grandparent program of Maine connects people 55 and older to classrooms in Portland to provide support to both teachers and students. Umay has been with YFO since 2017 and is an incredible addition to the classroom; from assisting with meal prep to hugging kiddos and wiping their tears, we are so lucky to have her.