Meet Our Team
Maria Soter
Executive Director
Maria Soter has immersed herself in the world of Early Childhood for over 25 years, from the inception of Salt Lake City's first Preschool for Homeless children in 1998 to, more recently, the creation of the Coaching Model and program for Head Start. Maria has always had a passion to serve children and their families, especially where a need is unmet.
Her vision for The Sammy Center became a reality in 2018 when she heard the CEO of a local program speak on behalf of the Early Childhood mental health crisis that was on an uprising. She has made a commitment to herself, the community, and the children of Salt Lake City to give them an added level of support through The Sammy Center.
Noelle MArgetts
Teacher
Noelle graduated from the University of Utah with their child psychology and infant and early childhood mental health degree. They have always been drawn to working with infants and young children and felt they have been able to heal their own inner child through this work. They started at The Sammy Center as an intern and fell in love with the kids, the staff, and the mission of the school.
Grace Chapman
Teacher
Grace is going to be a sophomore at the University of Utah, majoring in Early Childhood Education. She started at the Sammy Center as an intern and is excited to transition into a teaching role. With a passion for fostering development, Grace is excited to make a positive impact at the Sammy Center.
Ivy Tran
Teacher
Ivy is currently pursuing a double major in Psychology and Family, Community, and Human Development, along with a certificate in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. Her passion has always been centered on working with children and advocating for the mental health of those who may not have a voice. She firmly believes that patience, love, and understanding can make a profound difference, and that every child deserves a safe and supportive space to grow and thrive. Starting as an intern, she discovered a deep sense of purpose at The Sammy Center, and it’s been a privilege to turn that passion into meaningful action
The Sammy Center
Andrea Barreno
TEACHER
Andrea Barreno is on her fourth year at the University of Utah with a double major in human studies and psychology and is ABA certified. She wants to pursue a PhD in Neurobiology. She loves working with children and making a difference.
Savannah Kreider
Teacher
Savannah known to many preschoolers as "Miss Savannah," is a third-generation Alaskan, born and raised on the beautiful Kenai Peninsula. She began teaching preschool in 2019 and has never looked back. Savannah recently earned her A.S. in Early Childhood Education & Development at UVU and is currently pursuing a B.S. in Human Development & Family & Studies, a minor in Psychology, along with an Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health certificate at the University of Utah. She is deeply passionate about her work and eager to expand her knowledge through her experiences at The Sammy Center. Savannah's ultimate goal is to open her own Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool center on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula.
Sky Lowe
Secretary
Sky brings vibrant energy, enthusiasm, and heart to our board as our dedicated Secretary. As a professional nanny with a deep love for children, she embodies the spirit of care and connection that drives our mission. Sky is our greatest cheerleader and unwavering supporter always ready to celebrate our wins, champion our work, and remind us why we do what we do. Her passion for supporting young children and families is evident in everything she does, and we’re so grateful to have her voice, positivity, and commitment guiding our work at The Sammy Center.
Rita Mangum
LCSW
Rita began her career in social work, facilitating parenting classes for at-risk communities in the greater Salt Lake and Park City area. Research has shown that strong parent-child bonding is one of the most important protective factors for decreasing delinquency, substance abuse, child abuse, and negative peer influences on children. Protective factors work to increase safety and emotional well-being, build strong family relationships, and promote healthy social connections. Rita has been facilitating and teaching positive parenting practices for over 25 years. She is passionate about relationships, especially those between parents and children. One of the best ways to build resiliency in both yourself and your child(ren) is to focus on the 4 Pillars of Wellness, which include Health, Home, Community, and Purpose. She is looking forward to sharing ways to decrease stress, identify emotions, make healthy connections with your child(ren), and build strong families. Her wellness classes will explore these pillars and provide knowledge, new skills, home practice exercises, and time to talk with other parents about their experiences with parenting and self-care.
The Sammy Center
Blithe Cravens
Attorney for D.A.'s office, Juvenile Branch
Blithe Craven's professional career and experience are what drew her to become involved in The Sammy Center and serve on the board. Blithe's background in Criminal Justice dates back to 1998. Since 2018, she has worked for the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office as Senior Deputy District Attorney and supervisor of the Family and Sexual Violence Unit.
She once shared that if she could just keep one child out of the system, she would feel like she had done a good thing. Difficult as it is to have the knowledge and experience of what Blithe sees day-to-day, her commitment to making a difference and serving our community is a gift.
Emily Bleyl
LCSW, ACSW Associate Professor UofU
Emily is currently the Director of MSW Practicum Education and an Associate Clinical Professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Utah. Prior to 2020, she served for eleven years as the Executive Director of the National Association of Social Workers, Utah Chapter, where she managed daily operations including budgets, board meetings, conferences, and continuing education, while also working closely with the Utah legislature and DOPL to draft and strengthen social work statutes. Throughout her career, Emily has consulted with state and county agencies on ethics and practice-related issues, served on numerous boards and committees, presented over 150 talks on social work topics, co-authored ASWB licensing prep materials and a state licensing manual, supervised and advised MSW students, and successfully advocated for six pieces of social work-supportive legislation. She has also taught Practice I and II and a summer elective focused on attachment in the MSW program. Her leadership earned her national recognition as the NASW Outstanding Executive Director of the Year (2013), as well as honors including Utah’s Thirty Women to Watch (2014), Utah Social Worker of the Year (2022), and Practicum Professor of the Year (2023). Emily began her social work career as a case manager at Catholic Community Services in 1995, earned her MSW from the University of Utah in 1999, and then completed intensive post-graduate training at the Yale Child Study Center and a concurrent Bush Fellowship at the Yale Ziegler Center for Child Development and Social Policy. She later directed public policy and community initiatives for United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, co-leading the development of a successful early childhood initiative. Upon returning to Utah in 2003, she worked in private practice and as a crisis social worker at the University of Utah Medical Center before beginning her leadership role with NASW. With nearly thirty years of experience in education, clinical work, policy, and administration, Emily brings a deep understanding of the biopsychosocial foundations of social work and remains committed to advancing educational resources and professional policies that support students, practitioners, and the communities they serve.
dmitri smirnov
Treasure
Dmitri Smirnov serves as the Treasurer on our Board of Directors, bringing a wealth of financial expertise and a deep commitment to our mission. His dedication to The Sammy Center is unwavering, and he plays a key role in ensuring our financial health and sustainability. Dmitri’s attention to detail, coupled with his strategic vision, helps guide our financial decisions, ensuring that resources are used effectively to support our programs and initiatives. As a passionate advocate for our mission, Dmitri is fully invested in our work to create positive, lasting change in the lives of children and families. His support and leadership are instrumental in driving The Sammy Center’s success and helping us continue our impactful work in the community.
Mary Ogan
Parent Trainer
Mary has been passionate about children for as long as I can remember. She joined the Early childhood profession about 50 years ago and have had the pleasure of working with children as a classroom teacher and program administrator over the years. Most recently, I have been working as a teacher educator, mentor, and Child Care Advocate. I am so excited to work with the Sammy Center in helping the Center reach its goals.
Dr. Donna
Neuropsychologist
With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Donna
brings a wealth of expertise in developmental,
counseling, school, clinical, and neuropsychology,
as well as integrative medicine for mental health.
Her diverse training enables her to provide
comprehensive evaluations for our preschoolers
and offer in-depth consultative
therapeutic approaches for our families and our
teachers. Dr. Donna is fully licensed in
psychology and participates in
Psypact, allowing her to offer telehealth
services nationwide in participating states.
Email: drturnerneuropsych@gmail.com
Jackie valles
Speech Therapist
Jackie is a speech therapist at The Sammy Center and the founder of Black Lab Speech Therapy. She earned her Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Utah in 2018 and spent five amazing years working in early intervention—coaching parents and supporting little ones with speech and language delays. After becoming a mom two years ago, she decided to pour her energy into growing her private practice. At Black Lab Speech, she works closely with families of toddlers and school-aged kids who need support with language delays, speech sound challenges, or feeding difficulties. She is all about practical, play-based therapy that helps kids grow confident and connected.
Tiffany Papageorge
Grief Counselor/Author
Tiffany Papageorge, author, speaker, and Certified Grief Specialist helps educators, parents, and students understand the impact of loss and grief by providing tools and understanding of how to move through painful life events in the most human and healthy way.