About the Author

Taya Noland

Taya Noland grew up on the Oregon Coast where she began working in early care and education while still in high school. She received a degree from University of Oregon, and then went on to become an English Teacher, receiving graduate degrees in Creative Writing and English Literature at University of Idaho and Portland State University, and taught writing and literature courses at the college level for more than ten years. During this time, however, she kept circling back to early learning and finding herself teaching preschoolers as well as college students. She eventually decided to combine her two career paths and now works at Southwestern Oregon Community College as the director of Care Connections Child Care Resource and Referral, a program that provides professional development and quality supports to early care and education providers on the south coast of Oregon. She lives with her husband and 10 year old daughter, their two dogs, Tulip and Pepper, and three cats, Thorn, Thistle, and Commander Kitty.