Carol Meagher Executive Director
Carol Meagher has served as the KidZone Museum Executive Director since 2004. She leads the museum’s strategic direction, fund development, education, and operations. Carol has a Master’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation and a BFA from California College of the Arts. Her creative background and understanding of children with various abilities are essential for the museum’s vision and creation of innovative programs and installations. Carol also studied Spanish language and Mexican culture at Universidad National Autonoma de Mexico and at Middlebury College Language School, enabling her to support the museum’s outreach staff in creating engaging and relevant programs that engage the Latino community. Carol is a recipient of the Ruby Award from Soroptimist International of Truckee Donner. The award honors women who, through their professional or personal efforts, are making extraordinary differences in the lives of women or girls. Contact Carol at director@kidzonemuseum.org
Mayra Museum Director
Mayra ensures that the museum and our events run efficiently including museum accounting, HR, and Guest Services. Mayra has worked at the museum as our front desk lead, and outreach coordinator to undeserved families in our region and still helps us reach as many families in need in our community. Mayra and Carol develop the strategic direction of the museum. Mayra’s 5-year-old son, Angel, and baby daughter, Mia, have grown up at the museum and love all the fun opportunities KidZone has for free play and hands-on learning.
Jen Philanthropy Officer
Jen works on donor development and donor communication for the museum. Prior to working at the Museum, she served as a Museum board member for 5 years. Before that, she came to play at the museum with her young children who are now in college. Jen received her BS from UC Davis, and worked for the Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children before having kids and becoming a stay-at-home mom. She loves the idea of play as a child’s work, and ensures that all Museum programs and exhibits are filled with hands-on, inquiry based learning. For over 10 years Jen has volunteered as an English language tutor for the Nevada County Read Up! adult literacy program.
Karla Operations Manager
Karla oversees guest services, maintenance, retail, programs and our Volunteers. Karla grew up in Truckee and visited the museum when she was young. Karla is bilingual and makes sure the museum offers services and literature in Spanish and English. Karla enjoys engaging with our community as well as gaining knowledge about child development and fun activities she can do at home with her son.
Nataly Community Advocate
Nataly advocates for underserved children and families in our community and makes sure they know about our complimentary bus service and scholarship programs. Nataly attends a multitude of community meetings to coordinate services for families. This includes our partnerships with the Child Abuse Prevention Council, Community Collaborative, First 5 Early Learning Coalition, Truckee Reads, as well as regional transportation and housing initiatives. Nataly has been visiting the museum since she was young. Nataly brings to the museum, her expertise in customer service for both Spanish and English-speaking families. Nataly likes to help us develop innovative learning opportunities. She and her four children love to play at the museum together. Nataly is an awardee of the Chris Ballin Award by the Community Collaborative of the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation. The Chris Ballin Award honors those who advocate for cultural competency, equality and social justice in our community, in memory of the founder of La Comunidad Unida in the 1980s.
Irene
Irene welcomes guests to the museum and creates exhibit props and enhancements. Her creative talents are seen throughout the Sierra Settler Exhibit in murals, in the painting of the train car and the seats in the dinning car and the renovated train table. Irene also is a photographer and takes many of our high-quality photos. Irene first learned about the Museum when her daughter was stilt walking at the Airshow & Family Festival.
Accounting Support: Supporting Strategies
Human Resource Services: Truckee HR
Legal Counsel: Steve Gross, Porter Simon
Web and Marketing Support: Alpen Lily Web Studio
