Meet Our Educators

Co-Op Director

I am so excited to be here as a part of an amazing team at Bright Beginnings! I am serving as a Co-Director/ Teacher. I have been teaching and directing preschools in the San Jose area for many, many years. I am drawn to - and follow- the Reggio Emilia philosophies of Early Childhood Education, because of their play-based and developmental values, and their respect for each child as an individual. I obtained my Associates Degree from West Valley College in Saratoga, in Early Childhood Education, with a certificate in Administration and Supervision. I then earned my Bachelor Degree in Human Development, with a specialization in Early Childhood, from Pacific Oaks College. Aside from my time teaching and directing preschools, I have also been an art teacher at many different levels, for both preschools and elementary schools.

My personal life also revolves around children!I have 4 adult children, all married, and 9 grandchildren. My favorite thing to do in my spare time is to spend time with them. We love going to Disneyland together! We also love to camp, and play board games. I enjoy reading, knitting, and getting together with friends. 

I believe that children are best served when parents and teachers work together as a team to meet the needs of the individual child. I enjoy being part of their foundation, and feel that engaging with families is an important part of that. 

Bright Beginnings is a great place for childhood, as children are given many opportunities to explore, to create, to problem solve, and to experience positive relationships with other children and adults. I am thrilled to be one of those adults!I am so happy to be a part of the Bright Beginnings family. I have many years’ experience teaching children of all ages, mostly children under 6

I have a BA in Child Development and have had the pleasure of working with children in several different programs including recreation, daycare, preschools and within the school system. I love creating inviting environments that inspire children to explore and investigate. I enjoy sharing my passion for nature, science and reading with children in the classroom and am excited to become a part of the Bright Beginnings community!

Teacher

My name is Shannon and I am excited to be a part of Bright Beginnings Preschool again this year. I will be teaching the parent-child class as well as toddler transition. Children under the age 3 are my absolute passion and mixed with the parent education aspect makes it a prefect combination. I have been married for 11 years and we 3 girls; Layla is 10 and 8 year old twins Lucy and Vivian. We became a part of Bright Beginnings when my oldest daughter was 2 and in parent toddler. All 3 of my girls have gone through the program and I have always been involved. I have done it all; volunteered in the classroom, sat on the board in many different roles including president, subbed in various classrooms, and have taught for the past 3 years.

I hold a degree in Child Development from CSU Chico, where I worked during school with infants/toddlers in their lab school. I have a deep understanding of the philosophy at BBP, with a passion for play based, emergent curriculum. I strive to provide an environment that is engaging and challenging while offering meaningful and purposeful experiences that support self-help and self- advocacy skills all while keeping what is best for children in the forefront of everything. Bright

Beginnings Preschool feels like home to me.

My name is Alyssa and I am so excited to start my first year as the class assistant at Bright

Beginnings! After volunteering in the classroom last year, I found that this school is an amazing

environment for kids to learn, play, and grow as individuals. I particularly was drawn to the play

based learning that our school uses, and saw first hand that this was a wonderful introduction to

school for young children.

I grew up in Petaluma, California, and moved to Sacramento after high school to attend

California State University, Sacramento, where I earned my Bachelors in English. I have a

passion for writing, and I love to read as well. A couple of my favorite authors are Jeanette Walls

and Celeste Ng. In addition to reading and writing, I also am passionate about music. During my

time in school, I interned at the Daycare Center at Sac State, where I focused on introducing

music and sound with the children. I enjoy writing and recording my own songs, and I love to

discover new artists with varying types of styles and sounds.

I have lived in Folsom for the past three years, with my husband Nick and our two kids, Arrow, 4,

and River, 2. This will be Arrow’s second year at Bright Beginnings, and he loves it! In my free

time, I like to exercise, whether it be running, yoga, or circuit training. Another passion of mine is

sports. I love to watch and play baseball and basketball, and I enjoy watching football as well.

The most important thing I love is to simply spend time with my family. We like to visit new

places, go on night walks, or visit parks.

I strongly believe in treating everyone with kindness and respect, being open minded, and

practicing gratitude. I am very grateful for this opportunity at Bright Beginnings and I love the

ideals and community at this school. I’m so happy to be here!

I am so happy to be a part of the Bright Beginnings family. I have many years’ experience teaching children of all ages, mostly children under 6.

I hold an AA DEGREE in Early Childhood Development, and most of my knowledge comes from the experiences I have had just being with children.

I have taught in the San Juan Unified School District, Placer County as well as at private preschools and Parent Toddler programs.

While home raising my 4 children, I owned and operated a Horsemanship Program out of my ranch in Orangevale. I believe that children learn best through experience. Giving them an environment where they can experience success (and failure), gives them the confidence to grow and learn to their fullest potential.

My time outside of preschool is spent with my children and grandchildren as well as on the trails training for ultra runs and endurance rides.

I love family time and being outside in nature.