Simcha Preschool

Take a Look at Simcha's Staff

Our Staff in Action

At Simcha we say Shalom quite often. This Hebrew word (meaning hello, goodbye and peace) and concept is a large part of our curriculum. In the Pre-K class we do a unit call "Shalom means Peace" in which we teach children peacemaking skills, through play, stories and songs, to name a few. The teachers are facilitators in this; their role is often to support children's social ideas rather than direct the children's work.

The afternoon program starts with some outdoor water play.

"This is not in my job description" is not something our teachers get to say! The preschool visits a pumpkin patch to celebrate the autumn harvest and Sukkot.

Our teachers are skilled at recognizing when the children are ready for focussed activities.

Our teachers work with children in small groups or as a class during circle time, depending on the children's needs and interests.

Staff Bios

Our teachers are highly trained and experienced early childhood professionals who both meet and exceed licensing and accreditation standards. We offer a 1:6 adult/child ratio in the Toddler class, a 1:6 adult/child ratio in the Preschool class, and in our Pre-K class, the adult/child ratio is 1:8.

Below are photos and bios of some of our staff:

Patty Bernstein
Simcha Pre-K Classroom Teacher
Patty has earned her leadership after many years teaching young children at such prestigious schools as Gateway Preschool and Blueberry Hill Preschool. As a parent, Patty spent many years volunteering at the Santa Cruz Waldorf School. She holds her degree in Early Childhood Education, and is an integral part of our teaching team.

Noelle Correia
Preschool Room Teacher

Silvia Ferguson
Simcha Preschool Director

Giselle Holland
Simcha Pre-K Afternoon Teacher

Tracy Collins
Office Administrator

Megan Maloney
Preschool Room Teacher

Maricela Marshall
Simcha Pre-K Teacher

Sabrina Perez
Simcha Preschool Teacher
Sabrina has been at Simcha since 2003 and came to us with both teaching and parenting experience. Sabrina got her credentials through Cabrillo College, and co-teaches with Chaviva in the preschool class.

Anja Shandrew
Break Teacher and Toddler Assistant Teacher
Anja's gentle nature makes her a perfect nap room teacher! After teaching for a year at Happy Days Learning Center, Anja came to us seeking a fresh teaching experience. Anja has also been involved with the reading revolution in Concord, and is finishing up her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education.

Grace Valdez
Toddler Room Teacher

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