Our Assistants are either undergraduate students working toward an ECE credential, or men and women who have a special knack with children. They are warm, enthusiastic individuals who are sensitive to children and their needs. Our wonderful Montecito mothers often share their talents with us by working in the classroom as Teachers or Assistants. If we are lucky, they sometimes stay forever.

Again this year, our Assistants are extraordinary. They help us in every way possible, bringing us all the love, intuition, and talent they share with their own families. They are an integral part of our staff.

Thanh Goolish
Thanh Goolish joined Montecito in 2004 as a substitute and joined our staff for a permanent position in 2005 working with the twos. Both of her children, Ethan and Jolie, attended Montecito. Thanh loves being with young children and is delighted to be working with the two-year-olds and the young fives (Pre-K) this year. She is soft-spoken and gentle and the children quickly feel comfortable with her. She has a B.S. in Teacher Education from the University of Saigon and an A.S. in Human Biology from San Diego Community College. She has also taken several classes in Child Development and plans on continuing her studies in this field.

DiDi Jose
This is DiDi Jose’s eighth year at Montecito. DiDi moved to the U.S. from the Philippines in 1974. She has done substitute teaching and assisting at various schools in the SF Bay Area since 1997. She has a BA in Business from St. Joseph’s College in the Philippines and 19 ECE units from Canada College. DiDi has two grown daughters. She returned to school to get her Early Childhood units because she finds working with young children very rewarding. This year, DiDi is assisting in the threes and fours classrooms three days per week.

Hilda Lutz
Hilda Lutz is full of laughter and joy. She is Monica Allison’s mom (a previous Montecito Assistant), and the proud grandmother of three grandchildren, Noah (a Montecito graduate), Samantha, and Ryan (soon to be attending Montecito). Hailing originally from Austria and a proud mother of two, she will be joining us for her eighth year. Hilda started at Montecito as a substitute teacher in our summer program and soon thereafter became a permanent Assistant in our morning and afternoon fours classes. This year, Hilda will be assisting in our fours classes again, on M/W/F mornings and afternoons. Hilda clearly loves young children of all ages, and it shows in all of her interactions with them.

Gayle Taylor-McCrea
Gayle McCrea is the sister of one of our teachers, Paula Meeker, and has been subbing for us for several years. She has worked as an aide in a center for hearing impaired children and has also provided childcare in her home for infants. Gayle has a long history with Montecito since her daughter, Ashley, attended our Pre-Kindergarten program here years ago. Gayle is friendly and cheerful and loves working with young children. We are so happy that she finally decided to become a member of our permanent staff back in 2005. This is Gayle’s second year working as an Assistant in our afternoon twos/threes combination class.

Marilyn Milanesio
Wow, are we lucky! Marilyn Milanesio has been a popular educator for 36 years; 20 years for K-5 at Montclaire Elementary. She is able to collaborate with teachers about Kindergarten readiness as she learns more about preschoolers. Marilyn plays the piano and has a lifelong love of reading, art and science. You can always count on Marilyn to greet you with a cheerful smile. This is Marilyn’s ninth year at Montecito. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education from San Francisco State University and a M.A. in Education with special emphasis on Reading Readiness from Santa Clara University.

Louise Miller
Louise Miller is one of our long-time Montecito Moms. Both of her children have attended our school. As she has for the past few years, this year she will be assisting two mornings and two afternoons a week in our twos and twos/threes combination programs. Louise is from Great Britain and delights us with her charming accent and her marvelous sense of humor. She provided childcare for a family before she had her second child. This is Louise’s sixth year on our staff. She has proved to be a capable and warm Assistant and is well liked by parents, children and staff members.

Shahnaz Shaikh
Shahnaz Shaikh began working as a substitute at Montecito in November, 2004. In January, 2005, she became an Assistant in one of our three-year-old classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and soon thereafter began to work in more threes and fours classes, in our summer school programs, and became a regular part of our extended care program. She has volunteered at the San Jose State University Child Development Center as part of her coursework in Early Childhood Education. She is currently taking classes in Early Childhood Education at San Jose State University and has completed nine (9) units. Shahnaz is also the proud grandmother of Camron, her one-year-old grandson, who may start attending Montecito next summer.

Sylfa Smith
This is Sylfa Smith’s second year as an Assistant for Montecito. Sylfa is one of our parents; her son Joshua attended Montecito for two years and last year her daughter, Luisa, attended the twos/threes combination class and is now attending the threes class. She also has a 17-month-old daughter named Camille, who will begin attending Montecito next summer. Sylfa has begun taking courses in Early Childhood Education at De Anza College and wants to become a preschool teacher in the future. Sylfa has worked for several years as a Teacher in her church as well. This year, she will be assisting in the morning and afternoon threes classes two days per week and in the afternoon threes class three days per week. Her boundless enthusiasm and generous spirit make Sylfa a natural in the classroom!

Sarah White
Sarah White came to work at Montecito in September, 2001 as an Assistant in our Lunch program. The following year she began working as an Assistant two mornings per week as well as continuing to work in the Lunch program. Continuing her schedule for the past few years, this year Sarah will be assisting five mornings per week in our threes and fours classrooms. Sarah is a warm and efficient Assistant and hails from Great Britain. She is loved by children and staff alike!

Helen Wilbur
Now in her 27th year at Montecito, Helen Wilbur is a model assistant! Her enthusiasm and energy never fail. She is always cheerful and upbeat and develops close bonds with all of the children in her classes. She helps train new assistants and assists in the threes and fours classrooms. This year, Helen will be assisting in our threes and our threes/fours combination classes five mornings per week. We love Helen and we are truly thankful for her loyal dedication to Montecito Preschool!