In addition to their academic knowledge of Early Childhood Education, they are chosen on the basis of their ability to relate to the young child, establish a supportive rapport with the children and with the parents, and their ability to provide a successful learning experience.

Kathy Connell
Kathy Connell joined Montecito late in the school year of 1998-99. Her peaceful manner and creative spirit are much appreciated here at Montecito. Kathy has wonderful ideas for preschool activities, and gives parent and teacher workshops on topics such as Diversity in the Classroom and Developmentally-Appropriate Math Experiences for Preschoolers. Once again Kathy will be teaching Pre-K in the Rainbow Room. She is also one of our resource specialists and will be researching and creating exciting new curriculum materials for the classrooms. She is responsible for designing and implementing our annual Family Reading Challenge and our Take Home Backpack program for our four- and five-year-olds. She has 21 years experience teaching preschool classes part-time, and her son AJ is a recent Montecito graduate. Kathy has a BA in Political Science from Wellesly College and has completed 40 ECE units.

Tiffany Irving-Barron
Tiffany Irving-Barron joined Montecito’s teaching staff in February, 2007 as a teacher of the threes and the Pre-Kindergarten, young fives class. Tiffany has over 7 years teaching experience with infants, preschool age, school age and teenage children. She has a Bachelors of Arts degree from Bethany University in Applied Professional Studies with an Early Childhood Minor, including well over 24 units in Early Childhood Education. Tiffany’s experience includes working as a Kinder Care Teacher and Supply Coordinator of 18 to 150 children, where she organized and developed an all-age appropriate activities curriculum manual for K-6 . She has also worked as a Teacher’s Assistant and ran an after-school homework center , one-on-one and in groups with 10-20 middle school children, in addition to extensive nanny work with infants and toddlers up through children age 8, and she has been a volunteer Camp Counselor for over 200 children ages 8 to 15. Tiffany is also currently certified in standard first-aid and Adult and Child CPR/AED, and Infant CPR, and she has worked as a Sunday School Teacher for grades 2 and 3. She also has quite a bit of administrative experience in school and camp settings. Miss Tiffany is very good with children and has a strong dedication to the “total development of children and the community, their success and positive self–esteem.” She is a young and energetic teacher with a lot to offer! Miss Tiffany was a perfect fit at Montecito, and the staff and children alike bonded with her immediately. We are looking forward to her teaching our children for many years to come.

Edith Manalo
An elementary school teacher for 13 years, Edith Manalo has also taught preschool in the Philippines for 11 years. She earned her BS in Elementary Education from the Centro Escolar University in Manila in the Philippines. She also completed 18 units of course work and earned a certificate of Preschool Education from Philippine Normal College. In July, 2001, Edith received a certificate in Child Day Care Management and an equivalent of 23.75 additional E.C.E. units. In her eighth year at Montecito, she brings a life long interest in children’s literature and keeps our library up-to-date. Edith endears all of us with her lovely, joyful manner and quiet dignity. Everyone loves Edith!

Kiersten McAuley
Kiersten McAuley, fondly known as “Miss GiGi,” is returning to Montecito after a one-year absence to have her second child. This will be her fourth year at Montecito. After being an Assistant for three years, Kiersten moved into a teaching position in late September, 2004. This year she will continue to teach our Afternoon Enrichment class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which she started teaching in our recent Summer School 2006 program. Prior to coming to work at Montecito, Kiersten was the nanny for one of our families. Kiersten is also an accomplished piano player and currently teaches piano to 14 students, ages 5 to 16 years old. She is warm and affectionate with the children and enjoys being playful and silly with them. She recently received her Associate degree in Child Development from Foothill College.

Paula Meeker
This is Paula Meeker’s ninth year at Montecito. Paula has years of experience working with children of all ages. She is a dedicated mom, a childcare provider, and part owner of Lanai Flowers in Palo Alto. Although she began as an Assistant at Montecito, she began taking E.C.E. classes at DeAnza in spring of 2000 and has completed 17 units. In January 2001, Paula began teaching a two-year-old class and soon thereafter, she began teaching the fours. This year, Paula will be teaching two-year-olds and four-year-olds. Paula also helps in the care of our animals.

Becky Mitchell
Becky Mitchell is joining us this year as our Afternoon Enrichment Teacher three days per week (M/W/F), as well as being one of our “Lunch Bunch” teachers Monday through Friday, and teaching after-school enrichment on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Becky has extensive experience in early childhood education. She has worked in a variety of capacities including substitute teaching, curriculum design for K-2 students with an emphasis on math, science and reading, assisting at the Kindergarten level, Preschool Teacher, Camp Counselor, a Special Ed. Teacher, and working as a volunteer at a playgroup for speech delayed and socially deprived children. Becky is creative, compassionate, dedicated and passionate about teaching young children. She particularly enjoys quilting, traveling, photography and geocaching. Becky understands and values the importance of education in the early years. We are so fortunate that she has decided to join our staff at Montecito! Becky has a BS in Science and Education from Central Michigan University, she has taken postgraduate classes at Michigan State in Education and Ecology, and has a total of 27 ECE units.

Evelyn Ohm
Evelyn Ohm came to Montecito in February 1999 as a substitute. For the remainder of the year, she substituted as an Assistant wherever she was needed. Since that time, Evelyn has been an Assistant and a Teacher primarily in our threes classes. She has 30 E.C.E. units from De Anza College and substitute taught at various preschools in the Bay area before joining us at Montecito. This year for the first time, Evelyn will be teaching our afternoon Pre-Kindergarten class. She is excited about her new position and is planning a rich variety of exciting and challenging activities. Her gentle manner and warmth make her a natural teacher of young children.

Terry Quirimit
Terry Quirimit joined Montecito in January 2000. Prior to coming to our school, she had worked with young children for over 24 years. Her most recent position before Montecito was as a Teacher at Onizuka Child Development Center where she received excellent references from her supervisors. Before that, she taught for three years at Rainbow Bridge Preschool in San Jose. She also taught Kindergarten through First grade in the Philippines and has a BS in Elementary Education from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines. In addition, Terry has completed 15 units in Special Education at the Manuel Quezon University in Manila and 18 units in Early Childhood Education from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines. She has an irrepressible spirit and is a bright light on our campus. Terry is especially known for her ability to relate to each child on an individual basis. Terry has continued to demonstrate her commitment to her own professional growth by participating in workshops and training seminars.

Rebecca Richardson
We are so pleased that Rebecca Richardson joined us at Montecito. Rebecca was a teacher at Onizuka Child Development Center for three years before joining us in the fall of 1999. She is currently working on her AA degree in early Childhood Education from DeAnza College and has 19 units in E.C.E. She came to us highly recommended, especially by her former parents. Her warmth and compassion are a plus in the classroom. A Teacher of many talents, she teaches twos on Tuesdays and Thursdays and fours on Mon./Wed./Fri. This will be Rebecca’s eighth year at Montecito!

Rupal Shah
Rupal Shah joined Montecito in the fall of 2003 as a volunteer. She was required to work in a preschool as part of a class in Early Childhood Education. She enjoyed being here so much she decided to apply for a permanent position. In March 2004, she became an Assistant in a 3-day-per-week morning fours class, and continued last year and this past summer school as a Teacher of the twos and threes classes. Rupal has also been one of our regular Extended Care teachers. This year she is teaching the threes/fours combination class on M/W/F mornings and the three-year-olds two mornings per week. She has a BA in economics and 19 Early Childhood Education units. She has adapted easily to our program and we are delighted she decided to join our staff!

Karen Voisinet
Montecito is fortunate to have such a bright eyed and capable Teacher/Assistant in Karen Voisinet. A born preschool teacher, Karen has completed over 25 units in Early Childhood Education and has been involved with young children as an Assistant and Teacher at several child care centers since 1991. This is Karen’s eighth year at Montecito. Most recently, Karen has continued as an Assistant, but has become one of our valued Teachers of the three-year-olds. This year Karen is teaching three-year-olds two days per week in the morning and afternoon classes, and she is assisting three mornings per week in the threes/fours combination class. Karen also plays the Autoharp. Karen’s boundless energy and cheerfulness make her a favorite with the children.

Carrie Wolk
Carrie Wolk is in her sixth year at Montecito. Prior to coming to Montecito in the fall of 2001, she had worked as a Preschool Teacher for the past 13 years, 12 years at Children’s Corner in Los Altos, and, for the past year, at the Menlo-Atherton, a favorite of staff and children alike. Her quiet, patient manner provides a positive influence in the classroom. She is particularly known for her creative themes and props in the dramatic play area. In fact, she is one of our resource specialists and will be researching and creating exciting new curriculum and creative resource materials for the classrooms. Carrie has an AS degree in Behavioral Sciences from DeAnza College as well as 24 E.C.E. units, also from DeAnza. In addition, she attended San Francisco University for one year. This year, Carrie will be teaching four-year-olds in the mornings and the afternoons three days per week.

Deborah Wolk
This is Deborah Wolk’s fourth year at Montecito. She is the daughter of Carrie Wolk, one of our four-year-old teachers. Deborah loves being with young children, has worked as a counselor at summer camp at Foothill Park and has also done extensive babysitting. Deborah is musically talented, plays the flute and the guitar, and enjoys doing arts and crafts projects. She has completed 13 units in Early Childhood Education and is currently enrolled in classes. Continuing from her Summer School this year, Deborah will be working as both a Teacher and Assistant, assisting three afternoons a week in one of our fours classes and teaching two afternoons a week in our Afternoon Enrichment class.