Varkha Chellani
Varkha joined the Montecito Family in 2008 when Varkha joined our teaching staff and her daughter joined one of our three-year-old classes. The birth of Varkha’s first daughter in 1998 sparked her interest in child development, and her fascination has only grown since. Since her arrival in the U.S. in 2001, she has been involved as Kids Program Co-Chair with the India Community Center in Milpitas. This position allowed her to conceive, develop and direct several programs like childcare, parent & me classes, language and music classes, summer camps, India immersion workshops, and more. Varkha holds a Degree in Commerce, and has completed 18 units in Child Development from De Anza College. She is still learning about children, both through coursework, and as a parent & teacher. Her belief that though we teach children, we are also constantly learning from them supports her wonder in that it’s not just the ‘what’ but the ‘how’ that is important, because children can only thrive in a loving and caring environment.

Kathy Connell
Kathy joined us 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.

Laura Ghosh
Laura joined us in 2007, first as a substitute, then ultimately as one of our most valued teachers and administrative staff members!  After having her daughter, Maya, she entered into the early childhood education field so that she could spend more time with Maya and with other young children.  In 2006 while her daughter attended Montecito, Laura began taking her ECE classes at Mission College.  We hired her as a substitue assistant at Montecito beginning in the summer of 2007.  As Laura earned 24 ECE units from Mission College, she continued to work as a substitute teacher and assistant for Montecito and for other area preschools.  In April 2008 Laura gave up her other positionas and joined us full time. She is continuing her ECE classes, is eligible and will be applying for an ECE Teacher Permit, and ultimately she will obtain a Master Teacher Permit.  Her favorite classroom subjects and activities are children's literature and music.  Laura's previous experience includes working in HR/Benefits in various high tech companies.

Thanh Goolish
Thanh joined our staff as an assistant in 2004, after both of her children graduated from Montecito to attend Oak Elementary School, where Thanh volunteers as a teaching assistant in the classroom. Thanh has 30 ECE units and is continuing her education to earn her BA in Child Development. Prior to coming to the U.S. from Vietnam, Thanh earned her BA in Education from the University of Saigon and taught gifted children at the elementary school level there. She also worked for two years as an Assistant Instructor and tutor at San Diego City College where she earned an AS degree in Human Biology. Thanh believes that teachers are very important in a child’s life, because their attitudes and behaviors will affect the child’s development through young adulthood and beyond. Therefore, she is committed to be a good model demonstrating professionalism, dedication, compassion, and insight as an educator – and to be a lifetime learner herself.

Julie Hall
Julie joined us in 2007 as an assistant in our Enrichment Program. She found us as she was shadowing for a little one and fell in love with our school. Over the previous two years, Julie worked full time assisting special needs children. Through that agency she worked with children aged 5 and under, mostly infants. She has always loved children through any walk of life. Julie has volunteered for many children's groups, like at the annual Special Olympics, weekly church clubs and summer camps that she once attended herself. We are lucky to have such a fun-loving, spirited young woman.

Didi Jose
Didi joined us as an assistant in 1999. She moved to the U.S. from the Philippines in 1974. She has done substitute teaching and assisting at various schools in the 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.

Edith Manalo
An elementary school teacher for 13 years, Edith has also taught preschool in the Philippines for 10 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 ECE units. Edith has shared her life long interest in children’s literature with Montecito since 1998. She also works part-time at the Mountain View Public Library. Edith endears all of us with her lovely, joyful manner and quiet dignity.

Kiersten McAuley
Kiersten, fondly known as “Miss Gigi,” has been at Montecito since 2001. We are fortunate to have Miss Gigi teach and assist in our classes while she and her husband have been growing their family. Prior to joining our staff, Kiersten was the nanny for two of our families, and now has three children of her own. Kiersten is also an accomplished pianist and currently teaches piano to 12 students, ages 4 to 15 years old. She is warm and affectionate with the children and enjoys being playful and silly with them. She graduated from Foothill College in 2004, receiving departmental honors in Child Development. Kiersten plans to continue her Early Childhood education and teaching at Montecito for many years to come.

Paula Meeker
Paula Meeker has been at Montecito since 1998. She teaches two-, three-, and four-year-olds. She started at Montecito as an assistant and became a teacher in January 2001 after completing 18 ECE units at De Anza College. Paula’s two sons both graduated from Montecito more than 20 years ago. After raising her sons, she came to Montecito to play and work. Paula also helps care for our animals and our garden. Before motherhood, Paula worked in the medical field as a phlebotomist, EKG, and PFT technician.

Marilyn Milanesio
Wow, are we lucky! Marilyn has been a popular educator for 36 years - 20 years at Montclaire Elementary. After retiring from teaching elementary school children, she joined Montecito in 1999 as an sssistant and is just as popular with the preschoolers as she was with elementary school children. One of her many gifts is her ability to collaborate with teachers about Kindergarten readiness. Marilyn plays the piano and has a lifelong love of reading, art, and gardening. You can always count on Marilyn to greet you with a cheerful smile. She has a BS in Elementary Education from San Francisco State University and an MA in Education with special emphasis on Reading Readiness from Santa Clara University.

Louise Miller
Louise is one of our long-time Montecito Moms who joined our staff as an assistant in 2000, after her daughter attended our school. 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.  She has proved to be a capable and warm assistant and is well liked by parents, children and staff members.

Becky Mitchell
Becky joined us as a teacher in our Enrichment Program in 2006. 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, Teacher Assistant, camp counselor, Special Education 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 geocaching, quilting, traveling, and science. Becky understands and values the importance of education in the early years. 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 came to us in 1999 as a substitute teacher. Since that time she has taught in all of our programs, and over the past few years has been dedicated to our five-year-old classes. She has 40 ECE units from De Anza College and substitute taught at various preschools in the Bay Area before joining us at Montecito. Her gentle manner and warmth make her a natural teacher of young children.

Ginny Quackenbush
Ginny came to Montecito in 1980, and has been teaching our children and mentoring our teachers ever since! Her background and distinctions include a BA from San Jose State in Social Science with a minor in Psychology, and an ECE certificate from De Anza College. Additionally, she is certified in Early Childhood Intervention from Santa Clara University, a program that is focused on recognizing typical/atypical child development and strategies for developing learning environments and creating support systems for children with special needs and their families. Ginny consulted with the Ravenswood School District’s Parent/Child Intervention Program and developed their curriculum to support the intellectual, social, and emotional development of preschoolers at risk for developmental delays due to exposure to drugs in the womb. Ginny also leads several workshops concerning many early childhood topics. In her current capacity at Montecito, Ginny is part of our curriculum development team, consults with the school and parents concerning child development, mentors our teaching staff, and substitute teaches on an as-needed basis. We are lucky to have Ginny and look forward to celebrating her 30 year anniversary!

Terry Quirimit
“Mrs Q.” came to Montecito as a teacher in 2000 from Onizuka Child Development Center where she received excellent references from her supervisors. Prior to coming to Montecito, she worked with young children for twenty-four and a half years. 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. She also 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 joined us in the fall of 1999. Prior to joining our family, Rebecca was a teacher at Onizuka Child Development Center for three years. She has 30 units in Early Childhood Education from DeAnza College.  She came to us highly recommended, especially by the parents of her former students. Her warmth and compassion are a plus in the classroom. A teacher of many talents, she teaches two-year-olds and four-year-olds in addition to sharing her insight into curriculum development.

Rupal Shah
Rupal joined us in the fall of 2003 as a volunteer as part of a class in Early Childhood Education. She enjoyed being here so much she decided to stay, and began assisting in a fours class in March 2004. Since that time, Rupal has become a beloved teacher to our three- and four-year-olds. She has a BA in Economics and 19 Early Childhood Education units. She adapted easily to our program and we are delighted she decided to join our staff!

Shahnaz Shaikh
Shahnaz came to Montecito in November 2004 as a substitute and shortly thereafter joined our regular staff as an assistant in our three- and four-year-old classes. She has volunteered at the San Jose State University Child Development Center as part of her coursework in Early Childhood Education. She has earned her Teacher Assistant Certification and has completed 17 ECE units at Foothill College.

Alicia Sledge
Alicia joined Montecito in 2008 as an assistant in our threes program. She is the life coach of five, and a former owner of her own child care facility. Alicia’s extensive background in child care and development spans 30 years. We are thrilled to have her share her experience with us.

Gayle Taylor-McCrea
Gayle is the sister of one of our teachers, Paula Meeker, and although she has substituted for us for several years, she officially joined our staff in 2005 as an assistant in our twos/threes combination class. 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.

Robin Vecchio
As with many of our teachers, motherhood prompted Robin to pursue her degree in Early Childhood Education. Her son was born in 1996, and she earned 12 ECE units at De Anza College shortly thereafter. As a single mother, Robin has worn many hats in both the corporate arena, and in the lives of young children, as a Sunday School teacher and a Family Assistant, both activities she still enjoys. In 2009 Robin joined us to help cultivate Kids Klub, our school-age addition to our Drop-In Programs. There is no match for Robin’s enthusiasm and we are thrilled to have her on our team.

Karen Voisinet
A born preschool teacher, Karen has completed over 25 units in ECE and has been involved with young children as an assistant and teacher at several child care centers since 1991. Karen has been with us since 1998. Karen’s flexibility has her teaching some days and assisting on others. She also plays the Autoharp. Karen’s boundless energy and cheerfulness make her a favorite with the children. She is a valuable asset to our school and compliments every team she works with.

Tom Wanzer
Teacher Tom, as the children fondly refer to him, first received his child and adolescent development degree from SJSU in 2005, with a total of 45 ECE units, and has been working with and caring for children from infants to school-age for more than a decade. Tom’s easy-going personality and gentle way make him a natural teacher of young children, and we are delighted that he joined us as a substitute and in our Drop-In Programs in 2009. He’s most known for his energy and active involvement in children's lives through play, games, and music. He loves to see children enjoying their lives - and if that means taking a few minutes out to go play tag with them, he’s sure to do it.

Sarah White
Sarah came to Montecito in 2001 as an assistant in our Lunch program. Since then, she has become a cherished assistant to teachers in both the three- and four-year-old programs. Sarah hails from Great Britain and her warmth and willingness to lend a hand make her loved by children and staff alike.

Helen Wilbur
Helen is a model assistant who is celebrating her 30th anniversary at Montecito in 2009! 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 both three- and four-year old classes. We are truly thankful for her loyal dedication to us – and her world famous hugs.

Jessica Williams
Jessica found Montecito in 2008 while employed as a caretaker for special needs children and came here to shadow one of our students. She quickly fell in love with our campus and decided to stay. She continues to care for special needs children and balances her time here as both a shadow and a teaching assistant in our three-year-old and Enrichment programs. Jessica attends Mission College where she is very close to graduating with all the ECE units necessary to become a preschool teacher. Jessica has been working with preschool aged children since she was in middle school. She has been a Sunday School teacher, and a volunteer with the International order of the Rainbow for Girls (a Masonic organization for girls aged 11-21).

Carrie Wolk
Prior to joining Montecito in the fall of 2001, Carrie 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 where she was 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. She has an AS degree in Behavioral Sciences from DeAnza College as well as 24 ECE units, also from DeAnza. She also attended San Francisco University for one year.

Deborah Wolk
Deborah is the daughter of Carrie Wolk, one of our four-year-old teachers, and has been assisting and teaching for us since 2003. Deborah loves being with young children and 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 enjoys doing arts and crafts projects. She has AA degrees in both Child Development and Psychology.