Our Educators
Our beloved teachers are the heart and soul of Building Blocks!
Teacher Nicole
Teacher Nicole has lived on the mountain for 19 years. Her favorite color is electric blue and her favorite dinosaur is a Triceratops. She has 2 children, both in college, 4 dogs, and 2 cats. On the glitter scale she is a 10 (always more glitter, please!). And an item from her bucket list is to play women's rugby.
As Director and Lead Teacher, Teacher Nicole provides leadership and expertise to Building Blocks through management of staff development, parent-teacher collaboration, collaboration with outside agencies, and oversight of licensing requirements. She received her Bachelor's degree in Child Development from SJSU and holds a site supervisor permit.
Teacher Cheryl
Teacher Cheryl has lived on the mountain for 7 years. Her favorite colors are teal and purple and her favorite dinosaurs are herbivores like the Brachiosaurus. She has 1 child in second grade, and a Red Fox Labrador named Ruby. On the glitter scale she is a 7 (love, love, love glitter, except at clean-up time 😉). And an item from her bucket list is to visit the Seven Wonders of the World!!
As a bonafide costume designer, Teacher Cheryl has an eye for design with exquisite attention to detail. As our Administrative Coordinator she keeps us organized and oversees management of finances, facilities, maintenance, membership & enrollment, and other human resources related tasks.
Ms. Irene
Ms. Irene has lived on the mountain for 2 years. Her favorite colors are red, pink, and blue and her favorite dinosaur is an Apatosaurus. She has 2 children, Matthew and Isabella, and a cat named Kodi. On the glitter scale she is a 5 (Glitter is fun…but oh so messy!). And an item from her bucket list is to travel to different countries and to do a road trip.
Teacher Irene loves to play and is known for bringing joy to the play yard. As an Assistant Teacher she has earned her appropriate Early Childhood Education units from West Valley Community College.
Teacher Jessie
Teacher Jessie has lived on the mountain her whole life. Her favorite color is orange and her favorite dinosaur is a Triceratops. She has 2 children, 2 dogs, and chickens. On the glitter scale she is a 7 (love, love, love glitter, except at clean-up time 😉). And an item from her bucket list is to travel abroad to countries like Germany, Denmark, and Ireland.
Teacher Jessie received her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in Education from UCSC in 2013 and a Master of Social Work degree from CSUMB in 2018. She brings to Building Blocks an array of knowledge gained through working in nonprofits, providing school-based therapy to K-5 students, and being a mom of a disabled child. As our Program Development Coordinator she manages curriculum development, development of best practices, and creation of resources for the Santa Cruz Mountain community.
Teacher Leanna
Teacher Leanna has lived on the mountain for 6 years. Her favorite color is blue and her favorite dinosaur is a Brachiosaurus. She has 2 beautiful children, and a love for animals with 2 dogs, 1 cat , 12 chickens and 4 fish. On the glitter scale she is a 10 (always more glitter, please!). And an item from her bucket list is to visit Ireland.
Teacher Leanna (aka Teacher Banana) isn’t afraid to get messy! You might find her elbow deep in shaving cream in our play yard! As an Assistant Teacher she has earned her appropriate Early Childhood Education units from West Valley Community College.
Miss Leslie
Miss Leslie has lived on the mountain for 12 years. Her favorite color is teal and her favorite dinosaur is a Pterodactyl. She has 3 children, chickens, quails, geese, and ducks. On the glitter scale she is a 10 (always more glitter, please!). And an item from her bucket list is to explore many exciting places such as the Torres del Paine Patagonia, an Alaskan cruise, and the Annapurna Circuit in central Nepal.
Miss Leslie’s creativity is not only seen at the art stations, but throughout the play yard. She has a gift for generating activities that support multiple developmental domains. As an Assistant Teacher she has earned her appropriate Early Childhood Education units from West Valley Community College.
Teacher Yorleny
Teacher Yorleny has lived on the mountain all her life basically (let’s go with 25+ years😉). She has a hard time picking just one color because she loves them all, but if she has to pick, the top two would be blue and green…and if it sparkles, even better! Her favorite dinosaur is a Brachiosaurus. She has 1 fish, 2 dogs, 3 cats and 7 chickens. On the glitter scale she is a 10 (always more glitter, please!). And an item from her bucket list is to visit Italy, Greece, Spain and Ireland.
As an Assistant Teacher, Teacher Yorleny is well on her way to becoming a Lead Teacher with an Associate in Science in Early Childhood Education from West Valley Community College. Teacher Yorleny is an expert at facilitating the daily rhythm (or schedule), connecting with families at hand off and collection, and scaffolding student learning.
Teacher Sarah
Teacher Sarah has lived on the mountain all her life. Her favorite color is green and on the sparkle scale she is a 8. Her favorite dinosaur is a Tri-sarah-tops. She has two dogs and three kids. An item from her bucket list is to travel every continent and to go on a long distance motorcycle trip.
Teacher Sarah rallies the children throughout the play yard! As an Assistant Teacher she has earned her appropriate Early Childhood Education units from West Valley
Teacher Citlali
Teacher Citlali has lived on the mountain for 8 years. Her favorite color is pink and on the sparkle scale she is an 8/10! Her favorite dinosaur is a Brontosaurus. She has 3 kids, 8 dogs, 8 cats, chickens and a horse. An item from her bucket list is to go to Greece. Teacher Citlali play, play, plays!
As an Assistant Teacher she attends Early Childhood Education classes at West Valley Community College.