Our Staff
Our teachers and office staff at La Verne Participation Preschool are committed to providing a fun and safe environment for your preschooler to learn and discover the world around them. Our staff has a combination of years of early childhood education experience and higher education.
Dawn, Director & Seedlings Teacher
Dawn comes to us with over 25 years of experience teaching and working with young children and their families. Her journey began as a parent in the cooperative nursery school setting, where she fell in love with the Co-Op community experience and working with young children. Dawn has always been an advocate for early childhood education and early intervention in the formative years. Advocacy is at the heart of what we do. Dawn has developed and implemented programs around the San Gabriel Valley in other Co-Ops over the years. Showing her passion for early childhood education and her dedication to young children and their families, Dawn received her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and English from APU and holds an Associate of Arts in Behavioral Sciences. Dawn was awarded a Teacher Recognition award in 2012 from the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools. Dawn embodies the Co-Op spirit and philosophy and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our community. “Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.”
V, Lavender Room Teacher
V has been a teacher here at LVPPP since summer of 2022. She recently graduated from Citrus College with her associate’s degree in early childhood education and currently attends Cal Poly Pomona, working on her bachelor’s degree in multilingual teaching. She enjoys working with our various age groups. Currently, she makes sure our play yard is a nurturing, educational, and safe place for the children. She encourages play and exploration by setting up new, engaging provocation tables and tuff tray activities that support the learning of all of our students. A quote that she values is, “All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and someone who believes in them.”
Debbie, Sunflower Room Teacher
Debbie has over 30 years experience as a Director/Teacher in a cooperative nursery school setting. She is well versed in early childhood education and is a great mentor for children and grownups alike. She served on the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools council for many years and has received many awards over the years for her participation in the co-op community. She is a wealth of knowledge. Debbie received an Honorary Lifetime Member award in 2010 from CCPPNS. Debbie loves adding new children’s books to her library. She enjoys singing with the children, and you just might hear her singing “Matilda the gorilla”.
"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood."
—Fred Rogers
Carly, Daisy Room Teacher
Carly has worked in education since 2014. She joined LVPPP as a staff member in the summer of 2024. She holds a Master’s degree in English and is finishing up a Child Development certificate. A quote that has inspired her teaching is, “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” — B.B. King
Emily, Hummingbird Teacher
Emily comes to LVPPP having worked with a variety of age groups over the last 20 years, from ages 2 to 17. However, she has always been the most fascinated with the youngest learners. Emily has a master’s degree in early childhood education and a bachelor’s of science in kinesiology, as well as a California elementary teaching credential. She fell in love with the concept of cooperative preschools while doing her student teaching hours for her master’s degree at Cottage Co-op in Pasadena. Once her twins were of preschool age, she searched for co-ops in the area and fell in love with LVPPP. After 2 years as the Board of Directors President and as an alumni parent, Emily has further served as a staff member in various facets, including the Seedlings class founder, previous Sunflower teacher, and is returning to her role as the Outdoor Classroom and Art Atelier teacher. Emily has kept this quote at the forefront of her mind, throughout all of her years of teaching, no matter the age of the child. “The secret to education lies in respecting the student.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors provides oversight on how the school is run, hires the Director, and approves the annual budget, in accordance with the school’s mission. The Board is elected by the member families during the previous school year.
All families are welcome to attend and participate in the monthly Board Meetings, which are a great way to learn about what’s going on at the school. All comments and suggestions are welcome.
If you have feedback for the Board or would like to join the Board, please email the Board President at president@lvppp.com.
2025-2026 Board Members
Director: Dawn C.
President: Vanessa S.
Vice President: Isabel E.
Secretary: Crystal B.
Treasurer: Chris K. & Dounia S.
Events: Jenny V.
Community Outreach: Scott & Angela T.
Fundraising: Elise H.
Donations: Jessica S.
CCPPNS Council Rep: Torrie W.