EduTeachers

Director

Melissa began her career in Early Education over 21 years ago, beginning as an assistant teacher at Allan Hancock Children’s Center. After obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development from the University of LaVerne, she completed a student teaching internship at The Children’s House Montessori School.  She then spent a handful of years employed at Community Action Commission Early Head Start as a Lead Teacher and Interim Site Supervisor. 

Melissa felt passionate to create a program of her own - and also wanted to get married and have another child - so she spent the next phase of her journey as a private in-home educator while she raised a teenager and pursued a Master's Degree in Educational and Organizational Leadership. After graduating in 2015, and having a child in 2016, she opened EduCare on January 4th, 2017. Starting the program with a friend's two preschool-age children part-time, and her own infant who was barely six months old, she set out to build the early learning program she’s always wanted.

Lead Teacher

Sarabi started early childhood education courses at Allan Hancock College in 2018. After obtaining 24 units, EduCare was incredibly lucky to welcome her to our family childcare program in October 2019.  During the pandemic, Sarabi rose to the challenge of providing care and education to infants, toddlers, and elementary aged children who completed their distant learning programs at Educare. Sarabi brings a passionate, warm and joyful spirit to our classroom each and every day. Children and families can always count on her to greet them with a genuine smile and a hug, and she is the best at rotating learning materials, planning environment changes, implementing curriculum and leading small group activities. Sarabi loves to create art and dance with children, and hopes to pursue a Bachelors Degree in the future. 

Associate Teacher

Ramon is currently two semesters away from completing his Bachelor's degree at California Polytechnic State University. Though he is only on-site during college breaks, EduCare is fortunate to have had the universe put him in our path via an alumni family. Employed since summer 2021, Ramon embodies the type of diversity and male involvement that is critically important in the first five years of children’s education. EduTeachers can depend on Ramon to participate in rough and tumble play with children, lead gross motor activities, and have innovative classroom management strategies. We hope to be able to convince Ramon that he doesn’t want to change his major and in fact wants to promote to Lead Teacher at EduCare. 

Assistant Teacher

Alexis joined EduCare in April 2022.  After surviving the pandemic, several staff changes in twelve months, as well as consistent changes in enrollment, we welcomed her from her previous Site Supervisor at the Santa Maria Valley YMCA with open arms and a constant stream of encouraging her to now plant roots with our program.  Alexis is excited to begin her journey in child development this fall and hopes to acquire a Child Development Permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. As the newest member of our team beginning in EduCare’s sixth year of operation, she is the perfect addition to our infant and toddler classroom.  Alexis is exceptionally attentive to their unique stage of development and fully grasps their specific style of learning through caregiving routines, relationships, and play.