Laurel
Executive
Director
Laurel is a long-time Playmates community member and started as a teaching parent in January of 2018 when her first daughter Saoirse was 2 ½. She began teaching the Young 5 class in the Fall of 2021. Her younger daughter Millie graduated Young 5 in 2023!
Laurel has worked with children since 2006. She studied Child Development at City College of San Francisco, then went to SFSU where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She has a Child Development Teacher Permit, with her Site Supervisor Permit currently in process. She has also taken all admin classes needed for Directorship.
Being a parent, Laurel has taken a couple gentle parenting courses over the years. She values play-based and child-led learning and is passionate about supporting, nurturing, and appreciating young children as they learn, develop, and grow. She is also passionate about this co-op community and is Playmates’ representative for the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools.
In her free time, Laurel enjoys sewing, knitting, and of course any adventures with her two girls.
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Kasie
Preschool
Lead Teacher
Kasie is a San Francisco native with well over a decade’s worth of experience. She has a passion for introducing children to different experiences and tools that prepare them for the next stages in their lives. Besides being well-versed in play-based learning and social-emotional development, Kasie also has training as a Montessori teacher and is working towards her Site Supervisor permit.
As an avid surfer, Kasie brings her love for the ocean and outdoors into the classroom. She regularly organizes messy sensory activities for her students. She enjoys working on her art, surfing and swimming, reading, or spending time with loved ones in her free time. A fun fact about Kasie’s hair color is that it changes regularly. One day, it will be red, and the next day, it’ll be purple! In addition, she has lots of tattoos inspired by children’s stories.
Angela
Preschool Teacher
Angela studied Child Development at San Jose State University and has worked with children since 1998. She is passionate about child development and especially enjoys the connections made between teachers and families. Angela says, “The amount of growth that happens for children in the first five years of their lives is so monumental that being a part of it is so amazing.”
Previously, Angela worked at three other play-based preschools. But, it wasn’t until her daughter was enrolled at Playmates, that she discovered how a true play-based program operated. Angela was amazed at the children’s freedom to discover their surroundings, using the tools to solve their problems and create their own worlds. Being a part of Playmates for Angela means helping children build the strong foundations they need to succeed in their futures.
Angela currently holds her Master Teacher permit and is working towards her Site Supervisor qualifications. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, baking, cooking, crafting, and eating the food that San Francisco has to offer.
Michaela
Preschool Teacher
Michaela hails from Northern California, calling San Francisco home for the past 18 years. Michaela earned a B.A. in Human Development with a minor in Psychology from Sonoma State University in 2004. She has always felt a pull to work in the field of education, so she went on to attain her Multiple Subject Teaching Credentials from San Francisco State University in 2008. She worked for over a decade as an elementary school teacher, until she had to step away to tend to her medically fragile infant.
Michaela has a playful and loving spirit, always looking for ways to connect with others, a trait that has served her well in the field of education. She has over 20 years experience working with children as young as 6 months old through middle school, but as of recently has found her niche working with preschool age students. She is thrilled to be joining the Playmates community!
In her spare time, Michaela enjoys perusing bookstores, baking with her 7 year old daughter, and going for walks along Ocean Beach.
Carrie
Part-time and Substitute Teacher
Carrie, our part-time and substitute teacher, was a student of Playmates back in 1986 and returned 20 years later to become a teacher. “Playmates has always been a home away from home, I spent a lot of time here growing up.” Carrie’s mom, Joelene Maher, was a teacher and then the director of Playmates for many years. Carrie is the youngest four children, all of whom are Playmates alum.
Carrie is a 4th generation San Franciscan and loves the Giants, Warriors, and Forty Niners. She grew up in the Sunset district and now resides in the Haight with her husband Chris and senior dog Charlie. She bowls in a bowling league every Wednesday night and enjoys the outdoors.
When Carrie’s not at Playmates, she’s working as a personal assistant.
Vanessa
Young 5
Teacher
Vanessa was born and raised in Switzerland, where she studied child development. She brings 16 years of experience working with children 0-5 years of age.
Vanessa is also a mother to two daughters. The older daughter attends Francis Scott Key Elementary, while the younger daughter will be joining our preschool community.
In her free time, Vanessa loves family trips to the Zoo, Cal Academy, and going on hiking adventures all along the coast.
Kelly
Preschool Teacher
Kelly began her journey at Playmates in 1989 when she attended with her twin brother and 6 other sets from the mothers of twins club! She was born in San Francisco and has traveled the world, including living in India and Singapore for high school, and has made her way back home to raise her two children. Her mother was once the president of Playmates, helped establish Young 5’s with her twin brother, and her sister, daughter, and son are also all Playmate’s alums!
Kelly always knew she wanted to be a mother and work with children. When her daughter arrived, while she was studying to become a pilot, Kelly switched gears and started focusing on child development and psychology. She has a Masters in Infant Mental Health from Mills College and just completed a Masters in Speech-Language Pathology from New York University. Her philosophy stems from celebrating the whole child system and enhancing communication abilities as children learn to lift their voice!
Kelly holds a Site Supervisor Permit and is a forever learner. She is currently taking Childhood Nutrition at City College of San Francisco and is excited to become certified in SOS Feeding Therapy.
Kelly’s son is in Kinder this year and her daughter attends High School locally. Kelly loves to travel and is often exploring the Bay Area with her family and soaking in the sunshine for long naps with their dog, Rocky.