Annette Daniels, Executive Director
Annette Daniels brings a rich understanding of child development to FPNS, having been in the field of Early Childhood Education for 35 years. She holds a BA in Child and Adolescent Development, with an emphasis on Young Children and Families, an Early Childhood Education Certificate, the State of California Child Development Site Supervisor Credential, and the State of California CBEST certification.
Her background encompasses teaching and directing and administrative experience in parent participation nursery schools, and includes working with families whose children exhibit different learning styles and special needs. Trained as a Behavior Intervention Therapist, she has worked in a 1:1 setting with children on the autistic spectrum, and counts among her greatest joys the successful mainstreaming of some of these children into a regular school classroom. Passionate about children's literature and literacy, she has worked as a private tutor with Lindamood Bell and as a Site Coordinator for Homework Central, a non-profit after school tutorial center.
Believing in the value of a cooperative preschool, Annette feels it's essential to develop a strong sense of community within a school's membership, and to be a resource and support to both parents and staff members in a respectful partnership.
Her background encompasses teaching and directing and administrative experience in parent participation nursery schools, and includes working with families whose children exhibit different learning styles and special needs. Trained as a Behavior Intervention Therapist, she has worked in a 1:1 setting with children on the autistic spectrum, and counts among her greatest joys the successful mainstreaming of some of these children into a regular school classroom. Passionate about children's literature and literacy, she has worked as a private tutor with Lindamood Bell and as a Site Coordinator for Homework Central, a non-profit after school tutorial center.
Believing in the value of a cooperative preschool, Annette feels it's essential to develop a strong sense of community within a school's membership, and to be a resource and support to both parents and staff members in a respectful partnership.
Marsha Yarbrough, Pre-K Teacher
I have been teaching at Fremont Parents’ Nursery School since September 2000. I have a Masters Degree in Fine Arts, a Masters Degree in Teaching, and additional coursework in Early Childhood Education. I first came to FPNS as a parent with my own son. I had been teaching art to children and to adults, but after my experience as a volunteer in my son’s class, I decided I wanted to teach preschool at FPNS. After several more years of coursework, I was hired to teach the three-year-olds at FPNS. My fondest memories of my years with three- year- olds were watching them gain confidence and independence, doing all kinds of messy art projects with them, and getting hugs.
l now teach the pre-kindergarten group at FPNS -- which is an incredibly curious and exciting age to teach. My monthly thematic activities (like Space Flight or About You/About Me) provide the children with new ideas to explore. Free playtime allows them to follow their own individual interests and to socialize with their peers. We learn our letters, numbers, and more through songs, games, and our daily project time. In addition to being ready for Age-Appropriate academics, children between the ages of four and five also take a great leap of maturity. They can learn to do more things for themselves, to handle their emotions, to work well in groups, to solve their own conflicts, and to sit, listen, and learn. During this last year before the children go off to the big world of kindergarten, FPNS staff and parent volunteers are teaching these new social/emotional skills along with the crucial ABC’s and counting. We are also encouraging the children to gradually exercise these new skills on their own. An FPNS graduate will be ready for kindergarten and excited about going!
l now teach the pre-kindergarten group at FPNS -- which is an incredibly curious and exciting age to teach. My monthly thematic activities (like Space Flight or About You/About Me) provide the children with new ideas to explore. Free playtime allows them to follow their own individual interests and to socialize with their peers. We learn our letters, numbers, and more through songs, games, and our daily project time. In addition to being ready for Age-Appropriate academics, children between the ages of four and five also take a great leap of maturity. They can learn to do more things for themselves, to handle their emotions, to work well in groups, to solve their own conflicts, and to sit, listen, and learn. During this last year before the children go off to the big world of kindergarten, FPNS staff and parent volunteers are teaching these new social/emotional skills along with the crucial ABC’s and counting. We are also encouraging the children to gradually exercise these new skills on their own. An FPNS graduate will be ready for kindergarten and excited about going!
Mercedes Williams - Founder of FPNS
June 11, 1932 - October 6, 2005
Born in Peurto Rico, Mercedes was the youngest of 10 children. In 1943, her family moved to the Bay Area, where she became a successful woman and an advocate for a number of causes including child care, which as a young mother she saw the need and founded our school in 1961.
Born in Peurto Rico, Mercedes was the youngest of 10 children. In 1943, her family moved to the Bay Area, where she became a successful woman and an advocate for a number of causes including child care, which as a young mother she saw the need and founded our school in 1961.
