Mercedes Williams - Founder of FPNSJune 11, 1932 - October 6, 2005
Born in Puerto Rico, Mercedes was the youngest of 10 children. In 1943, her family moved and settled in the Bay Area. She was a successful businesswoman. Soon after becoming a mother herself, she added childcare in the number of causes she supported. She founded the Parents’ Co- operative Nursery School, which was first located in San Lorenzo in 1961. |
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Camellia Santos, Executive Director
I began my teaching journey at Chabot College in 2003. I acquired my undergraduate practicum hours from Chabot College Children’s Center and Mills College Children’s School, where they emphasize on the importance of observation and documentation to guide teaching practices.
I earned my degree in Child Development from Mills College in 2009.
Since then, I’ve taught in a play-based school in Los Altos, academia-focused school in Fremont, and a Montessori Preschool in Hayward.
The experiences I’ve obtained in working with children, in various educational settings continue to influence my interactions with children and how I approach daily classroom situations.
My rapport with both students and parents has helped me develop skills in the importance of listening to understand. I’ve learned to integrate my listening skills with considerable regard for compassionate communication, to manage conflict, regardless of age or maturity. Encouraging children to become active participants in their own learning has been for me, one of the most rewarding steps in the process of education. It is where children build their confidence and discern that they are competent, resilient human beings worthy of love and attention.
Last year our family joined Fremont Parents’ Nursery School. The interactions we have with the staff, and families continue to establish a strong foundation to our daughters’ memorable preschool experience, while instilling the value of a community coming together to serve a common purpose.
I feel very honored for the opportunity, to contribute to the great work already established by this remarkable organization. I am delighted to be of service.
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 hold an Early Childhood Certificate that qualifies me to be both a lead classroom teacher and to direct a preschool site. Having done both, I find that being in the classroom is my preference.
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 with Teacher Pratheeba, who is a wonderful partner in teaching. We both find Prek children to be incredibly curious and exciting to teach. Our 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. The children learn their letters, numbers, and more through songs, games, and our daily project time. In addition to being ready to learn 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. The children are also enjoying a year full of fun and friends. An FPNS graduate will be ready for kindergarten and excited about going!
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 with Teacher Pratheeba, who is a wonderful partner in teaching. We both find Prek children to be incredibly curious and exciting to teach. Our 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. The children learn their letters, numbers, and more through songs, games, and our daily project time. In addition to being ready to learn 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. The children are also enjoying a year full of fun and friends. An FPNS graduate will be ready for kindergarten and excited about going!
Pratheeba Ramachandran, Pre-K Teacher
I grew up in Southern India and graduated from college with a Bachelors degree in science. When I got married and moved to United States with my husband and son, we wanted to stay in touch with our roots and enrolled my son in Tamil language school to teach him our culture and traditions. I started volunteering in the same and discovered how much I enjoyed teaching and learning with young children. I decided to take up early childhood education as my career and did my course work at Ohlone College. Early childhood education classes opened a new world for me and showed the power of creative and open ended play. It showed me the importance of early years of life where children explore, create and learn in their own pace. I was fortunate to join FPNS in 2011 as an Associate to Teacher Marsha and quickly learned how the school believed and encompassed all these by providing open ended and meaningful activities to children. The co-op school structure has given me the great experience of working with children along with their families and has helped me to grow, learn and thrive together. Under the great mentorship of Annette and my peers I was able to grow from being an associate to a lead teacher and I am still learning everyday.
I am blessed with a wonderful husband and two amazing children. My son Anirudh is pursuing computer science major at UCLA and my daughter Ananya is a junior at Washington High School. I love spending time with my family and enjoy traveling together whenever we can. I love hiking, reading books, baking and meeting up with friends.
I am blessed with a wonderful husband and two amazing children. My son Anirudh is pursuing computer science major at UCLA and my daughter Ananya is a junior at Washington High School. I love spending time with my family and enjoy traveling together whenever we can. I love hiking, reading books, baking and meeting up with friends.
Elissia Forsyth, Administrative Lead
I received my BA in Psychology from the University of California, Davis. After college, I knew that I wanted to work with children and help them in some capacity. Until I had children of my own, I worked in the field of early intervention, first as a Behavioral Therapist, and then as a Program Manager. Along with our team, we provided ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) services to preschool children who were diagnosed on the Autism spectrum, and I worked my way up to managing many of these programs and the staff that implemented them. I loved the bond that I formed with the children and families that I worked with each and every day. The life changing difference that we made in the lives of the children and their families solidified my passion to work in the field of early childhood education.
Fremont Parents' Nursery School is truly a special place for me. Both of my daughters attended FPNS and I served on the Board during our time here. I love this school, I am invested in this school, and I love the sense of community that it offers. It has been as much a school for me as it has been for my children. The people and life lessons that FPNS has provided will stay with me forever. I was given the opportunity to return to work at FPNS after 9 years of being a stay-at-home mom. I think I offer a unique perspective as a former parent and a staff member, and I want our families to know that I am here to be of service in any way that I can. I believe that each family gets out of our school what they put in, and our school is only as good as the families and staff that comprise it. Thank you for choosing to be a part of Fremont Parents' Nursery School!
Fremont Parents' Nursery School is truly a special place for me. Both of my daughters attended FPNS and I served on the Board during our time here. I love this school, I am invested in this school, and I love the sense of community that it offers. It has been as much a school for me as it has been for my children. The people and life lessons that FPNS has provided will stay with me forever. I was given the opportunity to return to work at FPNS after 9 years of being a stay-at-home mom. I think I offer a unique perspective as a former parent and a staff member, and I want our families to know that I am here to be of service in any way that I can. I believe that each family gets out of our school what they put in, and our school is only as good as the families and staff that comprise it. Thank you for choosing to be a part of Fremont Parents' Nursery School!
Kavitha Viswanathan, Lead Teacher
My journey to become a preschool teacher started in 2005, when I enrolled in Mission College, Santa Clara to earn my Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education. As part of the course, I worked with children who were 2 yrs-4 years of age at the Childcare Center on campus, which was a great learning experience. I also have a
and Masters Degree in Literature and Arts from India.
FPNS is very close to my heart. Both my children were former students here. The philosophy of learning resonates with me. I feel blessed to join a team that is so passionate and committed to providing an environment that supports learning through play.
On the personal side, I am a fun loving person and you can often find me hanging out with friends and family over the weekends. I enjoy listening to all kinds of music and any free time I get, I immerse myself in DIY projects. Oh, did I mention that I love my ever- supporting husband and two adorable kids (10 years old and 5 years old).
and Masters Degree in Literature and Arts from India.
FPNS is very close to my heart. Both my children were former students here. The philosophy of learning resonates with me. I feel blessed to join a team that is so passionate and committed to providing an environment that supports learning through play.
On the personal side, I am a fun loving person and you can often find me hanging out with friends and family over the weekends. I enjoy listening to all kinds of music and any free time I get, I immerse myself in DIY projects. Oh, did I mention that I love my ever- supporting husband and two adorable kids (10 years old and 5 years old).
