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Our Passionate Teachers and Staff

Guiding with Care and Creativity

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Jennifer Sorensson

Director

Jen has been a part of The Growing Place for nine years, starting as a teacher in the Transitional and Parent-Toddler classrooms before transitioning to the office. With over 25 years of experience in the field, she has taught various age groups from infancy to 8 years old. She holds an M.A. in education and is dedicated to fostering the growth of our preschool community.

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Beth Camarillo

Assistant Director

Beth, also known as Mrs. Camarillo, has been with The Growing Place for six years, initially teaching in the Transitional classroom and Young Threes. For the past three years, she has served as the Assistant Director in the office. With 34 years of teaching experience in the Conejo Valley, she holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and a Site Supervisor certificate.

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Crystal Alexander

Parent Toddler Teacher

With over thirty years of experience in early childhood education, Crystal is dedicated to creating a nurturing and engaging environment for young learners in our Parent Toddler Program. As a mother of three, all of whom have participated in this wonderful program, she deeply values the transformative experiences it offers.

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Erica Watkins

Parent Toddler Teacher

This is Erica's fourth year at The Growing Place, where she teaches the Parent Toddler class. She holds a BA in Liberal Studies from Cal State Long Beach and a Master’s in Education from Pepperdine University. Erica spent ten years teaching Kindergarten and 1st grade before taking time off to raise her children. She enjoys introducing quality literature and facilitating process art experiences for her students.

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Jen Bovatsek

Room 2 Teacher

With a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and a completed early childhood education curriculum, Jen has always been passionate about working with young children. After realizing the significance of play in child development, she pursued a Master’s Degree in Recreation, Parks, and Tourism from San Francisco State. Jen greatly enjoys creating environments where children learn through play and grow through experiential learning.

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Shohreh Ebrahimi-Mofidi

Room 2 Teacher

Shohreh is excited to spend her fourth year in Room 2, where she loves to help children "explore, learn, and grow." She holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Art, Graphic Design, and Advertising, along with a certificate in Early Childhood Education. Shohreh previously taught art to high school and college students for over ten years. Her goal as a preschool teacher is to create a nurturing and engaging environment that helps children develop essential skills and a strong foundation for their future education.

 

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Karen Smith

Room 3 Teacher

Karen has dedicated 40 years to the field of Early Childhood Education, spending 29 of those years here at The Growing Place! Before joining us, she owned and operated a large family daycare for 12 years, making children an integral part of her life. She holds an Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education, along with numerous certifications in the field. Karen is passionate about providing a safe, nurturing, and fun preschool experience for every child in her class. Karen cherishes that all six of her children and one of her grandsons attended The Growing Place Preschool.

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Kelly Niebergall

Room 3 Teacher

Kelly's connection with The Growing Place spans eight years, beginning as a parent when her daughters attended the school, and continuing into her current role as a valued staff member for the past three years. She holds both undergraduate degree in English from UC Santa Cruz, a master’s degree in English from San Francisco State University, and a Child Development Associate Teacher Certificate from Moorpark College. Kelly is passionate about sharing her love of reading with children, using felt storyboards, dialogic reading, and extension activities to bring stories to life and foster joy and meaning in books.

© 2024 by The Growing Place

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