MEET OUR FUN, LOVING & QUALIFIED CAMP STAFF & TEACHERS:   All of our teachers have completed ECE units and have experience working with and creating amazingly fun learning opportunities for children.   Dan Harrison, Preschool Camp Director Dan (aka Dan Dan the Mountain Man) has more than a decade of experience managing summer camps at MP&MS. In addition to his years of service at summer camp, Dan also serves our community as the preschool afternoon supervisor and assistant to the office manager. Dan loves what he does and is looking forward to welcoming all new and returning families to Preschool Camp at MP&MS.     TEACHER BIO'S:

 

Mark DeRango, 4 year old teacher:
Mark has been working at MP&MS for over 19 years and is one of the teachers in the Barn classroom (PreK). He grew up right here in our very own twin cities (Corte Madera & Larkspur), and completed his Early Childhood Education units at the College of Marin. Mark adds, “everything else I have learned from the students over the years”. Mark enjoys working with the wide age range of students at MP&MS, and is looking forward to “an awesome and fun summer with my young friends”. He is known for a great sense of humor, his true sense of understanding children, and his history as a true MP&MS team player. Mark enjoys an assortment of outdoor activities, including mountain bike riding, soccer, and competing nationally on a championship professional paintball team. He is a true kid at heart!

 

Mitzi Medrud, 4 year old teacher:
Mitzi is one of the teachers in our toddler program at MP&MS, and the proud parent of an entering 4th grader at MP&MS. Mitzi has worked in both the preschool and primary summer camp program for several years. Mitzi completed her Early Childhood Education units at the College Of Marin. She has a natural ability to promote and allow her students to reach for their potential and to care about their friends and themselves. Her warm, nurturing, and “hands on” nature contributes to her success as a preschool teacher. Outside of school, Mitzi enjoys spending time with friends and family, taking long walks on the beach and watching her son’s ice hockey team, the Santa Rosa Flyers. Mitzi is also  die-hard San Jose Sharks fan and cheers for every goal of every game!

 

Jessi Rodriguez, 4 year old assistant teacher and floater:
Jessi is an alumni of MP&MS, and has worked in the MP&MS summer camp program for nine years in the K-8th program. Currently Jessi is a studying to become an Outdoor Educator at Santa Rosa Junior College. In her free time she enjoys taking long hikes and getting in touch with nature. Jessi believes that “nature helps people stay in touch with themselves and others, and simply makes you feel good”. One of her professional goals in life is to “help children understand that nature is a beautiful place that helps us grow as humans”. She would like every child to have a positive experience in nature. Jessi has an infectious smile and reflects the values of the school learned while attending MP&MS; she truly teaches to reach children.

 

Gayanne Fambrini, 3 year old teacher:
Gayanne is a native of Northern Californian and received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Dominican College in San Rafael. She is also proud mother of a Marin Academy High School student, and has worked extensively at many preschools in the Marin area. Gayanne has been a substitute teacher and MP&MS and is currently co-teacher in the Seashore classroom, where she has found “I can give each child the attention needed for development and growth through our wonderful play-based program”. Gayanne’s brings to our school a warm and caring personality and deep understanding of young children and early childhood education.

 

Stephanie Lyle, 2 year old teacher:
Stephanie is a Marin County native and grew up right here in Corte Madera. She graduated from Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, where she also completed her Early Childhood Education units. Stephanie has been a teacher in the toddler program at MP&MS for10 years. Stephanie has a natural talent for understanding children and helping them feel welcome and safe as they begin their transition into their first school.

 

Samantha Hoffman, 2 year old teacher:
Samantha has been working at MP&MS with the toddlers in the Meadow classroom since January of 2010. She attended MP&MS through fifth grade and is currently a student at College Of Marin, where she completed her her Early Childhood Education units. “I have enjoyed working with the kids and staff at MP&MS so much. It means so much for me to come back as an educator at a school where I used to be a student.” Samantha plans to continue her education at San Francisco State University in the areas of Early Childhood Education. Samantha enjoys anything if it's outside, as well as cooking and painting. She has a very warm and sunny attitude as well as an incredible laugh and smile, and a natural tendency to nurture children as they learn and thrive in the early education years.

 

Tami Keller, 2 year old teacher:
Tami graduated from Sacramento State University and then transferred to UC Davis to complete her teaching credential/masters program/  While finishing school, she has worked as an assistant in the MP&MS After School Program (K-8th) and as a student saide  in the Barn classroom. Tami’s hobbies include cooking, baking, knitting, and triathlons, but not all at the same time. Tami combines her loving attitude and energetic aptitude to provide a great environment in which children feel safe and free to reach for their potential.

 

 

 

SPECIALIST TEACHERS:

 

Paul Maes, art and building teacher (and general laugh maker):
Paul has been the art teacher at MP&MS for over 10 years. He grew up in Marin, leaving to complete his Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts at the University of Oregon. Paul loves building things and then taking them apart. His motto is, "Making a mess is the best!" Paul is the parent of a daughter who will move from the MP&MS preschool program to our kindergarten in the fall. He is a true kid at heart and isn’t afraid to let his goofy side out!

 

Aysha Washburn (afternoon teacher):
Aysha “has been an artist all of my life, and a preschool teacher for almost 30 years, with some time in between working in software customer service”.  Aysha has had the great good fortune to be trained by Rhoda Kellogg who believed in the practice of child directed play and the importance of in the curriculum. She has collected thousands of pieces of art from children all over the world, and written about the importance of art in children’s lives. Aysha enjoyed working as a float teacher at MP&MS because this role allowed to get to know all of the students, parents and teachers, and in the after-school programs developing art curriculum.

 

In her experience as a preschool teacher, Aysha has learned from a variety of children, families and staff from diverse ethnic cultural and economic backgrounds. In addition to her ECE units, Aysha has an MA in Transformative Arts from JFK University and she is a Certified Process Coach.

 

Desmond Fambrini, classroom assistant and floater:
Desmond attended MP&MS for many years and now he is entering his third year at Marin Academy in San Rafael. Desmond has been attending the MP&MS Summer Camp since he was five years old and now he is “looking forward to another summer filled with adventure, fun and exploration”. Desmond enjoys hip hop dancing, spending time with friends and doing the dishes for his super awesome Mom, Gayanne.