Meet the Danville Staff
Ms. Kayla, Director of Preschools
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Ms. Stephanie, Administrative Assistant
I am so happy to be a part of the amazing YLA team! I support the leadership, teachers, and teacher assistants on a daily basis through a variety of tasks. It brings me joy to see the passion of everyone at YLA and the positive impact they are having on shaping the lives of so many children! In my free time, I enjoy hiking, reading, listening to music, and travelling. :)
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Ms. Michelle, Site Supervisor
I have over 25 years of experience in Early Childhood Education and hold a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science. Working with children has always been my passion, and I find so much joy in watching the discoveries they make each day as they learn, grow, and build confidence.
I believe the early years are incredibly important in a child’s development, and I am passionate about helping create a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where every child feels supported, encouraged, and excited to learn. Building strong relationships with children, families, and staff is something I value deeply, and I love being part of each child’s learning journey.
When I am not at school, I enjoy reading, traveling, camping, and spending time with my family and my fur babies. I am grateful to be part of the YLA team and look forward to supporting our wonderful students, families, and teachers.
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Ms. Ana, Pre-K Prep Teacher
Ever since I was young, I dreamed of becoming a teacher. That dream became a reality in 2023 when I began my teaching journey. I quickly learned that teaching is so much more than just ABCs and 123s—it’s about encouraging curiosity, asking questions, following each child’s lead, learning alongside them, and seeing where that journey takes us.
I believe children are lifelong learners, and their early years are some of the most important for growth and development. Creating a nurturing, responsive environment where children feel seen, heard, supported, and encouraged to thrive is something I am deeply passionate about.
I am currently enrolled at Los Medanos College, majoring in Early Childhood Education, and plan to transfer to a university to continue expanding my knowledge of child development and effective ways to support learning.
In my free time, I enjoy cooking, baking, arts and crafts, spending time with friends and family, visiting the aquarium, and spending time with my cat, Ollie.
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Ms. Clarisa, Preschool Teacher
I have worked in early childhood education for almost 7 years, including experience working with different types of programming such as Montessori-based programming. I love working at the preschool level and watching the children discover who they are and who they want to become, while exploring their unique talents and interests. The opportunity to be a positive influence while enjoying the reward of watching a child grow is what draws me to this field. When I am not working with young children, some of my favorite hobbies are hiking, yoga, going to the gym, and shopping. I also love movie theater nights.
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Ms. Kelsey, Preschool Teacher
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Mr. Miller, Pre-K Teacher
I am so excited to be part of the staff here at YLA and to put my early childhood education studies into practice! Teaching preschool has always been where I wanted to start my career in the education field because I see every day as an exciting new opportunity for myself and the students to learn. I particularly love art, and I am excited to bring my passion to the classroom by helping to develop creative projects for our students to explore and practice their own creativity. Outside of the classroom, I love hiking on Mount Diablo, reading books, and painting in oil pastels. I am currently in college working toward my teaching degree in fine arts.
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Ms. Sara, Preschool Teacher
I love Early Childhood Education! Watching the children progress throughout the year inspires me daily! I received my B.A. in Early Childhood Education from CSU Sacramento with a minor in Deaf Studies, where I became fluent in Sign Language. When I am not at YLA with the children, I am often on adventures with my husband. We love to dance, hike, and go on bike rides. I also play the cello!
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Mr. Zack, Director of Business Opearations
Kayla and I have always had huge hearts for children. On my end, I have worked with kids for years in a variety of capacities including coaching youth sports, teaching Sunday School, tutoring, and volunteering with underprivileged children in the foster care system. It has been an absolute joy walking alongside Kayla to help create Young Learners Academy. My role primarily focuses on overseeing the back-end operations of Young Learners Academy, but you'll also see me volunteering from time to time with special events. Outside of Young Learners Academy, my "day job" is working as a local real estate and business litigation attorney.
