Mustard Seed
Preschool
STAFF
The teachers at Mustard Seed are the backbone of our school. Teachers collaborate with each other and with parents with the goal to bring out the very best in each child.
ADMINISTRATION
Candace (Director of Preschool)
​
Candace has been working in preschools for 20 years. She holds a BA in Child Development and an MA in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis on Childhood Trauma. She loves to partner with teachers and families as they navigate through the preschool years. Her side passion is bringing yoga + mindfulness to children to support their social-emotional development and learning. When not at work, she is either reading historical fiction or on a hike with her husband, 3 children, and 3 dogs.
Linda (Associate Director)
Linda has been at Mustard Seed for 15 years, but she has worked with children for over 20 years. There is not a single thing Linda can't help you with, as she knows all the ins and outs of Mustard Seed. She has taught all the MSP classes. When children are not around, she loves reading, drinking boba, and traveling.
THE ROO CLASSROOM
Teacher Janine
​
Janine has been with Mustard Seed Preschool for 10 years. With a background in art, she loves supporting toddlers as they discover, experiment, create, and grow. Outside the classroom, she enjoys painting, reading nonfiction, wandering through bookstores, or hunting for treasures in vintage shops.
​
Teacher Sharon
Sharon has been teaching at Mustard Seed Preschool for THIRTY THREE YEARS. She has certifications in child development and early childhood education. She majored in art in college, and she is a phenomenal artist. She draws and paints in her free time. Therefore, she really enjoys doing art projects with the children! Her grown sons are both alumni of Mustard Seed.
Teacher Saida
​
This is Saida's second year at Mustard Seed Preschool. She has been working with children since 2021. Saida is fluent in four languages: English, French, Arabic, and Berber. She has a background in law from Algeria. She is a wife and mother of a 2-year-old. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, shopping, and playing with her son.
THE PIGLET CLASSROOM
Teacher Ruth
​
Ruth has been working with children for as long as she can remember. This will be Ruth's fourth year at Mustard Seed! She has also been a Sunday School teacher for a little over a decade. She has been teaching preschool for six years. Aside from teaching, Ruth loves to be silly and tinker away, making all things creatvie and hopefully functional. She also enjoys diving into learning new things like anthropology, and most recently, sharks and other prehistoric ocean creatures while snacking in her many, many hammocks.
Teacher Nai
​
This is Nai's 14th year at Mustard Seed Preschool. She previously worked at ASCEND Charter School (K-8th grade) for 7 years before transitioning to MSP. Nai loves to be a supportive witness the children as they use their curiosity, creativity, and imagination. Nai is goofy and a lot of fun to be around. Working with children gives her endless energy and fulfillment throughout the day. Now that her 4 children are adults, she dedicates most of her time staying active with her grandson. She is also very involved in her church, teaching Sunday School, and enjoys hiking, nature walks, photography, and family gatherings.
Teacher Nihara
​​
coming soon...
​
THE POOH BEAR CLASSROOM
Teacher Natalia
​
Natalia started at Mustard Seed as a one-on-one Behavior Therapist for children who have special needs. She has her BA in Human Development with an emphasis on Child Development. She has worked with children in lots of settings, after-school programs, summer camps, and even art & craft classes through Michaels. For fun, Natalia likes to cook, bake, read, be crafty, walk trails, and exercise.
Teacher Emily
​
This is Emily's 10th year at Mustard Seed. She went to school for Business Administration. She has been working with children for over 16 years. Emily is one of the hardest-working people on the planet. She exudes kindness and playfulness with each preschooler she's with. She teaches the cooking enrichment class, and its waitlist is always overflowing! In her free time, she enjoys cooking, being with family, and going out to sporting events.
Teacher Lupita
​
Lupita is a caring person who enjoys helping others, and she is a mother of three. Lupita is going into her second year at Mustard Seed and is working hard to complete her schooling in Child Development. She enjoys being home with her family and likes to watch Netflix during her free time. Her favorite snacks are chocolates and pastries.
THE TIGGER CLASSROOM
Teacher Erwin
​
Erwin has been working & volunteering for Mustard Seed since 2003. He has also worked with children through play and movement, Christian ministry, and piano/music lessons since graduating from UC Berkeley in 1997. With a couple of years teaching K-2, Erwin brings a rich learning experience to the classroom with gifts of music, science demonstrations, and organization into Mustard Seed. When he is not in the classroom, he: travels, pursues videography & photography, and joins a game of lawn bowls whenever possible.
Teacher Tamara
​
Tamara has been working with low-income children and families for over 20 years before coming to Mustard Seed Preschool in 2021. She has a degree in Early Childhood education. The best thing she loves about working with children is watching them grow from little tiny seeds into beautiful flowers. For fun, Tamara likes going to the movies, out to dinner, going to fairs and festivals, watching Netflix while eating popcorn, and hanging out with friends and family.
THE KANGA CLASSROOM
Teacher Minna
​
Minna started at Mustard Seed as a substitute teacher 10 years ago. She grew up in Tampere / Finland, and received her degrees as a Social Educator and Kindergarten Practical Nurse from the Tampere Institute of Social Work. She has been a preschool teacher both in Finland and here in the Bay Area. She had an after-school program in her home for several years in Kensington while her two daughters were growing up. Minna is well-loved by all of her coworkers, the families, and especially by the children. Her other interests are gardening, the outdoors, baking, reading, and she is a huge hockey fan.
Teacher Eliana
​
Eliana began teaching at MSP in 2018 while pursuing her Early Childhood Education degree. Eliana is a silly and loving teacher who believes in nurturing each child's individual learning and play style. For fun, she enjoys being outdoors exploring, hiking, and going on adventures with her daughter.
Teacher Ken
​
Ken has worked with children for over 13 years through different programs and schools. Ken has been at MSP since 2018 and has taught in the Kanga class. Growing up in Mexico, he's been a lifelong athlete and currently coaches the soccer/sports elective. Ken loves engaging with children through dramatic play, physical activities, and challenging games. During his free time, Ken enjoys rock climbing, working out, concerts, and movies.​
ADDITIONAL TEACHERS
Teacher Sharmila
coming soon...
