OUR STAFF

OUR STAFF

Our staff are experienced teachers, who observe children interacting with peers and interacting with the materials around them. Our teachers use this knowledge to develop a well rounded curriculum for each child exclusively. Our teachers foster a loving and caring environment where children enjoy learning and creating amazing solutions.

Suraiya

“I have been teaching for 20+ years with success because I believe in connecting with children and their families first.”

Suraiya has her Advance Teaching certificate from UCLA and over 20 years of teaching experience. She has worked at 9 schools with different approaches to education and childcare. These approaches include Traditional nursery, Montessori, Head Start, Emergent curriculum and Reggio Emilia-Inspired.

While working as a teacher, Suraiya created strong curricula for schools such as the Disney Children's Center, Larchmont preschool and Kirkland Art’s Center in WA. She created the first “Toddler Art Studio” for the KAC. Her diverse curricula became the foundation for these schools.

Suraiya uses her knowledge in child development and experience as a teacher to guide her decisions as a director at Imagine Preschool.

Ashley

Ashley has her A.S. and is working on getting her B.S. in Behavioral Development with an emphasis in Child Development. She has worked with children for nearly 15 years at schools with different philosophies, including a traditional preschool and a play based learning center that focused on social/emotional learning. Patience and kindness are the foundations of her character, and this has helped her throughout life as a camp counselor, coach, nanny, aftercare leader, toddler teacher, STEM instructor, and mother.

Aside from working with children, she enjoys exploring the outdoors and is a lover of all animals, especially reptiles. She is passionate  about creative writing and is an avid reader believing that “reading is fundamental”.

Ashley is delighted to be a member of the Imagine community, and is looking forward to learning more about the Reggio-approach and being part of Imagine's growth.

Diana

Diana has her A.A in Social and Behavioral Sciences and is working towards getting her B.A. in Early Childhood Education. She was inspired to go into education because of her early days in school and because of former teachers and their passion for educating. She strives to help and inspire future generations by creating those positive experiences that made her love learning.

Along with her enjoyment of learning, she also hopes to share her love for reading and storytelling.

MORE ABOUT SURAIYA

Suraiya has her B.F.A. in Illustration from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and has worked for companies like The Walt Disney Co, Sony Pictures, and other animation studios. These experiences help her work professionally with children, parents, and other teachers.

Suraiya is passionate about sharing her knowledge of art techniques and materials with children. She creates provocations with unique combinations of materials for the children to explore. Her love for the arts entice children to experience and learn about the world. And through Suraiya’s projects the children are able to express themselves in deeper and more meaningful ways.

- Suraiya Daud : Director/Atelierista