Our Teachers
Sunnyside teachers have extensive education and training in teaching young children and in providing parent education to their parents. But most importantly, our teachers have passion about children's learning and about childhood.
Justine Saffir is our co-director and teaches the 3 Day Class. Justine has been teaching at Sunnyside for over 15 years, and brings to the classroom her love of expanded curriculum. She's the one who dumps brightly colored fall leaves inside the school each fall. She's also the one who brought in not only smelly fish, but also life-sized pictures of plankton, a herring, octopus, a tuna, a great white shark, and yes even an orca whale for the children to decorate during an exploration of the food chain from the Slippery fish song. Justine has a passion for understanding children's individual temperament and needs, and for spreading positive discipline skills to the entire world. Justine has a degree in psychology, a teaching credential, and is the mom of 3 children who went through co-op schools.
Lisa So is our co-director and teaches the 2 Day Class. Lisa has been at Westside as a staff member for 4 years, and was a Westside parent for 4 years before that. Lisa brings her open-mindedness and can-do attitude to Sunnyside and rarely says no to any idea that the children, their parents, or her co-teachers bring to her. Lisa treasures the effort our entire school community puts into cultivating children's growth in a positive and nurturing environment, and is a master of helping children find their own strengths. Lisa has a master's degree in Social Work, a teaching credential, and has worked at various nonprofit agencies as a social worker, program manager, and volunteer trainer before turning her talents to teaching. She's the mom of two children who are attending co-op schools.
Mandy Jackson is our Toddler Class teacher. Mandy has been teaching at Westside for 7 years. Mandy has a special gift for 2 year olds. "I want it to feel welcoming" is her refrain whenever classroom decisions are made, and indeed, Mandy is beloved by children and parents alike for the safe, loving, welcoming environment she creates for our Toddlers. She is able to easily identify the strengths and struggles of children who are barely talking in sentences yet, and to begin providing them the support each deserves as an individual while making each feel special. Mandy has a degree in Interior Design, a teaching credential, and a Certificate in Early Childhood Education. She and her husband Don, also a teacher, have 3 sons who attended coops when they were young.
Debbie Campi teaches the 4 Day Pre K Class. Debbie has been at Sunnyside for over 10 years. Debbie is the drama whiz, who brings in compelling props, and whose impromptu group dramatizations of The "Three Little Pigs"-- pig and wolf hats included of course--are legendary. Debbie also has a knack for using familiar curriculum in new ways, bringing new dimensions to the children's learning, and leaving her colleagues saying, Whoa, I never thought of that! A preschool student recently wrote "I love Debbie because she's always happy to see me!" Debbie has a master's degree in early childhood education, a teaching credential, and is the mom of two children who attend co-op schools
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