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| DIRECTOR &
TEACHER BIOGRAPHIES |
| DIRECTORS: |
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Raquel Restuccia (Executive Director) - I
was born in Hayward, California, lived in Danville for 10 years, and
subsequently moved to Modesto. In 1988, I went to college in
Sacramento. In 1997, I married my husband Tony. I came from a big Italian family and Tony came from a
small one. Our grandparents were born in Italy and came to the U.S. We
have 2 daughters (Julianna and Jenna), a dog (Bella) and 2 cats
(Tic and Tac). In my spare time, I like reading, swimming, laying in
the sun, BBQ, taking relaxing baths, going to the beach, dancing with
my girls, and visiting family.
I have a BA in Child Development from Sac State. I have been working in
the field since 1988 and at Poppy Patch since 1998. I have been a
Director at all 3 child care centers. My favorite thing to do with the
children is reading stories and playing outside. My favorite thing
about Poppy Patch is the families we serve and the teachers who work so
hard for them. "I truly love being a part of the children’s growth
and development. The children are in child care most of their waking
hours and I wanted to be an important part of making their environment
safe, stable and nurturing."
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Carisse Tidwell (Phase I Director) -I was born and raised in Elk Grove and lived in San Diego for eight wonderful years. I have been in the child development field for over eight years and began working at Poppy Patch June of 2009. I am married and have a daughter and two sons. My family is very close and we enjoy doing a lot of things together. I do not have any pets at this time. I enjoy running, scrapbooking, shopping, skiing and snowboarding in my spare time. I truly enjoy being a part of the children’s growth and being part of them learning how to read.
I have a Bachelors of Arts degree in Child Development which I received from Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. I have also earned my multiple subjects teaching credential from California State University Sacramento. I have spent the last four years in the classroom teaching primary grades. I love working with children and seeing the growth and development that takes place daily. As a former classroom teacher I know firsthand how important the first five years of a child’s life can be!
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Dottie Jackson (Phase II Director) - I
was born in Ruston, Louisiana and moved away as a infant. I have lived
in Sacramento for the past 30 years. I was a stay at home mom until my
children went to High School. I have 4 sons (Derrick, Donni,
Christopher, and Tracy), one grandson (Derrick) who is the love of my
life. In my spare time, I love reading, watching movies, shopping, and
going to different parks throughout Sacramento.
I have been in the child development field since 1998 and at Poppy
Patch since 1999. I have 24 Early Childhood Education (ECE) and 30
general education units. I'm working towards finishing my AA and
starting on my BA. I started at Poppy Patch as a teacher, then head
teacher, and am the Poppy Patch Phase 2 Director. I have a great love
for all children. "The thing I love about working at Poppy Patch
is all the children and the great teachers."
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Monica Autry (Phase III Director) -I
grew up in Modesto and moved to Sacramento after graduating from
college. My 2 younger brothers live in Modesto and my parents moved to
Raleigh, North Carolina. I have an aquarium with fish and a hermit
crab. In my spare time, I enjoy shopping, reading, spending time with
family and friends, baking, and going to my boyfriend's basketball
games.
I have a BA in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on multi-cultural
education from Chico State. I worked for 6 years as a counselor at a
group home for severely emotionally disturbed children and through that
time attended workshops and training on learning styles and behavior
modification. I have been working in the field since 1999 and at Poppy
Patch since May 2005. I am in awe of the wonder and excitement that the
children possess and wanted to work in a field that allows me to
interact with them on a regular basis. My favorite activity with the
children is singing songs. "The kids are fantastic! I am amazed
everyday that such little people can have such big personalities!" |
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| PHASE I
TEACHERS: |
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Josna
Islam (Head Teacher)- Hi, my name is Josna. I have been married to my husband Mohammad for 16 years and have two children; my son Farhan is 10 and daughter Tasnim is 13. My husband and I have been living in the USA for eight years, since we moved here from England in 2001, where I grew up. I have been working in education and the Early Childhood Education field for the past 10 years. I worked as a Bi-lingual Teacher’s Assistant with children ranging from ages 3-years to elementary school. My goal is to get my AA degree in Early Childhood Education, and I currently have over 40 units in ECE.
I believe in nurturing children and helping them grow and learn in a loving and caring environment that supports their individual needs and allows them to build on their confidence and self-esteem. I also believe that each child is unique and brings their many wonderful qualities that I, as a pre-school teacher, am privileged to see and be with each and every day.
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Alisha Griffith (teacher) - I was born in Sacramento and was raised in Rancho Cordova. In my spare time I enjoy reading, going to movies, walking, swimming, and spending time with friends. I have a cat that I have had since it was a kitten and I have a medium size family. Before coming to Poppy Patch I had worked in the child development field for approximately 5 and ½ years. I have been an infant teacher for Poppy Patch since September 2005. Singing and reading to the children are a couple of my most enjoyable times with them. My favorite part is being with my co-teachers engaging in activities with the infants and building relations with their families. “I like working with children. Every day is different and unique. It’s fun to watch them learn and grow.”
Brittany Willis(Teacher)- Brittany Willis- Hi! My name is Brittany Willis and I have been working at Poppy Patch since June 2009. I have just recently completed my Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development from California State University Chico. I am excited about working with the children here at Poppy Patch.
I was born and raised in Sacramento and grew up in Elk Grove. I have six members in my family; My Mom and Dad, my older sister, my younger brother, our chocolate lab Bibby, and our cat Tricksy. I enjoy camping and spending time outdoors with my family.
I choose to study and work in the child development field because I love children! There energy and imagination inspire me. I love to do art with them and I especially like watching them develop as they grow.
Kristin Conner (Teacher)- My name is Kristin Conner. I am an only child and I grew up in Elk Grove, CA. I currently live in a house with a few other roommates in Sacramento. I enjoy camping, being outdoors, and watching movies. I also enjoy playing the piano.
I graduated from Cosumnes River College in May 2006 with an AA degree. I then went away to Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. I graduated from Northwestern in May 2008 with a BA degree in Elementary Education and as endorsement in early childhood education. During my time at Northwestern I student taught in a 4 year old preschool class, taught kindergarten, and 4th grade. I enjoyed each age group in different ways! I have always wanted to work with children, and I am thankful to have a job where I can influence children’s lives every day! |
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| PHASE II
TEACHERS: |
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Irene Walker (Head Teacher)- I was born in Dos Palos, California but lived in the Sacramento area since 1988. I have family in the Sacramento area. I have a son (Larry). In my spare time, my son and I like sports, camping, and bike riding. I have been in the child development field and at Poppy Patch since 2002. I started as the Poppy Patch cook before going back to school for my ECE units. I have 20 ECE units and plan to further my education in early childhood education. I love doing all types of activities with the children, such as, painting, bike races, ball tag, hot potato, and small group. I like working with the children and teachers.
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Lucinda Johnson (Teacher) - I was born in St. Croix , U.S. Virgin Island and am the 5th born of a large family of 7. I have lived in Sacramento since 1983. I have a son (Deandre) and step daughter (Monique). In my spare time, I like reading novels, playing bingo, roller skating, going to the movies, and driving to different places. I have worked in the child development field since 1987 and worked as a Poppy Patch teacher since 1998. I graduated with an AA degree in early childhood education from American River College . I love dancing and singing with the children. I enjoy watching the children develop and the interaction with my co-workers.
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Debra Vitek (Teacher) - I have been employed since September 2007 with Poppy Patch. I was born in Santa Clara Calif. And raised in San Jose Calif. I have lived in Sacramento the last ten years. I am the middle child of three. At the present time I don’t have any children or pets. Some of my favorite hobbies are photography, hiking, camping and bird watching. I have been in the child development field for 17 years. Someone once told me I was good at working with children. I love all activities that involve working with children. I like working at Poppy Patch because of all the positive attitude of the staff.
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Steven Curchin (Teacher)-Hello, my name is Steven Curchin. I have been employed with Poppy Patch since December 2007. Before becoming a teacher at Poppy Patch, I worked as an assistant in a Family Child Care home for two years. I then became staff member for the City of Sacramento in a before and after school program called "4th R." During my time there I was a recreational leader caring for elementary age students for four years. I am currently working on my A.A. degree of Site Supervisor in Early Childhood Education and will graduate in Spring of 2009. I will then transfer to the state university and receive my B.A. in Early Childhood Education. My ultimate goal is to achieve my teaching credential and be able to teach preschool through 6th grade.
I currently do not have any children of my own but would one day like to become a father. I do have a large family consisting of five siblings (two brothers and three sisters) and four parents (mother, father, step-mother, step-father) who have shaped me to be the person I am today. My philosophy on working with young children is that they learn from play. I prefer to use "teachable moments" where the children learn through interaction at that moment. I do base my curriculum on the children's interests but also include the basic learning of colors, shapes, letters and numbers in games and activities. I believe teaching is an incredibly important profession and am glad to be a part of it.
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Amber Grays (Teacher) -My name is Amber Grays, I have worked at Poppy Patch for 10 months. I have two daughters Juliana 4 years old and Aya 3 years old. Both my daughters attend Poppy Patch. I was born in Los Angeles, but have lived in Sacramento the past 20 years. I love singing, dancing and going to movies. I love animals, but don’t have any at the present time. I have been working in the child development field for the past 2 years. I personally think that this field is a very rewarding field. Being able to teach children things they will use their whole entire life is very rewarding. My favorite activity that I love doing with the children is free painting and dancing, because it’s a great way for them to express themselves. The best about working at Poppy Patch is the uplifting environment that the staff has created.
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| PHASE III
TEACHERS: |
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Tam Bui (Toddler Lead Teacher) - I am a Viet Nam native. My parents, four siblings and I moved to Sacramento in July of 1995, since then my husband and I have established our own family. We have a daughter named Kathy Thao Le and a son named Matthew Khoa Le. After working in the field since1998, I started working at Poppy Patch in November 2006. I still enjoy reading and singing with the children. Aside from my family and work, I really enjoy cooking, shopping and traveling.
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Marie Ding (Toddler Teacher) - Hello, my name is Marie Ding and I am the Housekeeper/ aide at Poppy Patch. I have 24 units in ECE and I have worked in this field since 1999. I began working g at Poppy Patch September 2005. I chose to work with children because I like helping them and being able to know that I taught them things. I have a large family; most of them live in the east coast. I have lived in Sacramento since 1978. I have one cat that I love very much. On the weekends I like to go the movies and go out to eat. I also just like to hang out with my friends. One thing I like about working here at Poppy Patch is the people I work with. Everyone here is nice and friendly. I look forward to getting to know all of you better and to continue to care for your children.
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Eva Mauricio (Infant Teacher) - I have been working at Poppy Patch since April 2003. I began as a preschool teacher then went to the infant room March 2007. I have 30 ECE units and am working toward my degree. I have been married for 11 years and we have 3 sons. I am from Peru and moved to Sacramento in 2000. I enjoy playing valley ball and watching my children play soccer. I enjoy working with young children. They are a lot of fun. My favorite part is tickling them and the smile that is on their face..
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Ofelia Owens (Toddler Teacher) - I began working at Poppy Patch September of 2007. Originally I am from the Philippines and moved to Sacramento June of 1995. I have a brother and a sister and no children. I do have to nephews, a cat and a dog. I decided to work in the child development field because in families. Children bring me so much joy and I wanted to take part in helping them learn and grow. My favorite activities to do with the children are finger painting, singing, sign language, reading them stories and so much more. The staff is so friendly here at poppy Patch I am very happy they asked me to work for them. I am working with the director and have made my educational goals. I plan to get a degree in this field.
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Barbara Zimmerman (Infant Teacher) - I have lived in the Sacramento area over 35 years. I have two daughters, Tammy and Christie and 1 son named Vernon. My family stays pretty busy taken care of their families. If I had a pet I would own a cat. Some of my hobbies include reading, sewing, taking long walks and being with my family and friends. Since I enjoy working with children I have made a career out of it. Growing up in foster care made me want to give back. Working in this field gives the opportunity to do that. I have been at Poppy Patch since April 2007 and in the field since the 1980's I look forward to meeting new friend, building relationships with the children and their families.
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Marvinia Albor (Teacher) -bio coming soon!
Judith Murphy (Teacher) - I was born and raised in Sacramento. I have been in the child development field for many years, beginning with babysitting at the age of twelve. I began working at Poppy Patch May of 2009. I am married and have two children and two foster children. I also have a cat named Julian. I enjoy cooking, arts and crafts, reading, swimming, riding bikes and camping. I loved being with the children and blowing bubbles with them!bio coming soon!
Ruby High (Teacher) -I was born and raised in Sacramento and began working at Poppy Patch February 2009. I have just completed my schooling and look forward to working with the children. My family consists of my fiancé and my son Alex. I also have three goldfish. I enjoy painting with my son, riding bikes, listening to music and reading in my spare time. I chose to work in the field because I like playing with the children and I find it interesting to watch how fast they learn and grow. My favorite activity to do with the children is painting because it is fun and messy.
Irene Prychodzko (Teacher) -I was born and raised in Sacramento and have been at Poppy Patch since January of 2009. I have been working in the child development field for over five years. I have a small family that consists of my mom, dad, brother and sister. I have many pets that include cats, dogs and a rabbit. I enjoy traveling, taking pictures and fishing in my spare time. I enjoy children and find them interesting, fun, loving and very charming. The children are easy for me to learn from. My favorite activities to do with the children are painting, running, sand play and singing.
Raina Hernandez (Teacher) - bio coming soon!
Brenda Hupp (Teacher) -bio coming soon!
Jennifer Maryland (Teacher) -bio coming soon!
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| OFFICE
MANAGER: |
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Lou Ann Paiva - I
was born and raised in Lockport, Illinois and moved to Sacramento in
1984. I am married with 6 children (5 boys and 1 girl), and 9
grandchildren. My husband and I are raising 3 of our grandchildren. I
have 2 dogs (Roxy and Smokey Joe) and my daughter's cat (Kitty Cat). In
my spare time, I like reading, sewing, crafting, and collecting plates
and coffee cups. On weekends, I like spending time with my family and
dogs, visiting with friends, going for rides, and having breakfast with
my husband. I also enjoy going to garage sales, auctions, and flea
markets.
I have been in the field and at Poppy Patch since 1997. I have taken a
few college classes and held almost every position in the center. I'm
thinking about opening my own in-home day care when I get a little
older. My favorite activity with the children is sharing songs and
stories, watching their eyes light up, seeing their smiles, and hearing
their laughter. My 2 favorite things about Poppy Patch is having the
opportunity to watch the children grow and change as they approach
kindergarten, and making wonderful friends at Poppy Patch whom I
respect and dearly love. Sure, there are good and bad days but it has
been worth every minute!!! "I chose this field to see a smile every
morning and to help all children with a positive learning experience."
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| FACILITIES: |
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Karina Tapia (Chef) - Hi, my name is Karina and I am the Chef here at Poppy Patch. My Husband, son and myself have been living in Sacramento for the past 5 years. We are a very small family but very close. We have a cockatiel, a yellow lovebird, a fish and a cat. We are a united Mexican American Family. In my spare time I like to draw and paint. I enjoy cooking and cooking for the children. Previously I worked in my parent’s restaurant. One of the things I enjoy about the children is how honest they are and they tell it like it is. I have been the Chef at Poppy Patch since July 2006. |
"The teachers are here for the children.
The families are here because this is a place where their children can
learn, grow, and development at their own pace and be supported every
step of the way." |
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