Our Teachers

• Sue Dallas - Early Childhood Teacher
  Laurelwood has been very fortunate to have Sue Dallas as a teacher for over 30 years. The experience that Sue brings to the preschool is invaluable. Her love of working with preschoolers was exemplified when she retired briefly in 2003, only to return in 2005 because she missed the kids so much. Sue brings a degree in Recreational Education from San Jose State and years of practical experience working with children. She runs her classroom with enthusiasm, a passion for teaching preschoolers, and a unique rapport with three-year-olds and their parents that is vital in a co-op environment.
• Helen Chae - Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
  Helen earned a Liberal Arts degree from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and taught second grade for eight years before starting her own family.  She is a former preschool parent who loved her time as a parent at our school and jumped at the chance to join our staff.  Helen has a love for teaching young children and extensive experience working with youth.  She enjoys motivating children toward their learning goals.
• Deanna Hessler -Early Childhood Teacher
  Deanna brings a great deal of Laurelwood Preschool familiarity with her as the newest member of the teaching staff.  All five of her children attended Laurelwood.  During her 10 years with us she held many board positions, and enjoyed working in the classrooms.  She now returns to guide our littlest ones as they enter the wonderful world of learning. Deanna holds a BA degree in Multidisciplinary Studies from Santa Clara University, and a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Before staying home with her own family, she taught Kindergarten and Second Grade. She enjoys nurturing a love of learning in her students,and encouraging them to be all that they can be.
• Tarini Kumar - Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
  Tarini Kumar joined the Laurelwood Preschool teaching staff in 2007. She holds a Bachelors degree in English and Child Psychology and a Masters degree in English Literature. Tarini has 8 years of preschool teaching experience in the Bay Area and she especially enjoys teaching phonics and science. She believes that children thrive in a challenging environment. Her goal is to make pre-kindergarten fun while fostering the children's confidence so that they are ready to do well when entering kindergarten.
• Marta Mouritsen - Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
  Marta Mouritsen's 20 years of teaching at Laurelwood provides the preschool with a sense of experience and tradition that resonates through every class. When Marta started at the preschool in 1986 she brought with her an MA in Speech Pathology and years of experience working as a speech therapist and as a special education teacher. In the classroom she provides a gentle yet structured environment, where she promotes kindergarten readiness. Marta especially enjoys watching parents and children work together in the co-op environment.
• Rebecca Rasmussen - Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
  Rebecca Rasmussen joined Laurelwood with seven years of teaching experience as an Elementary Special Education Teacher. She has always had a love for children and teaching. Rebecca loves to work with the Pre K students and parents in a co-op setting and feels that parent involvement is beneficial. She emphasizes readiness skills as well as a strong self-esteem and age-appropriate independence.
• Melissa Vargas - Early Childhood Teacher
  Melissa Vargas has a Bachelor's Degree in Child Development and a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Melissa taught preschool for four years while going through college, and then taught second grade for several years before taking a leave of absence to begin a family of her own. She enjoys providing a positive first school experience for all of her students. Her warm and energetic approach to teaching helps each child to feel comfortable and confident, and to see that learning is fun.