Our Teachers

• Angie Deshera- Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
  Angie DeShera has been teaching and working with preschool age children for the past 9 years. She has a strong background in special education. She graduated from CSU East Bay with her Bachelors in Human Studies with a focus on Early Childhood Development. Her goal is to provide children with a love for learning, and give them a strong educational foundation for their future.
  
  
  
  
• Michelle Evans-Early Childhood Teacher & Pre-Kindergarten PLUS teacher
  After spending 25 years in the family business, Michelle is finally getting to pursue her true passion; working with children. Michelle loves coming up with innovative ways to teach children about everything from manners to the water cycle. The preschool is very lucky to have someone with her energy and creativity to bring so many smiles to the PreK Plus students.
• Kristi Gradwohl- Early Childhood Teacher
  Kristi earned a bachelor's degree from Sonoma State in Business Administration. After starting her own family she left the business sector for education. She has been working with special education students for the past 4 years. She is a former and current preschool parent who loves her time as a parent at our school and jumped at the chance to join our staff. She enjoys nurturing a love of learning in her students, and encouraging them to be all 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..
• Bonnie Lieberman- Early Childhood Teacher
  Bonnie graduated from Santa Clara University in 1995 with a Bachelors of Science in Political Science. After working in corporate law for over fifteen years she decided to pursue a career change - raising her two little girls, Sophie and Emilia. Sharing in her youngest daughter's experience at Laurelwood Preschool convinced her that her true passion was working with children so she eagerly accepted the opportunity to join our talented group of teachers. She is currently pursuing her education in Early Childhood Development. Her goal is to promote self-esteem and to instill a love of learning in her students. She hopes to provide them with a nurturing atmosphere where they are encouraged to be creative and to express themselves so they will thrive now and in the future.


• Rebekah Lopez- Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
  Rebekah began her path working with children as a gymnastics coach for 5 years. Teaching young children became her passion. Her desire to continue working with children led her to pursue Liberal Studies Preparation for Teaching at San Jose State University where she will complete her bachelor's degree this winter. She is excited to start teaching at Laurelwood Preschool and is ready to provide a safe, nurturing and inspiring space for her students to learn, grow and prepare for success in kindergarten and beyond.