Baymonte Christian Preschool is run by a highly qualified professional team who are committed to Jesus Christ and to children. They meet all of the State of California requirements for education and experience. They are committed to helping every child reach his/her God-given potential in a caring, loving environment. The child to teacher ratio is determined by the age and personality of each classroom. Ratios never exceed state requirements; every staff member in the preschool meets state requirements as a fully qualified teacher.
Teachers from both campuses meet regularly to lesson plan together. They also attend staff meetings and conferences together. Our goal is to stay abreast of current trends and practices in early education.
Administration
Each campus has a site director to oversee the day to day operation of the preschool. State requirements are met and exceeded by both of our directors.
Helena Coffelt
Helena Coffelt is the Director of Baymonte Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC) on Bethany Drive. She says, “I have been keeping young by happily working with children for more than 24 years!” In addition to raising her own three wonderful children, she has continued her education. She earned an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor degree in the same field in 2002. Her husband of 22 years is her cheerleader. They enjoy serving others as a team. It is great to have her as a part of the Baymonte family.
Teri Esparza
Teri Esparza was born in Peru, South America. She has also lived in Puerto Rico! She married her high school sweetheart, Steve. They have three grown children all of whom attended Baymonte. Teri began working at Baymonte in 1987 in the daycare program, and began substituting in the preschool the very next year. That’s when she knew preschool was her passion and her future. She returned to school to complete her Early Childhood Education and Administration classes to become a Preschool Director. God, in His perfect timing, opened the door for Baymonte’s preschool to expand and opened Preschool Too on Scotts Valley Drive. It was the perfect opportunity for Teri to become the director of the “little red schoolhouse.”
Lisa Patterson
Lisa Patterson is the director for the preschool on Granite Creek Road. She began working at Baymonte in August 1998 as a daycare provider and classroom aide while pursuing an Early Childhood Education at Cabrillo College. In 2000 she began working at the preschool as a co-teacher for the three-year-old and pre-kindergarten classes. She graduated with an Associate degree for administration in Early Childhood Education in 2005. She began co-directing the preschool in 2009. Lisa continues to teach two days a week in the pre-kindergarten class. She also helps to lead the Blessings Women’s Bible Study that takes place at Baymonte. Lisa has been married for 27 years and has two beautiful daughters. Both girls attended Baymonte from preschool through eighth grade. In her spare time she enjoys taking walks, scrapbooking and spending time with family and friends. She is a fabulous baker!
Teaching Staff
Each year we marvel at the longevity of our staff.
Katie Arrington-Smith
Katie Arrington-Smith thoroughly loves teaching. She is enthusiastic about providing a creative and safe environment for children to explore the world around them. She has been teaching for six years. She claims, “I have learned as much as I’ve taught.” Her motto might be summed up by the quote, “You die the moment you stop learning.” She views each year as one of growth and encouragement. She received her Bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education and believes teaching is the vocation God has called her to.
Brooke Hamilton
Brooke Hamilton grew up in Davenport, California and has lived a majority of her life in the Santa Cruz area. From a young age Brooke wanted to be a teacher. She studied Early Childhood Education at Cabrillo College and attended many education courses at U.C.S.C. where she graduated with a bachelor degree in Philosophy. Brooke joined the Baymonte family in 2008. Her belief is that it is incredibly important for learning to always be fun and interesting. She loves to tell stories to children and make them laugh. She especially enjoys seeing that moment when a child learns something new.
Roberta Handley
Roberta Handley graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Chico State University. She had a career in the computer industry for over ten years as a marketing program manager. In time, Roberta realized computers were not her passion and that children were! She went back to school to become a preschool teacher. She knows that working with children is where God wants her to be. Roberta is the head teacher of the Sunshine class at Baymonte Preschool Too. She also tutors reading for elementary students. Roberta and her husband have three children who have all enjoyed attending Baymonte. In her free time Roberta loves to swim, run, play racquetball and go to the beach.
Nancy Hunter
Nancy Hunter was born and raised in Scotts Valley. Having a strong desire to work with children and animals since her high school years, she attended Cabrillo College and studied Early Childhood Education. After marrying and having three children, all of whom attended Baymonte Preschool, she was hired to teach at the newly opened Preschool Too. She works with both the Twinkler and Sunshine classes. Nancy’s other great love besides her family is the animal kingdom. She’s been told she should have married Noah and lived on the Ark! She was a member of the Horse Patrol program for the State Park System. She is currently getting her German Shepherd certified as a therapy dog to help the elderly. She also enjoys the outdoors, photography and scrapbooking.
Nikki Kim
Nikki Kim earned her Bachelor degree from California State University Hayward in Human Development specializing in Early Childhood Education. She has been the teacher for the three-year-old class at Baymonte Preschool for nine years. Nikki and her husband Kirk have three children. When she’s not at work Nikki enjoys traveling to watch her boys’ hockey tournaments and her daughter’s gymnastics meets. She also enjoys scrapbooking and making family DVD slideshows!
Heather Lemmon
Heather Lemmon graduated with an A. S. degree in Early Childhood Education in 2005. She teaches the Rainbow class at the Granite Creek campus. When her son started in preschool years ago she knew she wanted to join the Baymonte team, all the way back in 2000. She loves the feel of family and community that Baymonte offers parents, students and staff. Teaching children has always been the passion of her life. She grew up watching her mother work with children, so teaching comes naturally to her. Heather is married to Jarrod, who is a Baymonte alumnus. They have two children, Ian and Emily, both of whom attended Baymonte. Her weekends are filled watching her daughter play sports, her son play music, and going to church. She also loves walking with her friends and her dog.
Renee Norlin
Renee Norlin feels blessed to be a teacher at Baymonte ECLC where she has worked for six years. She has a Bachelor degree in Elementary Education, with a minor in Early Childhood Education. Baymonte ECLC is the perfect place to put her skills into practice. She and her husband stay busy with their little girl who just turned one. They love to travel, spend time with friends, and discover all the great spots to take kids in the area!
Laura Sondreal
Laura Sondreal, attended Baymonte from 3rd through 12th grade! Laura credits her teachers at Baymonte for challenging and encouraging her faith. She loves the heartbeat of Baymonte; enthusiastically loving God and serving others. Laura began teaching preschool at Baymonte in 1994. She attended Cabrillo College where she studied Early Childhood Education. She has specific training in developmental testing for kindergarten readiness using the Gessell Institute Assessment. “God has allowed me to teach children that God loves them and has a place for them in this world.” Laura has two children, both of whom attended Baymonte. She loves gardening and walking on the beach and she is an accomplished musician.
Daphne Gail Smith
Daphne Gail Smith came to ECLC with a science background. She has been involved with teaching children about their environment for many years. She has also worked as an Interpreter (environmental educator) at Henry Cowell State Park. For the past seven summers, she has been the Director of the Nature Studies at Camp Redwood Glen in Scotts Valley. “I Bought A Zoo” is her favorite movie. Her job at the preschool allows her to combine her two passions: a love of children and teaching about God’s creation!
Dawnella Stewart
Dawnella Stewart will tell you that children are her joy in life! She has been working with children for more than 25 years both here in the U.S. and in Africa as a missionary. She has completed all requirements for Early Childhood Education teacher status. “Children around the world have one thing in common, their eagerness to love and learn.” She and her husband have raised five children. She considers herself blessed to have a job that she is so passionate about.
Denise Tinkess
Denise Tinkess spent ten years working in the action sports industry, doing sales and marketing for the companies of Billabong, O’Neill and Sessions. After having her children, Nathan and Desiree, she realized that she really wanted to work with children. She went back to school to earn the Early Childhood Education units required to work with preschoolers. She loves the adventures and wonderful insights that each day brings working with young children. She also enjoys coaching for Girls on the Run, a non-profit organization that “inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.” In her spare time she loves spending time with her family, running marathons and enjoying the great outdoors.
