Our wonderful, NVC-trained teachers / facilitators are passionate about our students and our school, which creates a joyful and compassionate environment in which the children can feel connected and secure.

Our teachers are educated in art, languages, education, linguistics, mathematics, nature, physical fitness, literature, art, science, child development and brain development, which bolsters the enriching environment for our children.

We have an incredibly attentive ratio of 1 to 4!

Linda is the mother of 5-year old son Kian, and the wife of Kam.  She is an avid gardener, a builder, a writer, an artist, she is bilingual in Japanese, and loves people.  She graduated with honors from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature, and minors in Mathematics, Linguistics, and Japanese;  she has been working with children and youth for over 15 years.

Linda has completed multiple sessions of coursework at the Center for Non-violent Education and Parenting, with founder and executive director Ruth Beaglehole.  She has also completed studies directly under both Bev Bos and Marshall Rosenberg.  Linda is also very close to completing an advanced certificate in early childhood education at UCLA (University of Southern California, Los Angeles).

Linda writes a blog that appears on a variety of multinational websites, including that of the Center for Non Violent Communication.  She is also a life coach, working with children young and old to reach their highest potential and find fulfillment within their lives.

“Our motto really says it all: ‘People are people no matter how small.’ You have to come and visit to appreciate what this really means.”

TASHA BUCHANAN, Lead Teacher

Like all of our teachers, Tasha is incredible.  She is a natural communicator, and she really sets the tone at playschool: she exemplifies what playschool is supposed to be.  She has a special ability to understand and connect with people of all sizes.  Just take a moment to watch Tasha and you will see what non judgement and response, as opposed to reaction, is truly about.

From Tasha: “I have been working with children for about 8 years. I have been a nanny, a tutor, and now a preschool teacher.

At Riviera Playschool, our primary focus is to help the children develop emotional intelligence and encourage them to express their needs to each other, and make successful connections with their community.

I think that the key to avoiding problems is building as much communication as possible with everyone concerned. I’ve seen a few situations where a child’s behavior starts changing at home and the family believes that he/she is getting this new attitude from school. The parents expressed their concerns, and this  helped us be more aware and know what to look for while the children play. By talking frequently with parents AND children we are able to tackle different situations as a team. In the end, the biggest potential problems usually stem from a lack of communication.

Just listening and seeing what interests the kids also helps me keep current. Whatever they are drawn to out in the play yard, in the studio, or talk about, I make note of and see if we can turn those ideas into a learning experience or a teacher-led plan.

We encourage healthy development through listening and giving the kids a place to really explore.  By being student-led we are encouraging creativity and critical thinking. If a child wants to try to make an airplane, we will do our best to provide the materials to do that. If she wants to paint the playhouse, great! what happens if we mix the green and the yellow?? If one wants to put toys in the water table, what sinks? which floats? Also, when we do set limits we check in with them and see if they have any ideas. By giving them a voice we are helping build confidence and independence. For an example, a few weeks I was having a hard time taking hikes with the kids. One child in particular would take off running every time we went out on the trail. Instead of throwing down the hammer and telling him he could not go on the hike anymore, I brought him to the side and told him that it was becoming a big problem and we needed to come up with a way to fix it. He said that if I yelled stop as soon as he started to run then he would stop right away… The next day it worked! I yelled stop and he came right back… and ran in circles!”

Hailing from the pacific northwest, Tasha is at home in the outdoors, rain or shine!  She is currently enrolled at UC Long Beach and will resume her undergraduate studies this fall.

DAWN SMITH, Teacher

Dawn is married to Glenn, and the mother of three beautiful girls: Millena, Laura, and Chelsea.  Dawn holds a degree in Early Childhood Education, with a Supervisor designation.  She has been working in education for the past 23 years.  Like all of the playschool teachers, Dawn has been trained in Non Violent Communication at the Center for Non Violent Education and Parenting in Echo Park.  Additionally, she has 14 years of experience working for Redondo Beach Unified School District as a special education assistant.  Dawn continues to substitute for Redondo Beach Unified School District on days off from PlaySchool.

“I believe we have as much to learn from children as we have to teach them and greatly enjoy the opportunity to work in such an amazing school with such creative people of all sizes.”

SUSAN HONG, Teacher

Susan knew early on that teaching children was in her future.  After graduating from UCLA with a bachelor of arts degree in Sociology, she went on to obtain a teaching position at Cahuenga Elementary School in the Los Angeles Unified School District while in the evenings taking classes to earn her teaching credentials at National University.  She continued to teach at Cahuenga Elementary for 13 years, teaching grades Kindergarten through fifth.  All her former students have a special place in her heart and many have returned to visit her after going on to graduate from middle school and high school. After completing a UCLA extension class called “The Role of Play in Early Childhood Education”, she became motivated to earn a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit which she just earned this past June.  Luckily for Susan, she was able to become a student teacher as part of her Early Childhood Practicum class at Rivera Playschool and it was love at first sight.  She loves all the children at the Playschool and believes every child deserves a preschool experience that is engaging, nurturing and accepting which will enable her/him to succeed intellectually, emotionally, socially and physically.  On her days off, Susan enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her husband, Ed and her two children Alexa and Brendan. 

MARY JANE GARCIA, Assistant Teacher 

Mary Jane “MJ” Garcia is wife to Sebastian, and mother to sons Alejandro and Jackson.  She is also an attachment parent, and a longtime practitioner of mindfulness and non violent (or compassionate) communication.  This is MJ’s second year at playschool; her first year was spent working twice a week in the yard as a parent volunteer.  Prior to working at PlaySchool, MJ spent a year working at MBNS (our unofficial “sister school” in Manhattan Beach) as a parent teacher.  MJ earned her bachelor’s degree in English at University of California Berkeley and is currently working on her Early Childhood Certification at UCLA extension. While working as a buyer for Lakeshore Learning Materials she became passionate about working in early childhood education.  M.J. combines her experience of mothering from the heart with a passion to make learning fun for every child. She believes that every moment is an opportunity to be engaged and learn.

HEATHER POMEROY, Assistant Teacher

Heather Pomeroy is a lover of the earth, arts, tie-dye, gardening, music & movement, and all emotions that come along. She has taken her passion for life, and dedicated herself as an advocate for children, and learning through experiential play. Heather has received her assistant teaching certificate, and is currently working toward her AA degree in education. She has also completed training in Non Violent Comunication. 

Heather’s intent is to create an environment that allows children, and people of all ages to feel open, and free to explore this world through colors, and wonders, love and kindness, all emotions embraced, and everything in between.

PARTNERSHIPS WITH UCLA

and EL CAMINO COLLEGE

We are also proud that UCLA Extension and El Camino College early childhood education departments have chosen Riviera PlaySchool as a practicum site for their student teachers. On any given day you may also see a fabulous teacher in training out in the yard, lending an extra hand at playschool!  Our fabulous teaching staff serves as mentors to aspiring Early Childhood educators, and in exchange they impart their passion, wisdom, and experience to playschool!  Win-Win!