Our Staff

Our staff is required to hold credentials from the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing. Staff members also participate in professional growth including continuing education, seminars and annual conferences in order to keep abreast of new developments in early childhood education and continue to provide a quality program for the children.


Our staff is carefully selected to provide a loving and nurturing Christian environment while stimulating the children academically and socially. All staff members are experienced, well-qualified, and knowledgeable in child development. Kindness and consideration are modeled in both words and behavior. Positive reinforcement is used to guide children and help them develop a strong self-esteem. 


All staff members are CPR & First Aid Certified.


Teacher/Child ratios are 1:8


Parent Teacher Conferences

We offer formal parent teacher conferences in October and May to review your child's growth and development.

Meet Our Preschool Staff Members

Administrative Team

  • Meagan Kraszewski, our Director, was born and raised in San Juan Capistrano. She attended Purdue University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Minor in Psychology. Meagan also met her husband, Kyle, at Purdue and upon graduating they moved out to Chicago where they lived for almost five years. One year before moving back to California, God surprised Meagan and Kyle with two blessings, twin girls. Meagan began her career in banking, but from the moment her children were brought into her life she has since been inspired to work with children as a profession as she is continually amazed at the world through the eyes of a child. Meagan went back to school to obtain an Associate of Science in Child Development from Saddleback College and currently holds a California Child Development Teaching Permit as a Program Director. For fun, she loves spending time with her family, being outdoors, drawing and just laughing.

  • Miss Kristin - Assistant Director

    Kristin.T@SADDLEBACKCHILDRENSCENTER.ORG

    Kristin Thomas is looking forward to a wonderful year at Saddleback Children's Center. She has always enjoyed young children, spending time in preschools during college. She received her bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University. Kristin also earned her Master's degree from Northern Arizona University in Bilingual & Multicultural Education. She taught in an elementary school setting for over ten years in both first and third grade. 


    Kristin is a native Arizonian who relocated to California four years ago. She is a mom to a wonderful 7- year-old son who is in first grade this year. Their extremely affectionate puggle also came along for the ride. Together they enjoy hiking and spending time at the beach. 

Jumpstart Classroom Communities (2.5 - 3 year olds)

  • miss regina - Jumpstart Teacher (OrANGE rOOM)

    regina.p@SADDLEBACKCHILDRENSCENTER.ORG


    Miss Regina recently graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a Bachelor of Science in Child and Adolescent Development. Before CSUF, she attended Saddleback college, where she received an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education. This is where Miss Regina gained most of her preschool experience. During her time at Saddleback College, she was a preschool student teacher for 3-4 year olds. Miss Regina feels so blessed that she gets to be with an amazing group of children at Saddleback Children’s Center.

  • MISS MELISSA - JUMPSTART TEACHER (BROWN ROOM)

    MELISSA.S@SADDLEBACKCHILDRENSCENTER.ORG

    This is Ms. Melissa’s second year working at Saddleback Children’s Center and she is thrilled to be working with the Jumpstart Program.  She received her Bachelor of Arts in Human Development at the University of California San Diego.  She has dedicated her life to working with children and families in a variety of settings.  She worked for the AmeriCorps, the Regional Center of Orange County and a several non-profits working with disabled children and their families.  She was also a swim coach and taught swimming lessons and truly loves being on, near and around the water.  She and her husband met in college, and have three kind, funny daughters who keep them busy.  When her oldest began preschool, she began volunteering in the classroom and found a passion for teaching young children.  Ms. Melissa feels that teaching young children is a gift and a blessing.  She is honored to be your children’s first teacher and so thankful that she was called to SCC!  She has worked as an Outdoor Teacher, a 3 and 4 year program teacher.  Ms. Melissa is currently taking Early Childhood Education classes to receive her AA in Child Development.



    Ms. Melissa enjoys reading and children’s literature and attending concerts and music festivals with her husband.  (Pre-covid, we miss live music so much!)  On the weekends you can find her and her family at the beach Kayaking and paddle boarding.  She and her family love camping and spend most summers camping in Mammoth, Lake Tahoe, and Yosemite. 

  • Miss Shiva - orange room aide

    Coming Soon!

  • miss nassrin - brown room aide

    Coming Soon!

3 - 4 Year-Old Classroom Communities

  • Mr. fran - 3's Preschool teacher (blue room)

    FRAN.A@SADDLEBACKCHILDRENSCENTER.ORG

    This is Mister Fran's second year working at Saddleback Children's Center. He is incredibly happy to be the Blue Room teacher. He has worked in the field of Early Child Education for ten years. He was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and received an AA in Early Childhood Education from Los Angeles City College. Mister Fran first began working with preschool age children when he worked at a Christian daycare in 2005. Since then, he has grown to learn from children, seeing them as individuals. He sees early child education as being intentional - observing, planning and guiding.

    Mister Fran enjoys spending time with his family and friends, reading, going to concerts, traveling, going to baseball games, going on hikes and grilling outside.

  • Miss KELSEY - 3's PRESCHOOL TEACHER (Yellow room)

    KELSEY.G@SADDLEBACKCHILDRENSCENTER.ORG


    Kelsey Gomez received her bachelor’s degree in Theatre Education at the University of Arizona and is bolstering her pedagogy with coursework in early childhood education. She has instructed students from elementary school to medical school. Kelsey looks forward to working with Saddleback Children’s Center teachers and families to support children during some of the most formative years of their development.


    Kelsey is forever a student of play and is enthusiastic about the importance of nature for human wellness. On the weekends, you may catch her drawing pet portraits, taking too many photos on a hike with her husband, and/or saying hello to dogs.

  • Miss VERGIN - Blue room aide

    Coming Soon!

  • Miss ELIZABETH - yellow room aide

    Coming Soon!

Young 4's and Pre-Kindergarten Classroom Communities

  • miss katy - pre-k teacher (red Room)

    katy.b@saddlebackchildrenscenter.org

    Miss Katy is the teacher in the 4 year old pre-k class. She has been teaching for 17 years and has her degree in Early Childhood Education. 


    After growing up in Washington state and living overseas, Miss Katy moved to California 9 years ago and met her husband here. They moved to Aliso Viejo last year and love living close to the ocean with  their dog.


    Miss Katy feels so fortunate to be learning alongside your children, at a school that embraces the outdoors and encourages a love for life long learning!

  • Miss mary - RED Room Aide


  • Miss Cami - Pre-K Teacher (Purple Room) 

    Cami.v@saddlebackchildrenscenter.org

    Miss Cami has been teaching Pre-K at Saddleback Children's Center for 4 years. She has 14 years of experience teaching preschool. She taught preschool here at SCC while attending college as well. Miss Cami received her Preschool Teaching Certificate and her AA in Child Development from Saddleback College. She received her Bachelor's Degree from Cal State Fullerton. 


    Miss Cami enjoys exploring in nature with her husband and children. She enjoys going to the beach, hiking, and camping.

  • Miss Mare - Purple Room Aide

    Miss Mare is a wife and mother of two teenagers. Her family is involved in 4H and has LOTS of animals; goats, rabbits, chickens, and dogs. In the summer of 2018, Miss Mare received an email looking for a preschool teacher at a Christian school, and thought "That's my dream job!" She didn't have any ECE credits, so she promptly enrolled at Saddleback College so that she could be here!


    Miss Mare is the Children's Ministry Leader at her church and has taught Sunday School, mid-week studies and VBS. She has been a girl scout leader and has run summer camp at her Equestrian Vaulting Club. She loves helping children grow into kind followers of Jesus.  

Junior Kindergarten Classroom Community

  • Miss Marie - JK Teacher (Green Room)

    Marie.P@saddlebackchildrenscenter.org

    Ms. Marie feels blessed to be the Junior Kindergarten teacher at Saddleback Children’s Center. She has been in early education for 13 years and has her Associate of Science Degree in Child Development from Saddleback College and a California Child Development Master Teacher Permit. Ms. Marie lives with her wonderful husband and their beautiful daughter, Kiersten.  


    She spends her free time with her family, but she also enjoys refurbishing old furniture, garage sale shopping, eating, running and reading. Ms. Marie feels honored and very excited to be part of your child’s learning journey!

  • Miss ligia - Afternoon lead teacher

    COMING SOON!

  • miss jennifer - afternoon aide

    Miss Jennifer has devoted herself to the education world since she graduated from Nanjing Normal University with a Bachelor's Degree of Biology education in 1995. Later, she completed her Master's Degree in MBA from the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff in London in 2011.

     

    In 2021, God’s revelation led Miss Jennifer to teaching in the U.S. after she earned her Early Childhood Education Diploma from Laguna Technical College in California.

     

    Miss Jennifer loves to see children grow into independent individuals with the natural learning environment and guidance provided by their teachers. Her favorite quote in early childhood education is:

    When children come into contact with nature, they reveal their strength.”

     

    Miss Jennifer loves bowling, Jin Shuo, exploring new things, and spending her working time with little kids. For her leisure time, she enjoys reading to improve herself and living a happy life with her family.