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, has been at Saddleback Children's Center since 2015 where her daughters also attended preschool. It feels like home to her! She loves seeing Jesus work and spreading His love through building relationships with families, children and teachers.


    She was born and raised in California. She attended Purdue University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Minor in Psychology. Meagan also met her husband 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 them 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. Meagan enjoys volunteering in her daughters' Sunday School classroom, spending time with her family, outdoors, hiking, yoga, 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 six years ago. She is a mom to a wonderful 8- year-old son who is in second grade this year. Their extremely affectionate puggle also came along for the ride. Together they enjoy hiking and spending time at the beach. 

  • MISS MARE - outdoor classroom specialist

    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.  

Jumpstart Classroom Communities (2.5 - 3 year olds)

  • miss regina - Jumpstart Teacher (OrANGE rOOM)

    regina.p@SADDLEBACKCHILDRENSCENTER.ORG


    Miss Regina has been working at Saddleback Children’s Center for two years, she feels extremely blessed to be a part of such a great school. I am so excited to be the lead preschool teacher in the Orange room. Miss Regina loves working with children and being a part of their growth and development.


    She loves Jesus. She also enjoys reading and listening to music. Most of her free time is spent with family and friends. 

  • 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 Rhowena - orange room aide

    Miss Rhowena Wardle is excited to be back another year to join SCC staff, she started her journey in early childhood education as a family childcare provider when her youngest daughter started Kindergarten to help serve families. Over the years, she worked with Riverside County of Education as a substitute Instructional assistant in the Head Start and Early Head Start programs and other state preschool sites and a program helping teach teenage parents how to care for children called the Cal-

    Safe program. She has a bachelor’s degree in child development and obtained her Child Development teacher’s permit and currently pursuing her Master teacher permit. Miss Rhowena can also go by the name Miss Rho, she is married with three adult daughters and one teenage son. Some years ago, Miss Rhowena moved to Orange County with her family to help support their youngest daughter while she was attending University of California Irvine and loves living here in south Orange County. Outside of SCC, Miss Rhowena enjoys spending time with her family, her dog, and listening to music, dancing, cooking, playing board games and mahjong, would love to see more of the world and enjoys visiting the beach!

  • 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 has completed coursework in Early Childhood Education through Saddleback College. She has instructed students of all ages from preschool-high school as well as medical school. Kelsey is privileged to be working with Saddleback Children’s Center teachers and families to support children during some of the most formative years of their development.


    Ms. 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 my husband, and/or saying hello to dogs.

  • Miss VERGIN - Blue room aide

    Coming Soon!

  • Miss LIZ - 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 DIANE - Purple Room Aide

    Miss Diane is so excited to be working with Miss Cami this year. She has been here at SCC for over 12 years. She loves this school!  Miss Diane received her Associate Teacher's Permit from Irvine Valley College. 


    She was born and raised here in Orange County. She lives close by in Coto de Caza. Miss Diane has an amazing son Ryan who lives in San Francisco.  


    On the weekends you will find her walking or working out. Miss Diane loves reading, museums and relaxing at the beach. She loves the movies too! She loves to fly to SF, it's a quick trip and her son is a great tour guide.


    Miss Diane is so excited to be here at SCC.

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 Mariette - afternoon aide

    Coming soon!