Our professional teaching team is passionate about Early Childhood Education. They are members of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and regularly attend conferences and workshops to stay current in their field.
Each staff member greatly exceeds the state’s educational requirements and is fingerprinted, background checked, and certified in CPR & first aide.
Our Preschool Teacher, Leslie Szumowski, is a Mentor Teacher for Diablo Valley College and Valley Parent is proud to be a mentor school for their student teachers.
Director and TThF Pre-K Teacher: Sarah Bradford
Sarah completed her Early Childhood Education at California State University, Bakersfield and holds a CA Site Supervisor and Master Teacher permit. She came to Valley Parent in 2005 when her daughter started preschool. Sarah subbed regularly in the classroom and served on the Executive Board for three years before joining our teaching team in 2009. She’s taught locally and in Central California for 8 years and enjoyed running a small parent co-op program out of her home when her children were younger. Sarah has a pet corn snake named Pepper that lives in the classroom and enjoys reading, sewing, and being with her family. She and her husband live in San Ramon with their two children, both whom attended Valley Parent.
Preschool & Mentor Teacher: Leslie Szumowski
Leslie holds CA Site Supervisor and Master Teacher permits, is a Mentor Teacher for Diablo Valley College, and has completed the Music Together Instructor Course. She’s been working with children in the San Ramon Valley for over 16 years. Prior to teaching at VPP Leslie taught in the district as an instructional art aide and later as a preschool teacher for the City of San Ramon at Crow Canyon Gardens. She enjoys gardening, volunteering and traveling with her husband; most recently to China and Alaska . Their two grown children attended a cooperative preschool when they were younger. Leslie and her husband live in Danville with their two huge loveable goldendoodles.
Preschool Aide: Viki Hentz
Viki first came to Valley Parent when her daughter started preschool in 2007. She subbed often in the classroom and served on the executive board. Viki has a B.A. in Psychology and a Multiple Subject Teacher Credential. Prior to coming to Valley Parent she taught preschool, 1st and 2nd grade. She enjoys cooking, reading, volunteering in her children’s classrooms, and playing with her labradoodle puppy, Maggie. Viki and her husband live in Danville with their two young children; both whom attended Valley Parent.
MWF Pre-K Teacher: Tess Bramer
Tess first came to Valley Parent when her now high school age son started preschool and then returned in 2007 to join our teaching team. Prior to teaching at Valley Parent Tess worked for seven years as a professional nanny and as a teacher at a Montessori school. She has a CA Master Teacher permit, is fluent in American Sign Language, and has completed the Music Together Instructor Course. Tess enjoys baking, back yard sports like wiffle ball and croquet, and exploring the Northern California coast with her family. She and her husband live in San Ramon with their middle school and high school age sons and their labradoodle, Venus.
Kinderprep Teacher: Sherry Campbell
Sherry has worked with children for over 20 years and has her B.S. in Child Development and her CA Teacher permit. Prior to coming to VPP she taught at The Methodist Preschool and Community Presbyterian Preschool. Sherry and her husband have three grown children and she enjoyed coaching and directing with the San Ramon Valley T-Birds cheerleading team for many years. Sherry and her husband live in Danville and enjoy skiing, riding, golfing and boating.
Kinderprep and Friday Pre-K Aide: Alyssa Clark
Alyssa started working with children as a swim instructor at The American Swim Academy in Dublin. She soon realized child development was her passion and enrolled in Early Childhood Education classes at Diablo Valley College. Meanwhile she started working at Old Firehouse School, a Reggio Emelia inspired school, in Lafayette. After a wonderful year there, she came to us as the Kinderprep and Friday Pre-K Aide. She has completed 15 Early Childhood units and is currently enrolled in 4 additional units. Alyssa enjoys hatha yoga, discovering local parks, and buying, making and eating fresh local food from the farmers markets.
