Ms Lori: Our Director & Teacher at Brook Knoll Buddies. Welcome to Brook Knoll Buddies! I’m Ms. Lori, the proud founder and a teacher at my cherished home preschool. Since opening our doors in 2010, I’ve blended my passion for early childhood education with over 30 years of experience working with preschoolers. My journey began in 1994, and each year has contributed to the nurturing environment we offer today.
We believe that play is essential for learning, providing a foundation for exploration, creativity, and growth. Our play-based approach celebrates each child as a unique individual and supports their development through engaging activities.
I’m fortunate to work alongside an incredible team of early childhood educators, each bringing their own wonderful and unique qualities to our program. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of learning from incredible mentors and peers in our community who are dedicated to supporting early childhood education, profoundly shaping and influencing our approach.
Brook Knoll Buddies Teaching Team
Ms. Amy Ms. Amy brings warmth, dedication, and a deep love for early childhood education to our teaching team. With nearly 12 years of experience, she finds great joy in nurturing young children during this creative, fast-growing stage of life. She believes these early years are filled with wonder and opportunity, and that preschool should feel like a safe, joyful place where children are seen, valued, and supported. As a mother of three children, with one in college, one in high school, and one in middle school, Ms. Amy brings both professional experience and a parent’s perspective to her work. Her family has enjoyed being part of the BK Buddies community, and her children love opportunities to visit and connect with our classroom environment. Ms. Amy considers it a true privilege to work in early childhood education. She strives to care for each child with the same gentleness, respect, and love she would want for her own children. She feels grateful to be part of the Brook Knoll Buddies teaching team and believes our school is a special place where preschoolers can explore, create, learn, and build meaningful relationships, truly a home away from home.
Ms Monic Ms. Monic brings extensive experience in early childhood education and a passion for helping young children learn through play, exploration, and hands-on experiences. With a background working with preschool-aged children, Monic enjoys creating engaging activities that encourage creativity, curiosity, and confidence. She brings a calm and caring presence to our preschool and believes children thrive when they feel supported, valued, and connected. Fluent in both English and Spanish, Ms. Monic is passionate about building meaningful relationships with children and families. We are excited to have her as part of the Brook Knoll Buddies team!
Ms Maya Ms. Maya is a warm, patient, and playful member of the Brook Knoll Buddies team. She brings experience working with children through both early childhood education and youth sports, where she has helped children build confidence, develop new skills, and enjoy learning through play. As an experienced soccer coach, Maya has worked with children of all ages and brings a positive, encouraging approach to everything she does. Fluent in both English and Spanish, she enjoys creating a welcoming environment where children feel supported, valued, and excited to explore. We are thrilled to have Ms. Maya as part of our preschool community!
Ms Tatum. Ms Tatum is starting her 3rd year with us, we are excited to have her continue with our preschool community. As our Preschool Teacher Assistant, Tatum brings a fun, energetic, and playful spirit to our preschool. She has a natural ability to connect with children, join in their excitement, and make each day full of laughter, creativity, and meaningful moments. Tatum is currently a student at UC Santa Cruz and has a passion for learning more about people, communities, and helping others. It has been wonderful to watch her connection with our preschoolers grow each year, along with her confidence and experience as an educator. We are so grateful to have Ms. Tatum as part of Brook Knoll Buddies and look forward to another year of fun, connection, and growth with her
Thank you for considering Brook Knoll Buddies. We look forward to sharing this exciting journey with your family, where every day is filled with fun, learning, and discovery!