Teachers

Jeanne Carriere

Teacher Jeanne has been teaching at the Westside Parent Education Nursery School since 1994. She has an A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education, from Cabrillo College, a B.A. in Liberal Studies, from Sonoma State University and a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential. Since 2006, Jeanne has also worked as an Early Literacy Foundations coach and trainer for First 5 of Santa Cruz County. In 2008, she received a Community Hero Award from the Santa Cruz County Assessment Project for her work with First 5 as a SEEDS quality coach. Jeanne proudly received the Community Hero Award again in 2010 for her dedicated work at the Westside Parent Education Nursery School.

Jeanne first came to Santa Cruz Adult School in 1988 as a parent education student with her young children. She took parenting classes for parents of infants and toddlers and participated as a family at the Soquel Parent Education Nursery School. She went on to teach parent education classes to parents of infants and toddlers for several years, before coming to the Westside Parent Education Nursery School. Jeanne feels that her jobs at the co-op and at with First 5 combine the best of all worlds. She loves working and playing with pre-school children and she loves supporting parents in their journey through parenthood. To those passions she has now added the honor of supporting other preschool teachers in their professional development. She shares her passion for early literacy development with the families at WPENS and with teachers throughout the community. Jeanne appreciates the richness and diversity that each family brings to the co-op and feels it is an honor to be part of such a warm and supportive community.

Cory Cherk

Cory has been teaching at the Westside Parent Education Nursery School since 1999. She first attended the school as a parent with her daughter. This is when she fell in love with the place. She has a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She has previously taught both pre-schools and elementary schools since 1985. She loves teaching at the co-op because she gets to support children and parents as they practice skills, learn and grow together as well as create life long friendships. She believes that building community is essential to raising a happy family. She feels that working with children this age is especially wonderful because you can observe them discovering the world all of the time in every way! She feels privileged to share this very special time with families.