Meet our Staff

Cindy is the founder of The Child Unique, and has served as principal for 28 years.  She has several degrees in education, human development and cultural studies.  Cindy is also public policy adviser, representing Montessori schools in California.  Apart from her passion for education, Cindy is a singer and choir director and a mom of adult children. Cindy encourages her staff to continually further their own education; Cindy is currently involved in a program of study with principals and superintendents at U.C. Berkeley.  She is the 2011 keynote speaker for the International Montessori Council Conference in Florida.

Jonathan Acker began at The Child Unique at the age of two years old; however he was not working in the office then.  Jonathan is a student at Holy Names University, completing a degree in psychology.  He has a love of children, music, computers, and dancing.

Alyse Arno is thrilled to be starting her second year, here at The Child Unique. She started off last year in the office and decided that being with the children was way more rewarding. So this year she will be an afternoon assistant teacher with toddlers and Pre‑Primary students at Pacific. She is currently finishing up her bachelor's degree, and desires to become a full time teacher (hopefully at The Child Unique!). Alyse likes working out, going to the movies and spending time with her Lhasa Apso, Rori

Johanna Carranza has a half Colombian/half Mexican cultural background. She has Bachelors degree in radio and television, with an emphasis in broadcast journalism with a minor in Spanish.  Johanna has taught Spanish to children for 3 years and Spanish & ESL to adults for 7 years. In fall 2010, she began to study at the UC Berkeley Extension to receive a professional certificate in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) to later pursue her Masters in MATESL (Masters of Arts in teaching English as a Second Language) at the University of San Francisco. She is also taking Child Development classes to enrich her knowledge to better guide and understand children. 2011 will be her third year at The Child Unique.

Nicole received her BA from CSU, Hayward in Liberal Studies with a minor in English and Business Administration. She attended graduate school in Walnut Creek at Brandman University and received her Multiple Subject Teaching Certificate.  Nicole has worked with preschool to middle school children for six years and loved every minute of it. Every experience has made me grow as a teacher and an individual. “I have found that children bring out the best in me and nothing gives me more satisfaction than being a role model in a child's life and watching them grow into remarkable, well-rounded people”.  In her spare time, Nicole loves to watch cooking shows with her boyfriend, Brent who is a Sous Chef. She is a huge fan of country music, Nicholas Sparks novels and Audrey Hepburn. She loves to play with her pet boxer, Axel. She also loves collecting candles, classic cars and shopping for shoes!  Art has always been one of her passions and she enjoys sketching and painting. One day she hopes to travel the world and see places such as Italy, Ireland, and Spain

Jeannie Harberson had been with The Child Unique for 9 years. She started as a parent. A consultant by trade, she traded her consulting skills for volunteer hours. She left the corporate world of consulting to become an independent consultant. Over the years, she has worked as Pacific administrator, assistant director, compliance manager, NAEYC accreditation project manager and substitute teacher. Her consulting background, BS in Marketing and MS in Education is a winning combination. She continues to help the school in many capacities. She works on and off campus. Jeannie is a native New Yorker and fluent in Spanish

Mary has a degree in early childhood education and has owned her own business since 1994.  She has raised four children and currently has 7 grandchildren, ranging in ages from 6 months to 14 years old.  Mary is excited to share that one more grandchild is due in early January 2012, and it’s a boy!

Verise Jackson began working at The Child Unique in 1987. She received her Montessori certification, receiving units through Cal State East Bay. Verise has a specialty in teaching reading to young children. She enjoys art and cooking and is known for her quiet and patient spirit. Verise will work with Rose in a teacher support capacity, and will take Site Director responsibilities 

Porshia attended Peralta Colleges and then transferred to Maric College, where she graduated in 2008 and received a Medical Specialist Certification.  Before working at The Child Unique, she worked as a nanny for several years and at Alta Bates Medical Center, assisting new mothers with breastfeeding.  Porshia has been a Pre-Primary teacher at the Pacific site and a toddler assistant teacher for several years.

Marisela is a returning teacher who has been with The Child Unique Montessori School for over 7 years.  She has a degree in Liberal Arts and Child Development and is currently completing her Montessori early education credential.  Marisela is the proud parent of 5 year old Malia and 4 month old Keilani.  She, along with her husband Jon, a teacher for the Oakland Unified School District are committed to, as Cindy would say, "being the change you want to see in the world."  She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, doing crafts, and learning new things. 

Rose Maynes is excited to be back at The Child Unique, both as a returning parent and as a teacher. Rose is a UCSC alumni, where she studied psychology after a brief dalliance with Theater Arts.  She has been Montessori trained at MontessoriTeacherEducationCenter in Sunnyvale.  She enjoys reading (Montessori and science fiction), knitting, crocheting, sewing and Anime.  She also collects comic books!

Karen Mitchell will be seen around The Child Unique as she returns to her role as Cindy's Personal Assistant. Karen has been an Executive Assistant for over 17 years. Karen received her BA from UCLA in Communication Studies and her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University. She is a professional singer/songwriter with Diggsville and The Little Things. She enjoys playing guitar, traveling, painting, writing stories and living in Alameda with her husband, daughter and dog.

Gilbert Parada is glad to be a part of The Child Unique team. A UC Regent and biology scholar, he graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in English, emphasizing modern and contemporary literature. He completed pre-medical studies, but chose to obtain a depth of teaching experience. He spent a year researching San Francisco high school students, looking at action-research program’s efficacy to improving student achievement. He has taught two college courses through UC Berkeley's DeCal program and anatomy to kindergarten children in Berkeley. Gilbert seeks to enlighten students with a creative outlook on what a world of imagination, curiosity, the art of storytelling, and science can do to improve their lives and futures. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Montessori Elementary Education at Saint Mary’s College of California.  Gilbert is in his second year with The Child Unique.

Clarence Thomas, a returning teacher, has a background in non-profit work, teaching music and educational lecturing.  Clarence holds a B.S. in criminal justice and is currently pursuing an M.A. in forensic psychology. Clarence is a wonderful cook and an accomplished musician.

Tasha Walker has been working at The Child Unique since 2000. She holds a Montessori credential through Cal State East Bay, from the American Montessori Society, and has a degree in Leadership and Organization from St. Mary's University.  She is currently working on her Montessori Elementary credential at St. Catherine’s University. Tasha has been sought after for her expertise in working with children with special needs and providing positive leadership and academic excellence with boys. Tasha recently began learning to speak Vietnamese and had a wonderful opportunity to visit Vietnam.  Tasha has an affinity for Asian culture, purses and shopping.

Cassandra has been a teacher with The Child Unique for 20 years.  Cassandra took independent Montessori training through Cal State East Bay, and has enjoyed teaching toddlers for the majority of her time at The Child Unique.  She has the excitement to work with todders and energy to match. Cassandra has been a regular dancer at Carnaval in San Francisco, and enjoys African artifacts, reading and cooking.