Malika Guergah, Center Director, has been working as a director in bay-area child care centers for the last 12 years. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Human Development in 2004 from California State University-- Hayward, and both an Associate of Arts in Child Devlopment and an Associate of Arts in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Peralta Colleges in 2002. She was trained by Sydney Gerwitz in Reggio-Emilio. In her years directing other centers, she has earned a reputation for developing nurturing programs that help children to improve their self esteem. She has always promoted education through play, and believes in education both for herself and for those around her. She believes in hands-on management and teaching, and her devotion to creative instruction is obvious from the moment you first talk to her.

Malika spends much of her free time gardening, sewing, cooking, and dancing. She bakes delicious French pastries, and enjoys decorating her home and environment. Malika is fluent in Arabic, English, and French. Contact Malika Guergah at 650.638.9300 email: malikaguergah@yahoo.com.

Tatyana Razgonov, Pathfinder, immigrated to the United States from Kazakhstan, Russia. While in Russia, she earned her Masters in Electrical Engineering at the Technical University--Alma-Ata. Before moving to the U.S., she was Chief Engineer at Relask for six years, and before that, was an engineer at a firm that manufactured submarines. After emmigrating to the U.S., Tatyana's interested turned toward early childhood education. She returned to school and earned her Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Mission College in Santa Clara. She is currently studying to receive her Master of Science in Education from the Kaplan University in August. She began her teaching career by serving as a caretaker for a private family. This lead to a Teaching position at CCLC in Palo Alto. She was one of the first teachers to join our staff here at Little City Kids. When she saw the submarine, she was completely hooked! Tatyana spends much of her free time taking care of her husband and daughter. She enjoys knitting and sewing, and especially cooking. She also likes to travel.

Shannon Stearns, Assistant Pathfinder, is a very special member of our staff. Although she has only recently graduated from high school, she has been a part of Little City Kids since its inception. In fact, the entire school was created and designed specifically for her! She has a deep and innate understanding of what our program is all about, and actually designed the bathroom mural. This summer, Shannon will be taking formal ECC classes, and in the fall she will be starting as a freshman at UC-Santa Cruz. Shannon has been an active member of the choir and the show choir, and enjoys dancing and making jewelry.

Feride Sattcioglu, Infant Pathfinder, was born in Bulgaria. She lived in Turkey for 15 years before moving to the Bay Area, where she resides with her two daughters. Besides English, Feride is fluent in Turkish. Feride attended Skyline College, where she received her teacher's permit in Early Childhood Education. Feride is certified in CPR/First Aid, and Health and Safety. She plans to continue her education in Early Childood Studies. During her free time, Feride enjoys ice skating, reading, and spending time with her friends.

Karen Hensley, Curriculum Coordinator, has a BA in Psychology from Reed College, with a minor in music, and an MA in Early Childhood euducation (ECE) from SF State. She was raised in a suburb of Philadelphia and moved to San Francisco after meeting her husband-to-be while working as a Merchant Seaman. She travelled extensively for three years, visiting ports in Odessa, Ukraine, the Panama Canal, the Easter Gulf and Western Gulf coasts of the US, including Alaska, and Japan.

Karen chose to enter the ECE field after having raised her daughter, who is now grown and living in NYC. During her MA program, she presented a paper at the American Educator's Research Association (AERA) in NYC, on Gender Roles in Preschool Children. Her field study at SF State focused on establishing a preschool teacher research group in San Francisco. The premise of the group is based on a philosophy called Descriptive Review, a form of oral inquiry in which a systematic, in-depth approach is used to help teachers gain insight into a child strengths by using positive descriptive language. Karen facilitates this professional group, San Francisco Teachers Education Early Learners (SF TEEL), which provides a useful platform for collaborative reflection that is relevant to the everyday classroom lives of our children. She also holds a Child Development Program Director Permit from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC).

Karen enjoys lap swimming at her local YMCA, spending time in her garden, barbecuing, entertaining at home, playing the flute, rooting for the 49ers and sailing on the Bay with her husband.

Chavon Williams, Pathfinder, has has joined our team in the Tuscan Farmyard.

Kristen Leep, Pathfinder, has has joined our team as a preschool pathfinder.

Mary Guffy, Pathfinder, has has joined our team in the Fairy Garden. She earned her Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts with a minor in child development from Chico State University. Miss Mary spends her free time with her family and two-year-old son, watching movies, and reading. She enjoys spending time with children-- and they brighten her day! She believes in giving infants what they need when they need it however they need it.

Katherine Araullo, Pathfinder, has has joined our team in the Tuscan Farmyard.