Teachers

MCPC is licensed by the State of California. The school is supervised by a Director who oversees the programs, and manages parents on each school day. In addition, a Teacher works on each school day and leads special projects.

Susana Ortega-Sanchez - Director
Our Director Susana Ortega-Sanchez has more than 30 years experience teaching preschool children and 25 years with parent cooperatives. She oversees and directs all activities at MCPC, including our Preschool and Toddler programs. She helps ensure that parents understand and act in accordance with our school's philosophy and teaching style, and is at the school Monday through Friday. She has been with MCPC for 15 years and is the mother of five children.

Susana has a degree in General Education from Merritt College and has completed coursework in Preschool Administration and Early Childhood Education. Susana is fluent in Spanish.

Deborah Pines – Teacher & Director-in-Training
Our Teacher and Director-in-Training Deborah Pines came to us from San Leandro Adult School where she was teaching parent-toddler classes and substituting at Broadmoor Nursery School. She has two children.

Deborah has a degree from California State University Hayward in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education.

Jolie McRae – Toddler Facilitator and Substitute Teacher
Jolie has been a member of the cooperative since 2004. She works at our Summer Camps and teaches several of our Toddler Program classes. In addition, she substitutes as a teacher for our morning program. She has two children. Her oldest is an MCPC graduate, and the youngest is currently enrolled.

Jolie has an undergraduate degree in dance and social science from UC Berkeley and a graduate degree from Holy Names University. She completed her coursework in Early Childhood Education at Merritt College.

Gabriela Rojas – Extended Day Teacher and Toddler Facilitator
Gabriela directs the MCPC Extended Day program on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and teaches 6 of our Toddler Program classes. In addition, she substitutes as a teacher for our morning program. Gabriela has one child.

Gabriela earned a BA from UC Berkeley. She speaks fluent Spanish, and is completing coursework in Early Childhood Education.

Erica Olguin – Teacher's Aide
Erica assists at our Extended Day Program on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Erica earned a BA from the University of Colorado, Boulder in Spanish and Elementary Education. She speaks fluent Spanish.