Cori Preisler ~ 2day Teacher and Director

I have some very vivid memories of my preschool. I remember the sound of the metal spoon as it clanked against the glass jar when I was mixing yellow and blue-colored water, I remember sitting on the rug and singing “I Like to Eat Apples and Bananas,” and I remember playing in the dirt underneath a climber. I remember my best friend, Jenny, and how we liked to wear the same pink Strawberry Shortcake t-shirt, and I remember getting a kick out of my two teachers’ names rhyming: Miss Sherry and Miss Jerry.

What do you want your child to remember about preschool? As a parent, I lovingly wanted my children to remember the simple and pure joys of their first educational experience, and (selfishly) I wanted to be a part of those first steps. And so began my days at Serra Preschool with my 4 kids: Anya, Theo, Elisa and Luke. We did a lot of laughing and playing, getting messy, cleaning it up, and getting messy again. Having taught first grade before becoming a stay-at-home mom, going back into the classroom was natural for me. But, oh the joys of play that Serra cherished! I knew from the moment I visited Serra that this preschool values childhood and will preserve the very basic interests of children — to be themselves, to grow and learn through playing and experiencing, trying and failing and trying some more, making friendships quickly and slowly, letting their imaginations run wild, and figuring out how they fit into this great, wondrous world.

I earned my BA in Psychology with a Practicum in Child Development and minor in German Studies from UCSD. I then went straight to Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology where I earned my teaching credential and Masters in Education. I worked in La Canada Unified in LA County and Chappaqua School District in Westchester, New York before settling down with my own family in San Clemente. During my parenting years at Serra, I started taking Early Childhood Education and Administration classes, workshops, training sessions, etc. And while not directly related to preschool, I also became a certificated GATE Instructor through UCI.

And yet the very best education I received to prepare me as a teacher at Serra and as a parent in this great “Game of Life” was to experience a cooperative preschool with my children, and that is why I am so excited for every new family that comes through our doors. I’ve been that parent whose oldest child is 3 years old, and I’m wondering which preschool is the right fit for my family. This isn’t an “easy” preschool. Parents don’t drop off and pick up and that’s it. There’s so much more, and it is incredibly rewarding. All that time and energy and heart that parents put into Serra comes back tenfold. The power of community is strong; what fun you will have! You’re going to love it.

Come Play With Us!

Ms. Cori

Serra Preschool Director and Teacher

Shelby Long~ 3day Teacher

I’ve been in some sort of teaching role most of my life. In high school I had the opportunity to teach dance classes to children from 3 years old to adults at my dance studio. I loved the job because I loved dance, but I enjoyed working with children just as much. I graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a BA in Human Development and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. I taught 5^th grade in Redondo Beach for 7 years. I originally wanted to teach kindergarten, but that was not the position I was offered, and I surprised myself by falling in love with the upper grades. In 2008 I got married and we moved to San Clemente. I was unable to get another teaching position at the time and decided to return to school for a master’s degree in Reading from Cal State Fullerton. Soon after, another door was opened to me with a part-time position at Saddleback College, teaching reading and critical thinking courses. The part-time work was perfect because during this time our family had grown, we had two kids who were attending Serra Preschool. I had been so excited to find a co-op in San Clemente because I had attended a co-op preschool when I was little and I knew that was what I wanted for my own kids. Of course, my husband and I fell in love with Serra Preschool immediately. I joined the board our second year, my kids and I made lasting friendships, and my parenting style is deeply rooted in the Serra philosophy. My daughter was in first grade when there was an opening for the classroom aide, and I jumped at the chance to return to Serra. Returning as an aide and not a parent was so similar but different at the same time. The community immediately embraced me again, but I also got to start using some of those teaching muscles I hadn’t in a while. I’m so excited about this next step in my teaching journey. Becoming the 3-Day teacher is a culmination of this winding road I’ve taken through my adult life, from teaching dance classes to becoming a parent to college instruction. I can’t wait to walk through this next door and meet new Serra families! 

Ms. Shelby

Serra Preschool Teacher