Our Teachers

Teacher Prudence
3 Day Teacher & Director

Teacher Prudence is starting her 5th year at Sunnymont-Westside. Prudence loves teaching and watching children learn through exploration. She is known for her easy, infectious smile and for making everything seem like it’s just part of the adventure.

Prudence has been a teacher for the past 25 years. She started by teaching Kindergarten, First and Third Grades at elementary schools in San Jose. Both of her own children attended local co-op preschool programs and during that time, she fell in love with the co-op nursery school model.

Besides making her classroom an adventure for children, Prudence had always wanted to make sure it was always a place that offered loving support to each family as their children grew, as well. And “Parent participation schools are a special places for observing this growth. It is a special time! I get the privilege of connecting with each child and their family in a way that didn't always happen within the elementary school classroom.” She also loves the community aspect of a co-op school. She believes that the strong connections and friendships that families form can last a lifetime.

In the 16 years since deciding a co-op is the place for her, she has taught 1 Day, 2 Day and 4 Day classes at other local parent participation schools.

Prudence has a BS degree in Environmental Sciences and a California Multiple Subjects teaching credential. She received the Meritorious Service Award in 2013 and the Honored Teacher award from San Jose State University in 2012. She is the mom of 2 children who went through co-op schools

Teacher Victoria
4 Day TK Class Teacher

Teacher Summer 1 Day & 2 Day Teacher

We first met Teacher Victoria when she was working as a therapist, and came to school to support one of our students. We fell in love with her, she fell in love with Sunnymont-Westside, and we knew we wanted to keep her. Victoria is in her 4th year teaching both the 1 Day and 4 Day TK Class.

Victoria grew up in a home where her mother owned and operated a family child care center, so the importance of early education has been instilled in her for as long as she can remember, and it’s only natural she would find that her passion is working with children. Over the past decade, she has worked with children across various age ranges and developmental levels, from teaching K-6 English language learners through AmeriCorps to teaching in preschool classrooms, to working as an Early Interventionist supporting children with special needs, providing in-home play based behavior therapy and parent training, facilitating social groups and support groups for children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders and their neurotypical siblings.

Victoria has found great value in teaching through the playful and inclusive art of music and movement, which has been an amazing gift to the children she works with as well as to her colleagues, who’ve learned an immense amount just by listening to her with our kiddos (as well as some more direct learning by taking some workshops she’s facilitated at professional conferences!) She shares her passions for music and young children in her other job with Golden Acorn Music, and luckily for us, in our Sunnymont-Westside classrooms.

Teacher Summer has been a dedicated part of the Sunnymont Westside community for over 6 years. A Sunnymont Westside alumni parent herself, she vibrantly embodies everything we love about our school.

Having gone to a co-op preschool herself in Los Gatos, Summer was interested in perusing a similar experience for her own children. At Sunnymont Westside, Summer fell in love with the parent participation model and found comfort in an environment that supports both children and parents, and allows children to learn through play.

Summer is skilled at engaging children through creative curriculum activities and values each individual’s unique interests. She supports parents in guiding children through developmentally appropriate conflict resolution, embracing sensory needs, and building resilience through strategic risk taking during play.

Summer’s kindness, warmth and understanding of meeting children where they are developmentally, makes her an especially valuable member of our teaching team. She provides compassionate support for our youngest preschoolers and parents during their first experiences at school.