Meet Our Teachers

(Left to right) Ang Papia, Veronica Benesi, Bernice West, Sharon Dahme, Bobbie Sanchez, and Cinthya Hoyle

Miss Ang (Bluebirds)

Ang Papia is the Lead Teacher in the Preschool (Bluebirds) room at SGCC.  She has worked with children for over 25 years as a nanny, childcare provider, First Five Kindergarten Readiness teacher, and preschool teacher.  Ang received her Early Childhood Education training from the College of Marin and is committed to forming genuine relationships with the children in her care. She loves to play, be active, and creative with children.  Ang is the mother of two sons and was born and raised in the San Geronimo Valley.  She has a deep connection to the community and passion for teaching young children.

Miss Bernice (Redbirds)

Bernice West is the Pre-K (Redbirds) teacher at SGCC and has taught in all three programs. She has worked with children for over 45 years; assisting in her mother’s home day care, teaching elementary school, and then preschool and childcare.  Bernice has a special fondness for early childhood development and the concepts of learning through play, exploration, and cultivation of language.  She has a BA in liberal studies, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (From CSU Sacramento), and additional ECE credits from the College of Marin.  Bernice is the mother of 2 adult daughters and has lived in Lagunitas for over 25 years, and Marin County for generations.

Miss Veronica (Bluebirds)

Veronica Benesi is a Preschool (Bluebirds) teacher at SGCC. She is originally from Brazil, where she earned her BA in Language and Literature, qualifying her to teach both grade and high school levels, as well as in foreign language schools. For 10 years she worked as Executive Assistant at GSK Pharmaceutical but working with little ones was always in her thoughts and a genuine passion. In 2010 Veronica moved to California, and now lives in Novato with her 22-year-old twin daughters. In order to teach preschool, she attended ECE courses at College of Marin. She has been working with children, especially 2-4 years of age, since 2017.

Miss Bobbie (Chickadees)

Bobbie Sanchez is the Lead Teacher in the Toddler (Chickadees) room at SGCC. She has had the pleasure to work with children and their families for over 20 years. Her favorite subjects to implement are art and science. Her ECE is through College of Marin and Santa Rosa Junior College. San Geronimo Childcare Center is a special place for children and their families and she is sincerely grateful to be a part of it.

Miss Cinthya (Chickadees)

Cinthya Hoyle is a Toddler (Chickadees) teacher at SGCC. She was born and raised in Peru. She discovered her passion to teach young children when her mother opened a Kindergarten in Peru. There, she attended the Universidad Nacional de Trujillo and got her Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. After graduating, she was offered a US student exchange program, which gave her the opportunity to go to school and graduate in Arts and Humanities and Behavioral studies. She has experience educating and taking care of children of all ages. Cinthya is also a Certified yoga instructor for adults and children.

Miss Maria (Director)

Maria Allis is the Director of San Geronimo Childcare Center. She identifies as a Latina woman. She was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She came to the US in 1981 and has settled in the small town of Fairfax, where she currently lives. She has been an Early Childhood Educator for over thirty years. Her professional career has been shaped from experiences working directly with communities in publicly funded licensed Early Care and Education settings, Special Education Inclusion programs, College Laboratory sites, and from teaching and coaching adults.

She has a Masters’ degree in Early Childhood Education from Sonoma State University and she has also participated in three fellowship programs at UC Berkeley with a focus on Early Literacy Development.

She continues to be engaged in her own professional development by attending and presenting at seminars, conferences, and workshops.

Miss Margaret (Administrator)

Margaret Krauss is an administrative assistant and occasional sub. She joined the school as a full-time teacher in 2002, teaching in all three programs. She was born and raised in Marin, has four adult children, six grandchildren and has lived and taught in Australia and Brazil. Early Childhood Education is her first love.