Director- Akane Greene
Akane started at St. Basil Preschool in 2017 as the 2’s class teacher. She fell in love with the program and was delighted to take the helm from Tammy Hamilton-Williams, the school’s founder and only director. Akane has her Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education and will be graduating in December 2021 from CSU Sacramento with a degree in Child Development. Her goal is to continue her studies and pursue a Master’s degree in Child Development.
2’s teachers: Jennifer Herron and Kileigh Mariani
Jennifer joined our staff in January 2020. Her loving and nurturing personality was a perfect fit for our youngest students. She has over 10 years of experience teaching in preschool classrooms and her A.A. in Early Childhood Education. Jennifer’s professionalism and ability to bring out the best in both peers and students make her a mentor to others.
Kileigh joined our program in September of 2020. She is a St. Basil Preschool alumnus. Both Kileigh and her brother attended our school and she is excited to now be working here! Kileigh has worked as an after school teacher at the YMCA and is the 2’s classroom teacher aide. She is continuing her education in the early childhood education field. Her strong work ethic and genuine connections with each child are evident in the classroom.
3’s teachers: Veronica Rodriguez and Taylor Gonzales
Veronica will be starting her 7th year with us. She has been teaching young children for 15 years. She loves creating art projects for the children and prioritizes each child’s creative expression. She is working towards her goal of obtaining an Associates of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education.
Taylor Gonzales joined our program in May 2021. She came to us from St. Andrew’s New Day Preschool in Stockton. Her positivity and love for what she does is apparent in all that she accomplishes. She is very committed to developing strong communication and relationships with parents and families. Taylor is currently continuing her studies in Child Development at the college level with the ultimate goal of a teaching credential.
Pre-K Teachers: Antonia Torres, Leslie Anne Cabang-Chu, and Somaly In
Antonia Torres is an experienced teacher who has been with St. Basil for 13 years. She holds an Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education. This will be her 5th year in Pre-K. Antonia is very resourceful and enjoys creating learning centers that meet the children’s needs. She will be the full day Pre-K co-teacher.
Leslie Anne is new to our program but a seasoned child development professional. She previously worked as a 2’s class lead teacher for 5 years at the Early Childhood Lab Center at UC Davis. She graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development from CSU Sacramento. She will be the morning Pre-K co-teacher. Her flexibility and natural leadership qualities make her an asset to the classroom. We are excited to have her as a part of our team.
Somaly has been with St. Basil for over 10 years. She took time off in both 2018 and 2020 to welcome her two children. Somaly is loved by the children for her creativity and down to earth personality. She has her A.A. in Family and Consumer Sciences/Child Development. Somaly will be the afternoon Pre-K co-teacher.
