Our Staff
Kate Kelly
Founder/Director/Teacher
Kate, preschool teacher, 2023
Kate has over 20 years of experience working with children. She has worked in daycares, preschools, elementary schools and private residences, working with children of all ages and backgrounds.
She earned her BA in liberal studies from the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies at Sonoma State University in 2005. After getting married and having children, she returned to SSU in 2017 to earn her MA in early childhood education where she structured her thesis around the creation of Morning Bird Preschool.
Kate believes firmly in the power of play, nature, storytelling and art, and integrates them into her daily curriculum. She also believes very much in laughter which, thankfully, always finds a way to integrate itself naturally into each day.
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Finally, she believes that early childhood is pretty much the most essential part of the human experience. If you can provide a child with a happy, grounded, fulfilling childhood, it sets the stage for success (social, emotional, academic and more). Kate’s own childhood has been extremely influential as she draws from her vivid memories of being a happy kid.
Kate lives with her husband, Gregory, and their two daughters, Simone and Mia. She is honored to provide a wonderful place for children to play, learn and thrive. It is the work of her heart.
Kate, preschool student, 1987
Substitute Teachers
Greg Kelly
Greg is Teacher Kate's husband and the father of their two teenage daughters. Greg is a creative musician and enjoys teaching children rhythm and introducing them to a variety of cool instruments such as the guitar, keyboard, theremin, tambourine and maraca. Greg also has a passion for gardening and loves to help children learn the gifts of planting, pruning and tending to the earth.
Alaina Fuetsch
Alaina Fuetsch graduated in 2020 from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Since becoming a Preschool Teacher she has decided to pursue her Masters in Early Childhood Education at her alma mater. Alaina has over 8 years of experience working with kids in a home and daycare setting.
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Lisa Nippe
Lisa has loved working with kids ever since she was a child. She got her babysitter’s certification as soon as she was old enough and babysat through her college years. She has many years of experience working with children, particularly nursery and preschool age, and has had the opportunity to work with youth in Mexico for numerous summers. She now has four daughters of her own. She loves being with kids and learning the beauty and simplicity of life alongside them.