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PS kids classroom play structure

Preschool kids work with clay

PS Marina student circle carpet

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Meet the Preschool Team

PS kids classroom play structure
Preschool kids work with clay
PS Marina student circle carpet

2023-2024

Waverly’s preschool teach­ers have substan­tial knowl­edge of child devel­op­ment, years of expe­ri­ence working with young chil­dren, and a strong commit­ment to the philos­o­phy of the preschool program.

Faculty Rodarte Connie

Connie Rodarte

Connie is the preschool direc­tor. Connie has a B.A. in Spanish and human devel­op­ment from the Univer­sity of Cali­for­nia, Davis. She previ­ously worked at The Little Preschool as a preschool teacher and summer program direc­tor. Connie says, ​“Every day is a new learn­ing oppor­tu­nity when working with chil­dren. Their daily discov­er­ies serve as a reminder of the impor­tance of creat­ing an envi­ron­ment that supports their devel­op­men­tal needs.” (Email)

Faculty Birito Stephanie

Stephanie Brito

Stephanie is the preschool asso­ciate teacher. Stephanie grad­u­ated with a Bachelor’s in child devel­op­ment from Humboldt Univer­sity. Most recently, she worked at Altadena Chil­dren’s Center with the toddler group.

Faculty Dahlen Marina

Marina Dahlen

Marina is a preschool lead teacher. She has an A.A. degree from the College of the Redwoods with an empha­sis in early child­hood educa­tion. Marina is one of the found­ing teach­ers of The Waverly School and has worked with young chil­dren for more than 30 years. Marina says, ​“I am inspired by how the students are willing to teach as much as they are willing to learn.” Marina’s son Emmett ​‘08 grad­u­ated from Waverly. (Email)

Photo not available

Sydney Waco

Sydney is a preschool lead teacher. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Cali­for­nia State Univer­sity, North­ridge, as well as her teach­ing certifi­cate and multi­ple subject creden­tial. She earned her Early Child­hood units from UCLA. Sydney has been teach­ing for the past six years as an elemen­tary school teacher, art educa­tor, and, most recently, as a preschool teacher for LAUSD. In addi­tion, she holds certi­fi­ca­tions in Social-Emotional Learn­ing from both Emory Univer­sity and Yale School of Medi­cine and a certifi­cate of Mind­ful­ness in Educa­tion from Mindful Schools. Sydney has a strong under­stand­ing of the impor­tance of provid­ing students with engag­ing and inno­v­a­tive instructional practices.