GeoKids Early Childhood Development Center

Heather Morado, Executive Director

Heather has over 15 years of experience working with teachers, families and children in the Bay Area. She has been a part of the GeoKids community since the spring of 1998. She is a strong advocate for children and families. Heather has focused on a reflective, responsive, and collaborative approach in her work as the director of GeoKids.

Heather is an active member of and presenter for the National Association for the Education of Young Children. She has presented various workshops all over the country and has worked closely with the Innovative Teacher Project for the past five years. She has traveled with her staff to Reggio Emilia as a part of the Spring 2006 delegation that was organized by Reggio Children.

Shannon Burleson, Office Manager

Nikki Chermat

Nikki began working at GeoKids during the summer of 2006 after entering the child development field several years ago. Her favorite aspect of working with children is being able to appreciate and participate in childish behavior while at work.

Nikki spends the majority of free time playing with her son but her other hobbies include writing songs and music.

Margi Encisco

Margi has been a part of the GeoKids community since 2005.

She loves working with children and being a part of the fascination they experience discovering themselves.

In her spare time, she likes to make art and sculpture, to hike and spend time with her dog.

Tuija Dea

Dottie Ferguson

Dottie began teaching at Geokids in 1997. She started her career in the child development field in 1979 when she took over a home daycare business from a friend. Dottie's loves the aspect of learning and growing with children and says it's a great feeling to witness the wonder they find in simple everyday things.

When she's not working, she spends time with her family and playing with her granddaughter. She enjoys gardening and photography.

Mollie Graham

Mollie began working at GeoKids in November of 2005. She has been working in the field for 15 years.

What Mollie enjoys most about working with young children is that she is always learning.

Linnea Hilton

Linnea has been with GeoKids since 1997 and she has been working with young children for 12 years.

What she enjoys most about her work with kids is exploring their world with them. They continually illuminate its possibilities, joys and wonders.

Her hobbies include traveling, reading, and interacting with the people and world around her.

Stacey James

Stacey began working with young children and their families at GeoKids in 1996. She came to this after an entirely different career after deciding it was the most meaningful work that she could do. Stacey says it's continually challenging, frequently exhilarating, and always fulfilling.

She has a B.A. in Child Development and is working on her master's degree. Her son youngest is a GeoKids alum. Her main hobbies are gardening and cooking. She also enjoys needlework and playing the piano.

Valerie Lui

Valerie began working at GeoKids in 2006 but she has been working with children for over ten years.

What she loves most about her job is what she learns from them.

Her hobbies include swimming and knitting. Of course, she also enjoys spending time with her family.

Michele McMath

Michele began her career with GeoKids in early 1999 and has been working in the field since 1990.

What she enjoys most about working with children is being silly with them and watching them discover the "wows" and "whys" around them.

While not at GeoKids, Michele is busy taking care of her own young children; singing songs and reading stories with them or looking for trucks in the neighborhood. She also enjoys gardening.

Chae Marshall

Chae began her career with GeoKids in 2000 and she has been in the child development field for 9 years. Her favorite aspect of working with children is witnessing their discoveries.

While not working, she is focused on taking care of her baby and watches the occasional movie.

Tracy Pierce

Tracy started working seven years ago but she has been working in the classroom since she was 14 years old and has been teaching since that time. Tracy's affection for GeoKids is so strong that she cannot imagine teaching anywhere else. Preschool is her passion and she is always amazed at what preschools can already do and how they view life.

Her hobbies include outdoor adventure travel, working on her home, spending time her partner, family and friends

Marisol Rocha

Justina Trujillo

Justina began working at GeoKids in July of 1998. She has been working with children for almost nine years.

Her favorite aspect of working with young children is “The journey is never endings for both the child and me.

While not working, she enjoys spending time with her family in particular watching her nephew play t-ball. She also enjoys camping, bike riding and fishing.