Our Staff

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​Nature’s Edge Child Development Center teachers are thoughtful and intensely creative Early Childhood Specialists. They have either completed AA, BA, or MA programs in Early Childhood Education or are working on their higher education.  NECDC provides many opportunities for ongoing staff development, workshops, and professional development for our staff. Each Staff member must complete 21 professional development hours annually.

In addition, all staff members have prior experience in the field, are CPR/First Aid Certified and many are members of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  NECDC staff members are fingerprinted and have received background check clearance by the Department of Social Services and the Department of Justice prior to their first day of employment.

Jayanthi Wimalaratne (Ms. Jay) ​

Director

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
​ -Nelson Mandela
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Ms. Jay has been actively involved in the childcare community for over 30 years.
She has an educational background from Long Beach City College and California
State University, Long Beach. Ms. Jay completed both, Bachelor’s degree and her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at CSULB. She has an immense amount of experience  in Early Childhood Educational and directly work with children, parents, and the variety of Community agencies. Her experience in the Field is extensive ranging from being an Assistant Teacher in Los Angeles, to a Lead Teacher of a preschool in North Carolina, and finally to be the Director of her own preschool program in Long Beach. She has served the LAUP Preschool program sponsored by First Five LA for 10 consecutive years, operating a high-quality in-home Preschool for 16 years, and now the founder and the Director of Nature’s Edge Child Development Center. She is also long-time  member of  NAEYC, as well as its local affiliates. She is also member of the North American Reggio Alliance (NAREA).
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Ms. Jay strongly believe  higher education and professional growth. Children she believes , are much more than sometimes given credit for. They are honest, imaginative, and resilient and can offer a different prospective into the world. Given the chance and with the right tools and expressing themselves  freely in a safe environment  with teachers they can trust, they can thrive. She is originally from Sri Lanka, which is a beautiful Island surrounded by the Indian Ocean and moved to USA in 1990.She enjoys gardening, loves tortoises and turtles, volunteers for Animals. Ms. Jay is married and has a son who graduated from CSULB with a focus in mechanical Engineering. He works as a Project Engineer for Space and Defense Composite Manufacturer, Reinhold Industries. Currently he is enrolled in MBA program at Pepperdine University.
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Amber Hernandez ​

Lead Pre-K Teacher/ Site Supervisor ​

“It’s not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It’s our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless.”
​~ L.R. Knost
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 Ms. Amber is excited to start working at Nature’s Edge Child Development Center and get to know all the children, parents, and staff. Ms. Amber earned her bachelor’s degree in 2020 on Child Development and Human Development at CSULB. She worked with children for a couple years in internships and volunteering in a kindergarten class. Her goal is to have her own classroom and teach kindergarteners. Ms. Amber loves to see how children grow academically and socially. It brings her joy on how children can learn and adapt to their new environment. Children gain so much knowledge through play and exploring their environments.

She is the first member from her family to graduate from a 4-year university. She enjoys walks at the beach and going to amusements parks. She also likes spending time with her family and friends. 

Elise Morado  (Ms. Elie) ​

Teacher

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”
​- Margaret Mead
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Elise Morado is currently attending at Long Beach City College for Associates in Early Childhood Education. She has worked with children all ages starting from infants to 10-year-olds. She loves working with children and being part of their education. Helping them and guiding them in the right path and being a positive person in their life. She is a new teacher at Nature’s Edge Child Development Center and is happy to be part of the team. She will be working with the butterfly classroom.
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She enjoys going on walks, aquariums, and going to the park with her one-year-old. She spends most of the time with her daughter. 

Angelica Chavez (Ms. Angie) ​

Teacher

“You’ve made this day a special day, by just being you. There’s no person in the whole world like you. And I like you just the way you are.”
- Mr. Rogers 

Ms. Angie is currently a full-time student at Harbor College, she is majoring in Early Childhood Education. She is currently about halfway in her studies and is gaining experience with Nature’s Edge Child Development Center by being a teacher’s assistant.

Ms. Angie is more than excited about this new experience and learning process. She is happy to be a part of this team and excited to get to see the children be creative, imaginative, talented, and clever. She believes it’s important to show children how to embrace one another and work together.

Ms. Angie enjoys watching movies, especially on Disney+ she also loves nature, and enjoys going camping with her family during the summer. She loves California, especially the beaches and the beautiful sunsets. 



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Isabella Madison​

Substitute Teacher

“A great teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart.”
– Unknown.
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Ms. Isabella is a third-year student at California State University Long Beach working towards a double major in Child Development and Family Life Education. She plans on finishing her undergraduate education in 2023 and hopes to become a Child Life Specialist. She began working with children as a babysitter for toddlers to middle schoolers and as a tutor for elementary to high school students. She recently worked as an assistant preschool teacher in the toddler room. She has loved every experience working with children and getting to see their growth. She loves learning the unique strengths of each child and helping them improve cognitively and social-emotionally. She loves to see her students become more independent as they learn how to interact with their environment and their peers. She is very excited to get to know all of the children and families at Nature’s Edge Child Development Center and help the little ones grow. Outside of school she enjoys cooking, baking, and enjoying nature and the city.
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Ms. Samantha ​

Teacher

As teachers, we can make the classroom a place where we help students to come out of shame. We can allow them to experience their vulnerability among a community of learners who will dare to hold them up, should they falter or fail... a community that will constantly give recognition and respect.”
​- Bell Hooks
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Ms. Samantha is a part-time student at Cerritos College, majoring in Early Childhood Education and Psychology. Ms. Samantha was once a babysitter, which is when she realized she adored taking care of children and always loved putting a smile on their face and to not only be a friend, but also a person that guides the little ones in the right direction. Ms. Samantha is very delighted to meet the little ones of Nature’s Edge Child Development Center as well as meeting the staff members that had kept this beautifully creative place in its wonders of learning. Ms. Samantha cannot wait to learn from others and gain experience every chance she gets, because every day is another lesson to be learned.

Ms. Samantha loves to listen to music, watch all kinds of movies, play all kinds of games, enjoys talking with people and she also has a favorite princess named Ariel. Ms. Samantha is nurturing, communicative, curious, and is very friendly. Ms. Samantha will always have the pleasure of meeting everyone including the little ones that walk into her life with a smile.

Daisy Arce​

Early Childhood Education Intern

“You can’t let your failures define you. You have to let your failures teach you.”
- Barack Obama

Ms. Daisy graduated from Millikan High School last year and is planning to further her education at Long Beach City College. She is currently working at Nature’s Edge Child Development Center. She is very excited to learn from this experience and be able to work with children.
 
Ms. Daisy enjoys reading and spending time with her three nieces. She also enjoys watching movies. 




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