Jonnie Cardinale

Owner/Founder

• Role: Owner and founder of Natural Bridges Children’s Center; also a 1st grade teacher at Gateway School.
• Extensive Experience: Over 17 years educating children in Santa Cruz County, spanning both preschool and elementary settings.
• Comprehensive Credentials: Holds two degrees in Early Childhood Education, a national certification as a handwriting specialist, and a micro-credential in the Neuroscience of Growth Mindsets.
• Specialized Expertise: Specializations include reading, writing, math, curriculum planning, and educator mindfulness.
• Passion for Development: Deep commitment to children’s social-emotional growth, grounded in training from Yale’s Institute of Social Emotional Learning. Focuses on developing executive function skills and social-emotional confidence.
• Advocacy & Leadership: Continuously pursues professional growth; attends educator forums on brain science and early learning. Actively shares knowledge on early learning for kindergarten transitions; authored articles and served on local and statewide boards.
• Santa Cruz Roots: A Santa Cruz resident for over 40 years. Enjoys time with husband Joey, cat Freddie, and two English Cream Retrievers. Future plans include writing a children’s book series and opening a dog rescue.