Gillian Carpenter

Smiling woman in front of leafy background.

Director/Master Teacher

  • Background: Born and raised in San Francisco, attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory. Discovered a passion for early childhood education at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz.
  • Experience: 13 years in the field, including six as founding owner/director of Cooper Street Preschool in Felton—an anti-bias, play-based program.
  • Educational Philosophy: Thoughtfully integrates theories from Gerber, Maslow, Piaget, and Vygotsky to support each child’s unique developmental journey.
  • Personal Life: Proud mother of two children, Alexander Henry and Stella Josephine, and pets Milo Carlos and Jim Carrey. Enjoys hiking, cooking, and competitive Scrabble with her family in the Santa Cruz Mountains.