Clayton Valley Parent Preschool

Clayton Valley Parent Preschool offers creative and educational play experiences that focus on play, discovery, and exploration through a hands-on curriculum. Children take part in activities such as field trips, visits from school visitors, and parties. Circle time can include the teacher playing her guitar, and birthdays are marked by lighting a candle to celebrate.

• Ages: 2–5 years old

Clayton Valley Parent Preschool describes its mission as promoting the development of the whole child physically, cognitively, emotionally, and socially through creative and educational play-based learning. The program states that its central fundamentals include providing an environment for creative and educational play-based learning, fostering relationships between children, parents, and families, and promoting parent education through regular meetings and co-oping experiences. It is described as a cooperative community where parents share in their child's first school journey and has a history as a parent cooperative nursery school.

The school’s history includes classroom construction beginning in October 1967, Articles of Incorporation filed on December 27, 1967, the first orientation on February 29, 1968, and opening to students on March 4, 1968. It became Clayton Valley Parent Preschool in September 1975, and in 1981 the school adopted the rainbow and sun as its mascot. The school has been known historically as “Patsy’s School.”

Leadership over the years has included Mrs. Stanley Lemer as the first director of St. John’s Parent’s Nursery, Mrs. Klaus A. (Beverly) Mueller as director starting September 16, 1968, and Mrs. Frank (Patsy) Sherman as director for 30 years starting June 1970. Diane Starky and Aida Conteras later served as co-directors, and Dietra (Teacher DeeDee) Leming served as director for 22 years, with her tenure ending with her passing in December 2022. Natacha Uriarte (Teacher “Tacha”) is listed as teacher and director at Clayton Valley Parent Preschool.

Staff credentials listed include Natacha Uriarte’s bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development with a concentration in children and families, graduation with honors in 2010 from San Francisco State University, and receipt of the Dr. Shannon Perry Achievement Award. Her background includes 15 years of experience in education and managing her own childcare business, volunteer work with several non-profit organizations including Volunteer Center of the East Bay, and internships at low-income elementary schools, and she is fluent in Spanish. Other past educators include Mrs. Lemer, a certified elementary school teacher with five years of experience as a cooperative nursery school mother; Mrs. Mueller, who majored in child psychology and directed a nursery school in Carmel Valley from 1950–1960; Mrs. Sherman, who received a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Cal State University Hayward in June 1970 and had four years of experience as a co-oping mother; Diane, who had worked in early childhood education for over 20 years; Aida, an experienced preschool teacher and co-oping mother; and Teacher DeeDee, whose education included extensive training in Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Early Childhood Education, Reggio Emilia–style student-centered, self-guided learning, and the active learning HighScope philosophy.

Clayton Valley Parent Preschool notes that it offers preschool and prekindergarten (Pre-K) programs and uses a hands-on curriculum to engage all senses. The program’s history spans over 50 years. Teacher DeeDee received the “Making a Difference in the Lives of Children” scholarship award, and in 2009 the Mayor of Concord proclaimed April 9 as “Teacher DeeDee Day!” In 2010, she was honored with the Teacher of the Year Award from the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools.

Last updated March 27, 2026.