About
Branches Atelier offers preschool, transitional toddler, summer camp, parent/toddlers, parent/infants, and parent/teacher education, as well as parent tours and workshops. The program also offers classes for preschool children, parents and toddlers, parents and infants, and specialized workshops for parents and educators. It is a Reggio inspired center and a social constructivist program where children are viewed as protagonists in their learning, with curriculum integrated through short-term explorations and long-term projects.
• Ages: 0–5 years old
Branches Atelier was founded in 2007 and has been in its current location since 2012. The program is committed to creating high-quality, creative, dynamic, educational programs for children, families, and educators, and is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. It is based on the belief that children learn best when their work is meaningful and in a social context, and children are encouraged to work in collaboration with their peers to co-construct new theories and ideas.
The leadership team includes Patricia Hunter McGrath, Executive Director and Atelierista; Becky Zlotoff, who focuses on online parenting; Christina Bianchi, pedagogista and naturalist; Francesca (Franceska) Schifrin, Teacher and Parent Facilitator; and Susan McAdams, Teacher. Staff credentials include more than thirty years of experience in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College for Patricia Hunter McGrath; cum laude graduation from St John’s College and early childhood units from Santa Monica College, along with nine years as a California Mentor, for Becky Zlotoff; state accreditation as an instructor for early education and elementary school for Christina Bianchi; and formal training in Early Childhood Education at UCLA for Franceska Schifrin.
Branches Atelier is a founding member of the West Coast Collaborative, a coalition of preschools that share resources, training, professional development, and research on applying Reggio inspired practices in early childhood settings. Through this work, the West Coast Collaborative maintains an ongoing collaboration and dialogue with the schools of Reggio Emilia through pedagogista Tiziana Filippini. The program operates under Facility # 197418373.
Last updated July 4, 2026.
• Ages: 0–5 years old
Branches Atelier was founded in 2007 and has been in its current location since 2012. The program is committed to creating high-quality, creative, dynamic, educational programs for children, families, and educators, and is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. It is based on the belief that children learn best when their work is meaningful and in a social context, and children are encouraged to work in collaboration with their peers to co-construct new theories and ideas.
The leadership team includes Patricia Hunter McGrath, Executive Director and Atelierista; Becky Zlotoff, who focuses on online parenting; Christina Bianchi, pedagogista and naturalist; Francesca (Franceska) Schifrin, Teacher and Parent Facilitator; and Susan McAdams, Teacher. Staff credentials include more than thirty years of experience in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College for Patricia Hunter McGrath; cum laude graduation from St John’s College and early childhood units from Santa Monica College, along with nine years as a California Mentor, for Becky Zlotoff; state accreditation as an instructor for early education and elementary school for Christina Bianchi; and formal training in Early Childhood Education at UCLA for Franceska Schifrin.
Branches Atelier is a founding member of the West Coast Collaborative, a coalition of preschools that share resources, training, professional development, and research on applying Reggio inspired practices in early childhood settings. Through this work, the West Coast Collaborative maintains an ongoing collaboration and dialogue with the schools of Reggio Emilia through pedagogista Tiziana Filippini. The program operates under Facility # 197418373.
Last updated July 4, 2026.
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