Child Educational Center
Palm Crest Elementary School, 140 Foothill Blvd, La Cañada, CA 91011
About
Child Educational Center offers nationally accredited childcare and educational programs that follow a progressive philosophy based on science-backed methods of nature- and play-based learning. The program emphasizes explicit practices of respect for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and all children, and focuses on building a caring and compassionate community and partnership with families. Its mission is to ignite joy, curiosity, and compassion through innovative children’s programs for all.
• Ages: 0–12 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:00 am–6:00 pm
The Child Educational Center’s programs have served as a leader in early childhood education since 1979. The organization is nationally accredited and operates as a childcare and educational organization whose mission, vision, and values include excellence, respect, service, openness, diversity, integrity, innovation, and nurturing. Its programs are licensed by the state of California as community care centers under Title 22, including Oak Grove Infant & Toddler (License #191223838), Oak Grove Preschool (License #191203783), Caltech Preschool (License #198016427), and School-Age Program sites at Oak Grove (Whales, License #191226212), Caltech (Owls, License #198021210), PCY (License #198003398), LCE (License #198003399), and PCR (License #198003400).
The leadership team includes Co-Executive Directors Allegra Inganni and Ellen Veselack, with Ellen Veselack serving as Director of Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Programs and Allegra Inganni serving as Director of School-Age Program. Additional leadership includes Seta Matossian, Chief Financial Officer; Danielle Jenkins, Director of Human Resources; Chuck Sawyer, Director of Advancement; Lisa Cain-Chang, Director of Operations; and Analise Gay, Director of Enrollment.
The Child Educational Center states a nondiscriminatory policy as to students, admitting children of any race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to children in the program, and applying this same standard to its educational policies, admissions policies, tuition assistance programs, and other school-administered programs. The organization also acknowledges the Tongva people as the traditional caretakers of Tovaangar, including the Los Angeles basin and San Gabriel Valley, and states that it is located on unceded Tongva land and pays respects to Tongva ancestors, elders, and their relatives and relations, past, present, and emerging.
A testimonial from Lead Teacher Mentor Denise Alvarado, who has been with the program since 1985, describes the center as “a magical, wonderful place” that “changes people, their hearts, and their minds in ways that enrich us forever.”
Last updated April 2, 2026.
• Ages: 0–12 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 7:00 am–6:00 pm
The Child Educational Center’s programs have served as a leader in early childhood education since 1979. The organization is nationally accredited and operates as a childcare and educational organization whose mission, vision, and values include excellence, respect, service, openness, diversity, integrity, innovation, and nurturing. Its programs are licensed by the state of California as community care centers under Title 22, including Oak Grove Infant & Toddler (License #191223838), Oak Grove Preschool (License #191203783), Caltech Preschool (License #198016427), and School-Age Program sites at Oak Grove (Whales, License #191226212), Caltech (Owls, License #198021210), PCY (License #198003398), LCE (License #198003399), and PCR (License #198003400).
The leadership team includes Co-Executive Directors Allegra Inganni and Ellen Veselack, with Ellen Veselack serving as Director of Infant, Toddler, and Preschool Programs and Allegra Inganni serving as Director of School-Age Program. Additional leadership includes Seta Matossian, Chief Financial Officer; Danielle Jenkins, Director of Human Resources; Chuck Sawyer, Director of Advancement; Lisa Cain-Chang, Director of Operations; and Analise Gay, Director of Enrollment.
The Child Educational Center states a nondiscriminatory policy as to students, admitting children of any race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to children in the program, and applying this same standard to its educational policies, admissions policies, tuition assistance programs, and other school-administered programs. The organization also acknowledges the Tongva people as the traditional caretakers of Tovaangar, including the Los Angeles basin and San Gabriel Valley, and states that it is located on unceded Tongva land and pays respects to Tongva ancestors, elders, and their relatives and relations, past, present, and emerging.
A testimonial from Lead Teacher Mentor Denise Alvarado, who has been with the program since 1985, describes the center as “a magical, wonderful place” that “changes people, their hearts, and their minds in ways that enrich us forever.”
Last updated April 2, 2026.
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