Mt. Taylor Children’s Centers

Mt. Taylor Children’s Centers offers hands-on activities such as art, music, storytelling, and outdoor exploration. Classrooms are set up to encourage curiosity, creativity, and confidence while also providing structure. Children participate in outdoor play and active learning during the day.

• Ages: 2–6 years old
• Schedule: Mon–Fri, 7:30 am–5:30 pm

Mt. Taylor Children’s Centers follows a play-based approach that supports social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development with a developmentally appropriate curriculum for ages 2–6. The program offers individual attention in a nurturing environment, with an average ratio of one early childhood educator for every eight children. Full-time and part-time childcare options are available, with snacks included as part of daily care. The centers accept diapers, offer before- and after-school care, and provide support for children with special needs.

Mt. Taylor Children’s Centers is a licensed preschool and childcare provider with three convenient locations and licensed facilities (License Numbers: 493010316, 493010315, 493010314). The program has been caring for Sonoma County’s children with preschool and childcare since 1991 and has been awarded Sonoma County’s Small Child Care Center of the Year three times. It has three sites: a Rohnert Park location, a Santa Rosa site on Slater Street, and a Vineyard Creek site off Airport Boulevard/Windsor Vineyard Creek Drive.

Owner Varala Durai has a business degree from Madras University in India and pursued child development education at De Anza College in California and UCLA. Director Karen Guerin has been working with children in Sonoma County since 1979 and started working at Mt. Taylor in 1999. Director Amberly Bunch earned an associate degree from Santa Rosa Junior College, a bachelor’s degree in human development from UC Davis, has been working with children in various capacities since 2010, and is a trained member of the YMCA Project Cornerstone Silicon Valley. Director Martha Avina joined Mt. Taylor in 1998 and serves as director of the Rohnert Park location and Mt. Taylor Too in Rohnert Park.

The program’s stated purpose is to provide a safe and caring environment in which each child may develop socially, emotionally, cognitively, and physically at his or her own rate. The mission describes assisting each child’s growth by providing consistent loving direction, appropriate activities, and encouragement, and also serving as a resource for parents. The stated goal is to provide care, guidance, and education for young children in an atmosphere of love, respect, and cooperation, with the belief that by being responsive to children’s emotional, intellectual, physical, and developmental needs, they will develop positive self-esteem, confidence, and a caring attitude toward others.

Varala Durai has volunteered hundreds of hours in public schools as a Spectra teacher, in what is described as the most comprehensive, discipline-based art education program available for grades K–8, and is a trained member of the YMCA Project Cornerstone Silicon Valley.

Parents describe Mt. Taylor Children’s Centers as a “sweet preschool” that took “utmost care” of a child who learned to write all letters and is entering transitional kindergarten, and they mention learning about kindness and other skills important to their family. One parent reports that their son attended full-time for two years, calls it a wonderful school with great staff, and notes that it was very affordable and flexible with summer plans and days of the week. Another parent says their daughter is excited to go to school every morning to see friends and teachers and calls it a great and affordable place close to their house. A parent of a toddler reports that their child has gained confidence, found her voice, and loves time with friends and teachers. Another parent shares that their child thrived through the play-based curriculum, adored all of the teachers, and left at 5 years old “kindergarten ready.”

Last updated May 15, 2026.