Mt. Taylor Children's Centers

Mt. Taylor Children's Centers offers hands-on experiences that include guided play, art, music, storytelling, and outdoor exploration. The program uses a play-based approach with a developmentally appropriate curriculum for children ages 2–6. Children have outdoor play and active learning opportunities, and snacks are included as part of daily care.

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

Mt. Taylor Children's Centers offers full-time and part-time childcare options, before- and after-school care, and accepts diapers. The program supports children with special needs and maintains an average ratio of one early childhood educator for every eight children. The centers have classrooms designed to encourage curiosity, creativity, and confidence while providing structure, along with outdoor play and active learning opportunities, and operate as licensed preschool and childcare 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.

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, and she is a trained member of YMCA Project Cornerstone Silicon Valley who has volunteered hundreds of hours in public schools as a Spectra teacher. 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 and a bachelor’s degree in human development from UC Davis and has been working with children in various capacities since 2010. Director Martha Avina joined Mt. Taylor in 1998. The staff are described as experienced, qualified early childhood educators.

The stated purpose of Mt. Taylor Children's Centers 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, with consistent loving direction, appropriate activities, and encouragement. The program also serves as a resource for parents and states a goal of providing care, guidance, and education for young children in an atmosphere of love, respect, and cooperation, with a belief that being responsive to children’s emotional, intellectual, physical, and developmental needs supports positive self-esteem, confidence, and a caring attitude toward others.

Parent testimonials describe Mt. Taylor Children's Centers as a “sweet preschool” where a child learned to write all letters before entering transitional kindergarten and learned about kindness and other skills important to the family. Other parents report that their children attended full-time for two years, describe the school as affordable and flexible with summer plans and days of the week, and note that their children were excited to go each morning, gained confidence, “found her voice,” and “thrived through their play based curriculum” and left at 5 years old “kindergarten ready.”

Last updated May 15, 2026.