Coastal Community Preschool After-School Program

Coastal Community Preschool After-School Program offers play, movement, project-based exploration, creative expression, open-ended discovery, and dramatic play. Children spend time with teachers reading stories and have access to block areas and sandboxes in a play-based, nature-inspired environment that includes the Big Yard and classrooms.

• Ages: 5–12 years old
• Schedule: School hours Monday–Friday, 7:30am–6pm

Coastal Community Preschool After-School Program is part of a family-centered, play-based program guided by skilled teachers and operates as an independent, private, incorporated, non-profit organization. The program focuses on the child as both an individual and a vital community member, with a play-based learning philosophy that recognizes play, movement, project-based exploration, creative expression, and open-ended discovery as essential parts of the learning process. It integrates developmentally appropriate readiness skills to promote growth of the whole child, encourage social engagement and empathy building, and engage students in constructive, joyful inquiry. The program emphasizes preparing children for school through emotional readiness and the cultivation of each child’s unique strengths and interests, and it describes its environment as diverse and inclusive, where children learn to appreciate different lifestyles and cultures. It also describes a family-centric, team approach among parents and teachers and a focus on fostering a sense of community by facilitating shared experiences that engage intellect, emotion, and senses.

The school’s mission states that Coastal Community Preschool seeks to provide a safe, accessible, family-centered environment that nurtures children as individuals, fosters social understanding, and serves as a vital part of its local community. In this setting, the school states that it will celebrate the unique spirit of each child and strive to cultivate “Good People” who recognize and respect their own precious worth and that of others.

The program is led by Co-Directors Stephanie Simmons and Kimberlee Biagini. The staff includes Susan Wheeler, who has a Bachelor Degree in Social Science with an emphasis in Child Development and over 39 years in the field teaching, directing, and overseeing multiple childcare centers with children up to 12 years of age. Staff also includes Beth Sporleder, who holds a Child Development Associate Teacher certificate through Cerro Coso, is on track to earn a Master Teacher certificate and AS in Child Human Development, and has experience as a teacher’s aide and teacher with age groups from 18–24 months and 2–5 year-olds. Kim Boon has ECE units from several community colleges, a Certificate of Achievement in Child Development Associate Teacher from MiraCosta College, over thirty years with the Pre-K age group, experience teaching 3–5 year old children in play-based and Reggio-inspired programs, and experience teaching art at the non-profit program StudioAce. Ariel Betz has an Associate Degree in Early Childhood, a Liberal Arts Degree from Cabrillo College, has completed the SEEDS Early Literacy course offered by First 5 Capitola, and has experience as a nanny, preschool teacher’s assistant, and lead teacher for an older two’s classroom. Giselle Mansir has a degree in intensive Psychology from UCSC, is taking Early Childhood Education courses at Cabrillo College, completed a 20-week internship as a teacher’s aide at a local preschool, worked as a substitute teacher in a 2–3 year old classroom, and completed an internship as a research assistant in a UCSC psychology lab. Kimberly Miller has a BA in Bible and Physical Education as a double major, took ECE classes in college, has 40 years of experience working with children from preschool age through high school, has experience with children with special needs and infants, has been a craft director at two schools and two different camps, and has coached volleyball. Raeleen Benabides has an A.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education from Cabrillo College, interned in the Cabrillo College Children’s Center for a year and then became a Head Teacher, worked at Family Network preschool for three years, worked at Santa Cruz Toddler Care Center from 2004 until 2020, worked in a home preschool from 2017–2020, and has over 20 years of experience working with children from infant age to 5 years old.

The school is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of Coastal Community Preschool parents, members from the Santa Cruz community, and teachers at the school. One parent, Christine C., reports that her older son had three years at Coastal Community Preschool and that he talks about his teachers, how butterflies evolve, and circle time experiences two years after graduating, and she states that her younger son, who was adopted internationally, exceeded her family’s expectations in language acquisition and social skills in less than half a year and that his teachers have been extremely attentive to his special needs and created a safe and happy environment for him. Another parent, Diana A., states that the staff has provided a tremendously supportive learning environment for her child with insight, humor, and love, and that her family could not be happier with their experience. A third parent, Angela T., states that after moving, her family did not think they would find a preschool as special as their older child’s previous school, and she describes appreciation for the love, guidance, attention, consistency, and humor of the staff, and she describes a community of caring parents and teachers unified by a belief in quality childcare, stating that Coastal Community Preschool rivals any other preschool that they have seen.

Last updated March 25, 2026.