About Us

Our Philosophy
Our Facility
Our Staff
Why CLC

Our Philosophy

The Creative Learning Center provides a climate for growth where children are helped to understand their world through the full use of their senses, their feelings, and their intellects.  Our program focuses on three essential educational principles:

• Enhancing a positive self-image- A child's self image is the most important ingredient in the learning process.  At the Creative Learning Center children develop a high sense of self esteem; a feeling of competence that breeds further success and motivation for further learning.
  
• Providing a safe environment to explore social relationships-Social sensitivity is a slow arduous process that involves learning to understand how to share, cooperate and empathize.  We believe that play is vital to a child's learning positive social values.  Through play, children learn to initiate and sustain relationships, building interpersonal trust and emotional maturity.
  
• Introducing academics through "hands-on", interactive experiences -Each child is a unique individual with different levels of development.  It is our role to assess each child and provide a broad spectrum of learning experiences geared to challenge the mind and body and cultivate curiosity and awareness of the world.  Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs of each individual child.

Our Facility

The Creative Learning Centerwas established in 1976 to provide a comprehensive Early Childhood Education program and resource center for the Diablo and San Ramon Valley communities.

Our educational facility is especially designed with children in mind!  Every feature of the indoor and outdoor learning environment is an extension of the school's philosophy and goals, and is carefully planned to meet the development needs of young children. We are fully licensed by the State Department of Social Services.

Our facility is open to all children between 2.9 years of age (and toilet-trained) through Kindergarten.  We offer Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten programs from September to mid-June with both half day (a.m. or p.m.) or school day options.  In addition, our Summer Camps for Curious Campers (Preschool/Pre-K) and Explorers (entering or completing Kindergarten) run from late June through mid-August.

Our Staff

The heart of any educational experiences lies in the interaction of people with one another.  The staff at the Creative Learning Center includes teachers trained specifically in Early Childhood Education and diversified in age, experience and interest to provide a rich collection of talent and expertise.  The teacher/student ratio is 1:5-1:8.

• Debbie teaches afternoon Junior Kindergarten as well as an morning pre-K group. She joined CLC in 1990, received her Early Childhood Education training from DVC, and taught preschool locally prior to joining CLC.
• Mary teaches our morning Junior Kindergarten and is also a part of our afternoon teaching staff.  She also joined CLC in 1990. Mary received her B.A. from Chico State University and Early Childhood Education training from DVC.
• Lorrie has been part of our team since 2001, having previously taught at several local preschools. Her Early Childhood Education training is also from Diablo Valley College. Lorrie is teaching mornings this year.
• Linda joined our CLC staff in 1999, and received her B.S. in Early Childhood Development from U.C. Davis. Linda previously taught locally, as well as in Oklahoma. She is teaching both morning and afternoon and is our early morning arrival teacher.
• Susan is teaching mornings this year.  She completed her Associate Teacher certificate from DVC and holds a B.A. in Journalism from Cal State University, Sacramento. Susan joined our CLC team in 2007.
• Michele is also part of our AM teaching team and has been with CLC since 2005.  Michele received her ECE training training at College of the Redwoods and DVC, and holds a B.A. in English Literature. She previously taught preschool in Mendocino County.
• Marie, our Teacher Aide, is returning for a 6th year. Marie holds a B.A. in Human Development from Cal State U., Hayward, and is currently pursuing her ECE training at DVC. Marie has previously been a Special Education teacher aide with SRVUSD.

SPECIALISTS

• Courtney of Tiny Tumblers continues this year as our Motor Specialist. She guides the children each Monday as they tumble, dance, stretch and move creatively. Courtney’s background includes a B.A. in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Child Development, as well as experience as a preschool teacher.
• Jan has been our Music Specialist for over twenty years. Jan delights the children on Wednesday with her wonderful music program, including a wealth of songs that the children enjoy learning. She emphasizes creative movement and use of musical instruments.
• Chieko is our Friday Science Specialist.  She received her B.A. from the University of California, Davis, and her Teaching Credential from San Jose State University.  Chieko has previously taught for the SRVUSD, the Palo Alto USD, as well as several ECE programs.  She joined our CLC team last year as a substitute teacher. 

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

• Jori, Executive Director, holds a B.A. from UCLA and MS. Ed in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College, Boston. She has extensive experience in the field of ECE as a Preschool Teacher and Director, Community College Instructor, and developer of programs and centers .
• Lorena, our Program Director, received her Early Childhood Education training from DVC. Before joining CLC in 2001, she was a teacher, and then director of an early childhood program in Martinez. She has also been a Special Education Teacher, as well as part of the Bilingual IEP staff for the Martinez School District.
• Donna, Office Manager, joined our CLC team in 2009 and brings with her a wealth of office experience with a focus on Human Resources. She attended Heald Business College, as well as Los Medanos and Chabot College.

PARENTS also play a vital role at the Creative Learning Center!  We encourage hands-on parent participation and offer tuition credit for parents who assist in the classroom on a regular basis.  Parent conferences are also scheduled regularly to provide a time for more formal communication.

Why Creative Learning Center

• Our educational facility is especially designed with children in mind. Every feature of the indoor and outdoor learning environment is an extension of the school’s philosophy and goals, and is carefully planned to meet the development needs of young children.

• Program schedule flexibility offers parents full or part week/half day or school day options.

• The staff includes teachers trained specifically in ECE with a wide range of experience and interests to provide a diversified collection of talent and expertise. The teacher/student ratio is 1:5 – 1:8 and the staff turnover rate is extremely low.

• There is a parent participation option for tuition credit.

• Weekly Music, Science, and Perceptual Motor Specialists add additional enrichment.

• Our strong, yet developmentally appropriate, academic program includes:
  • Scholastic’s "Alphatales”
  • McGraw-Hill Pre-K Mathematics
  • Handwriting Without Tears based writing readiness

• "Curbside service” at drop off and pick up enhances convenience.

• We offer strong communication with our parents through regularly scheduled parent conferences and monthly newsletters, as well as ongoing informal opportunities.

• Continuous staff professional development gives teachers regular opportunities for professional growth and re-energizing.

• We’ve been providing comprehensive Early Childhood Education programs since 1976.