Dawn Escobedo, PreSchool Director

Hello! My name is Dawn and I am so honored  to be the Director of Hillside Christian Preschool!  I am so excited to see what God is going to do at Hillside Christian Preschool this year.  I absolutely love preschoolers and have been teaching for thirty nine years.  In my free time, I crochet baby blankets and spoil my dog Theodore.

leticia Martinez, Teacher

Growing up I have always wanted to be a teacher. I began by volunteering with both public schools and church ministries caring for children ranging in age from infants to middle school. My greatest love is the preschool years. I enjoy watching them grow and learn. Watching their imagination and seeing them explore brings joy to my heart. My husband and I have 3 girls and a granddaughter. My hobbies are dancing, reading, hiking, and arts/crafts.

Stephanie Alvarez, Teacher Assistant

My name is Stephanie Alvarez, and the 2024-2025 school year is my first year as a teacher assistant at Hillside Preschool. I have a deep passion for working with children – they truly are a priceless blessing, and witnessing their growth and learning brings me immense joy. With over a decade of experience in childcare, I find happiness in every moment spent with them. I’m a proud mother of two and have celebrated 15 years of marriage. In my free time, I enjoy staying active through workouts, exploring the great outdoors with hikes, and embracing new adventures. I also cherish the moments I spend reading and bonding with my family.

Megan Cerrato, Assistant Director and teacher

I have worked at Hillside Christian Preschool since 2019, starting off as an aide, moving on to be a Co-Teacher and as of this past school year, the Lead Teacher of the Leaping Lizards class. I have a deep passion for early childhood education and fostering a love for learning through our play based learning program.  It has been an amazing journey watching children grow, stretch their creative minds and develop the skills that will set them up for success when they move on from our school.  My husband and I have two growing girls, our oldest is 16 and our youngest is 12. We love to travel and are always up for new adventures. When I am not with my family, you will find me out running or reading a book with a giant iced coffee, three of my very favorite things.

Gizi Lee, Teacher Assistant

I found the love and joy of teaching children through having my own children. During the last 10 years I have worked with children in Sunday school, Bible Study Fellowship, and preschools. My favorite part of working with preschoolers is their enthusiasm for learning. I love to see how much they grow throughout the school year. I am passionate about sensory bins, reading books aloud, and hugs! 

My husband and I have 2 teenagers. My time outside of school is mostly spent as an unpaid chauffeur and cook. As a family we love to travel. Our favorite places are Hawaii, Las Vegas, and Seoul. Eating delicious food is always our priority!

Peony Quesada, Teacher assistant

I have always enjoyed working with the toddler/preschool age, and consistently served in those areas at my church. Now that my husband and I have 3 little ones of our own, I feel I have a deeper appreciation of this special stage to encourage character and good habits, and just enjoy how small and adorable they are! 

When I'm not busy in class, I'm exploring the world of homeschooling, and trying to keep my plants alive.

Laura Martinez, Teacher

 Hello My name is Laura Martinez and I am so blessed to be part of the Hillside Preschool team. I have been working with children for the past 13 years in different age ranges and developmental stages. For a few years I worked as an Instructional Aide in a public school and currently I am a lead teacher in the Terrific Turtles Classroom. My passion for working with children started as a child.I remember sitting my cousins down and pretending to be a teacher when I was only 8 years old. Fast forward to when I turned 24 I got a calling to serve as a Kids Ministry leader in my church in which up till this day I serve. Teaching children is part of who I am for this very reason I am attending West Valley College to pursue a degree in Early Childhood Development in which I am very close to accomplishing!

Whenever I am not surrounded by my students I am surrounded by my wonderful husband and my own kiddos, my 3 boys and my daughter. Family is very important to me. So in my spare time when I do not have to prepare lessons or study I spend it with my family traveling (which we love especially where there is warm ocean waters), eating, going to church, and having many gatherings with our neighbors! 

Alisa Carr, Teacher

Hello my name is Alisa! I am new this year to Hillside Preschool. I am married to my high school sweetheart and celebrating 17 years this year.  We have two amazing daughters ages 13 & 15! I have a Bachelor’s in Business but have decided to pursue teaching as I have always enjoyed being around children. I am currently enrolled in college classes to become a fully qualified preschool teacher.  I am looking forward to applying what I am learning in school, along with many years of raising children, to the classroom environment. With my family I love to play board games, cook with my youngest daughter, try new restaurants, and watch my oldest perform in theater. I love the color purple, a great view (sunset, mountains, oceans) and DIY home projects. Looking forward to getting to know each family this year.

Jen Cortez, Teacher Assistant

My name is Jen Cortez and I’m thrilled to be a new addition at Hillside Preschool as an aid. I’ve loved learning the ins and outs of the school and getting to know the precious children. I’m a wife and mother to 6 children. I love coffee, the beach, and hiking with my family.

Eileen Karkas, Teacher

Eileen’s extensive experience with children since 2005 highlights her dedication and enthusiasm as a teacher and mentor. As a married mother of three adult children, she brings both personal and professional insights into her role. Her passion for supporting families, especially empowering mothers of young children, is evident in her work. When she’s not immersed in her professional life, Eileen stays active with Aquafit, enjoys the thrill of exploring thrift stores, and indulges in her love for crafting.

Brenda Ramirez, Teacher

Hi , My name is Brenda. I am a college student working towards a bachelor degree  in child and adolescent development with a focus in early childhood education. I’ve been working with preschool age children for the past three years. I  I love seeing young children reach their milestones . Caring for children is something that I love doing .My hobbies are reading ,dancing ,traveling , and drinking iced matcha.

Karyn Kikuta, Teacher Assistant

Hi, my name is Karyn. I have had a career in education for 39 years teaching students with “Special Needs”. After retiring in 2022, I couldn’t stop working with students, so I joined up with the Hillside preschool team. I have had the privilege of playing with the children. I love the joy, creativity and enthusiasm they bring out in learning while exploring new things. I hope that I can share the love of God with them. In my spare time, you will find me singing in multiple choirs, swimming and officiating at swim meets.

Deandra Rossiter, Floater

Hello, my name is Deandra and I am so excited to be joining Hillside Preschool this 2024-2025 school year.  I am from a big family of eight girls. Being the middle child, I was always caring for my younger siblings. I also have two children ages 10 and 15. I am a fully qualified teacher with eight years experience.  My favorite part about being a preschool teacher is watching the children grow into their best selves.