Robin Jurs, Director
Robin has been an early childhood educator for over thirty years. She received her Masters degree in Early Childhood Education following her BA in French. Her experience includes founding an infant-toddler/preschool program in Berkeley, CA, classroom teaching, serving as an Assistant Director of Curriculum and Professional Development as well as Program Director on several college campuses on the East Coast where she lived with her family for 17 years. In addition, Robin has been a trainer, taught at the community college level, and served as president of The New England regional affiliate of NAEYC. She has been a research associate and a long time advocate for children and their families. Even after all these years, she still loves to come to work. She is the mother of two grown children to whom she continues to be devoted.
Mendy An, Teacher
This is Mendy’s third year teaching at Ventana School. As one of our Terrific Twos teachers, Mendy’s loving, warm personality endears her to our youngest students. She completed her early childhood education courses at De Anza College and Foothill College and also has a Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Radford University. Mendy worked as a nutritionist and a computer programmer prior to her teaching career. She is married with two daughters and lives in Sunnyvale.
Wendy Hernandez, Assistant Teacher
Wendy is beginning her journey in early childhood education at Ventana. She helps in each of our classrooms and our enrichment camp program and is taking early childhood education courses at Foothill College. Wendy is a Sunday School teacher and director’s assistant for the special needs department of her church, sings in her church choir, and loves to work with children. She lives in Redwood City with her husband and two sons.
Laure Laprais, Teacher and Art Coordinator
Laure brings experience as a children’s art studio teacher and four years of experience from a parent co-operative nursery school to Ventana. She completed her early childhood education courses at Foothill College, Laure holds a Master’s degree in French Literature from the Sorbonne, Paris. Laure has worked as a French/English translator, a French teacher for children and adults, and a research assistant at the Museum of Science and Industry in Paris. Laure lives in Menlo Park with her husband and three sons.
Elisa Merrifield, Teacher, Parent Education Coordinator
Elisa completed her Master’s in Elementary Education at Pacific University, where she also received her Oregon Teaching Credential. As an undergraduate, she received a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Oregon. She began her teaching career in preschool, followed by teaching kindergarten and first grade for over 10 years in Portland. Elisa has extensive training in early childhood literacy practices and enjoys presenting workshops for parents and teachers on the importance of literacy development. Elisa began her involvement with Ventana as a parent of twin boys in September of 2007. She served on the Advisory Committee for the school and then began teaching the Two’s program at Ventana in January 2008. As a strong advocate for parents and continuing education, Elisa began and continues to coordinate The Third Place, Ventana School parent education program, which has been very well received in the community. Elisa is a member of Christ Church, married with three children, and lives in Los Altos.
Shobha Solomon, Teacher
Shobha completed a Master’s degree in Political Science and a Bachelor’s degree in History, Economics, and Political Science from Bangalore University. She worked for the government of India for two years before moving to the U.S. Volunteering in her children’s classrooms made her realize that she loved working with young children. Shobha completed her early childhood education courses at De Anza College and Foothill College. She is married with two sons and resides in Sunnyvale.
Nancy Wilde, Music Specialist
Nancy has been teaching music to children for 39 years. She completed a Master’s degree in Elementary Education from Stanford and an early childhood education credential from De Anza College. She was a preschool teacher in Los Altos for 25 years, and has been an instructor with the Music for Minors docent training program since its origin. Nancy has three grown sons and two grandchildren. She and her husband just celebrated their 50th anniversary and live in Los Altos.
Jean Ann Tulloch
Bio coming soon.
Sarah Jordan
Bio coming soon.
Caroline Price
Caroline Price has been involved with Ventana school from the start, when her son joined the first class in 2005. Since then she has served on the Advisory Committee and started the Trike-a-Thon fundraising event. Caroline previously taught art in a local Montessori preschool. She has her BA from Colorado College, and her ECE credits from Foothill College. She is also an artist, having had a mural painting business for 8 years. Caroline enjoys sharing the Nature Area and animals with the children at Ventana School.