About The Garden
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Mixed-age program: for children ages 2 to 5
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Outdoor and play-based focus
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Child-led and emergent curriculum
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Emphasis on social-emotional development
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Parent cooperative: with weekly workdays and family jobs
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Half-day schedule: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Mission
The mission of The Garden is to love, nurture, and grow self-confident, empowered, emotionally intelligent, expressive, curious, and capable children by cultivating an inspiring outdoor play-based environment with a variety of hands-on experiences and activities, and by providing rich opportunities for parent involvement and education.
Meet the Staff
Our team of dedicated educators create a nurturing space where children thrive through curiosity and play.
Cristina Drake (she/her)
Teacher/Director
Cristina has been part of The Garden community since 2012, first as a teacher and later as a parent. She holds a degree in Cultural Anthropology from UC Santa Cruz and studied Early Childhood Education through UCLA Extension. She returns as Director with a deep commitment to play-based learning, nonviolent communication, and the cooperative spirit that makes The Garden unique.
Rebecca Espinoza (she/they)
Associate Teacher
Rebecca is a Los Angeles native who joined The Garden in 2023. She holds a BA in Psychology from Cal State Long Beach with a focus on conflict resolution and is currently completing her Early Childhood Education program at UCLA. She brings a strong belief in the power of curiosity and empathy to her work with young children.
Elizabeth Franco (she/her)
Associate Teacher
Elizabeth joined The Garden in 2024 and brings over 15 years of experience working with children in Los Angeles. She holds a BA in Child and Adolescent Development from Cal State Northridge and has worked as a teacher, nanny, and family assistant. She is grateful to be part of a school where every child's individuality is celebrated.