Our Team

Lia Thompson-Clark
Director

Lia has served as the Director of The Children's School since 1997. Lia is an alumna of SSU, with an B.A. and M.A. in Psychology. She attained her elementary teaching credential at the University of London. During Lia's extensive experience as a director of multiple schools across the country, she has developed a unique theoretical approach to teaching young children and has developed her philosophy at The Gazebo School Park with school sites both the Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California and Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.

Lia has served as a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) since 1983 and currently serves as the co-president of the Sonoma County Association for the Education of Young Children (SCAEYC). During the 2010-2011 school year, Lia is participating in the Center for Ecoliteracy's Leadership Academy.

Lia is an active member in both the National Coalition for Campus Children's Centers and the Council of CSU Children's Centers. On the SSU campus, Lia is adjunct faculty and serves on the advisory committees for both Human Development and Early Childhood Education faculty.

Cara Brustol
Program Coordinator

Cara joined our team in August of 2010 as the Program Coordinator. She came to our school from the Financial Aid office at SSU, where she worked as the Informational Specialist. Cara earned her B.A. in Sociology from SSU. Cara has also cared for young children through Bay Respite Care; a group that provides non-medical in-home respite care for people with developmental disabilities, an illness, a physical disability or impairment.

Tarik Kanaana
Health and Nutrition Coordinator

Tarik started working as head chef and our health and nutrition coordinator in 2009. He came
to work at the Children's School from the SSU Dining Services. Tarik has extensive experience in different restaurant kitchens and before his culinary career he studied at Michigan Tech, where he received a B.S. in Mathematics. Tarik's son, Omar attended The Children's School and is now in third grade.

Jennie Eubank
Outdoor Classroom Specialist

Jennie was hired in June 2010 as a transfer student entering the Environmental Education program within the Environmental Studies and Planning department. She has seven years of experience working with Kindergarteners through eighth grade students in outdoor education, including gardening and natural systems processes. She created a public school garden, and has partnered with neighbors to create a community garden in Point Reyes Station. She also has some previous experience working in the Early Childhood Education classroom.

Ashley Murray
Master Teacher, Rosebuds Classroom

Ashley has been at The Children's School since 2006, when she began working as a student assistant while finishing her B.A. in Sociology at SSU. In 2008 she became the Associate Teacher and in 2010 became the Master Teacher in the Rosebuds classroom and completed her M.A. in Early Childhood Education. Ashley's cognate project explored the role of technology and social networking in communicating young children's learning with families. Ashley is first aid and CPR-certified. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the California AEYC as well as an active member in our local affiliate, Sonoma County AEYC.

Jess Truttman
Associate Teacher, Rosebuds Classroom

Jess joined the Rosebuds classroom in fall of 2010. She has taught in the school setting since 2001, working with children ranging from six weeks to sixth grade. Jess earned her A.A. in Early Childhood Education from Santa Rosa Junior College and her B.A. in Human Development from SSU. Jess is first aid and CPR-certified. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the California AEYC as well as an active member in our local affiliate, Sonoma County AEYC.

April Okerson
Master Teacher, Dandelions Classroom

April started teaching at The Children's School in 2009 as an Associate Teacher in the Poppies classroom. She came to SSU for graduate school from San Diego State University, where she earned her B.S. in Child Development and B.A. in Psychology and taught for four years at the San Diego State Children's Center. April will complete her M.A. in Early Childhood Education in the spring of 2011. Her research focuses on the documentation of children's development. April is first aid and CPR-certified. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the California AEYC as well as an active member in our local affiliate, Sonoma County AEYC.

Melissa Johnston
Master Teacher, Poppies Classroom

Melissa has been at The Children's School since August of 2007, when she began as a student assistant. Previous to that that, she worked with children with developmental disabilities in the after-school program at Lattice Educational Services in Santa Rosa, CA. Melissa became a Master Teacher in the Poppies classroom in the Fall of 2009. Melissa has her B.A. in Psychology from Sonoma State University and will complete her M.A. in Early Childhood Education in the spring of 2011. Melissa's master's research explores the role of the outdoors in the school environment. Melissa is first aid and CPR-certified. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the California AEYC as well as an active member in our local affiliate, Sonoma County AEYC.

Alicia Rose Morales
Master Teacher, Poppies Classroom

Alicia started at the Children's School as a student assistant in 2001. During her time here, she has completed a B.A. in Liberal Studies and attained a Multiple Subjects Credential in 2007. In 2008 Alicia became an Associate Teacher in the Daisies classroom and in 2009 became a Master Teacher in the Poppies classroom. In May of 2011, Alicia will graduate from the M.A. program in Early Childhood Education. Alicia's research focuses on the effects of consumerism and commercialization on the minds of young children. Alicia is first aid and CPR-certified. She is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the California AEYC as well as an active member in our local affiliate, Sonoma County AEYC. Alicia's son, Kobe attended The Children's School and is now in Kindergarten.

Jamila Moua
Associate Teacher, Poppies Classroom

Jamila started at the Children's School as a student assistant in 2008. She finished her B.A. in Human Development in 2010.  She has teaching experience in both the Dandelions classroom and the Poppies classroom. In the winter of 2010, Jamila became the Associate Teacher of the Poppies Classroom.