Leadership & Staff

Administrative Team

  • Christa Edwards

    Executive Director

    Christa began a second career at BlueSkies in 2010, following five years in the publishing world. She has been a volunteer, a Teacher and Head Teacher in the Infant Toddler program, and was the Assistant Program Director 2016-2021 before leaving for a year and returning as Interim Executive Director. She was hired for the permanent position in Fall 2022. Christa holds a B.A. from Scripps College. She is fascinated by the study of how children learn, how children develop a concept of self and, on the adult side, in building teaching teams and strengthening and supporting staff.

  • Ameena Muhammed

    Program Director,
    HedCo Infant Toddler Center

    Ameena holds an M.A. in Educational Administration from the University of Jos in Nigeria and has been at BlueSkies since 1989. She is the go-to expert for infants and toddlers as well as inclusion for children with special needs, was the Infant Toddler Program Director for more than 20 years, and has been the overall Program Director at BlueSkies since 2016, ensuring high standards of program quality through teacher coaching and support. Ameena trained in the R.I.E. philosophy with its founder, Magda Gerber and has completed four years of training at Children’s Hospital Oakland in Early Childhood Mental Health and Reflective Supervision, as well as having taught early childhood education courses with the N.A.C. through Cal State Hayward.

  • Selam Gebremichael

    Program Director,
    Ellen Sherwood Nursery School

    Selam has a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development with a concentration in Early Childhood Education and Development from Pacific Oaks College. She was a Co-Lead Teacher in our pop-up Kindergarten class, started in 2020 during the public school closures because of COVID-19. She was hired as Program Director in the Nursery School in early 2021, had a baby, and has been back since December of 2021. She has two prior years’ preschool experience and three years of elementary school experience working to develop educational programs for children age 6-10.

  • Omid Jalali

    Operations Director

    Omid started at BlueSkies in fall of 2022 as an Office Manager. He now manages the office and executes our payroll, manages hiring and acts as our Human Resources liaison, and supports with other business administration.

  • Maria Lisa Santos Wilson

    Bookkeeper

    Maria joined us in 2023. She is an accountant and prior to joining BlueSkies was an auditor. She now supports us with accounts payable and receivable, as well as keeping our books clean and organized and supporting with monthly financials for the Board and our annual audit and budget planning.

Reception

  • Daniela Rocha

    Office Coordinator

    Daniela joined BlueSkies in 2021 as our Receptionist, then moved into the Office Coordinator role, supporting with admissions, children’s files, and supporting Housekeeping and Kitchen with ordering and tracking supplies.

  • Claudia Prado

    Reception

    Claudia joined us in late 2023 and is the friendly face at the front desk in our afternoons. She also supports with fundraising activities and donor tracking.

Baby House

  • Sandra Rodriquez

    Head Teacher, Baby House

    Sandra has been at BlueSkies for over 17 years. She has 12 Early Childhood Education units and two children of her own.

  • Maria Villanueva

    Master Teacher, Baby House

    Maria started at BlueSkies in 2003, left to take care of her children in 2005, and returned in 2008. She has 23 Early Childhood Education units and over 14 years’ experience working with children.

  • Keila Hurtado Magana

    Teacher, Baby House

    Keila joined BlueSkies in 2020. She graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Child Development and has worked with young children since 2017.

  • Amy Mei

    Teacher, Baby House

    Amy joined BlueSkies in August 2023. She has a B.A. degree in Business Management from Suffolk University in Boston. She is continuing her education in early childhood development, and is an experienced teacher with over 7 years in the ECE field.

  • Emma Jedrzejewski

    Teacher, Baby House

    Emma graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara. She is enrolled to complete her 12 ECE units. She has experience working with children and loves it.

  • Veronica Garcia

    Veronica works in the Baby House and as a Housekeeping substitute. She joined BlueSkies in 2024 and is starting her Early Childhood Education classes.

Wobbly Walkers

  • Michelle Lollock

    Master Teacher, Wobbly Walkers

    Michelle has been at BlueSkies since 2014. She has 20+ years of experience working with children. She earned her Master’s Degree in Developmental Psychology from SF State University.

  • Kea Seng

    Teacher, Wobbly Walkers

    Kea started in the Wobbly Walkers in 1988. She moved to Southern California in 1991, returned to us in 1993, and has been here ever since. She has 18 ECE units.

  • Michelle Dotson-Powell

    Head Teacher, Wobbly Walkers

    Michelle started at BlueSkies in early 2023. She has more than 20 years of experience with all preschool ages and more than 40 Early Childhood Education units.

  • Mu Da

    Teacher, Wobbly Walkers

    Mu started at BlueSkies in September of 2019 as an Assistant Teacher. She has worked as a substitute in many classrooms and has been in the Todds exclusively this last year. She has an AA degree in Child Development.

  • Kiara Kelly-Montoya

    Teacher, Wobbly Walkers

    Kiara started at BlueSkies in 2022. She has an AA degree in Business and a California State Teacher Permit in Early Childhood Education.

  • Sarah Chan

    Teacher, HedCo Infant Toddler Center

    Sarah started at BlueSkies in 2020. She has a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Saint Mary’s College and 12 Early Childhood Education units.

Todds

  • Sandy Quach

    Head Teacher, Todds

    Sandy started working with Blueskies in 2012. She has Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and over 42 units in Early Childhood Education. She has been Head Teacher for the Todds for the last 10 years.

  • Eboni Bolton

    Teacher, Todds

    Eboni started at BlueSkies in September 2022. She has an AA in Child Development from Merritt College and has more than ten years of experience working with young children. At BlueSkies she has worked in Wobbly Walkers, Todds, and Playroom.

  • Rita Gonzalez

    Teacher Aide, Todds

    Rita recently graduated from high school and joined BlueSkies in 2023. She is enrolled at Chabot College and is currently working in the Todds classroom.

Playroom

  • Miriam “Mimi” Segalini

    Master Teacher, Playroom

    Mimi has been at BlueSkies since 1986! She has worked in many classrooms at the school over the years, and has been in the Homeroom since 2023.

  • Malika Tiguercha

    Teacher

    Malika was hired in early 2024. She has an AA in Child Development, an AA in Business Administration, and a BA in Construction Management.

  • Keneesha Fowler

    Substitute Teacher, Nursery School and Hedco

    Keneesha joined BlueSkies in September 2023. She holds an A.A. in Early Childhood Studies with over 15 years of experience as a teacher.

  • Brittany Hudlin

    Head Teacher

    Brittany has a Master’s degree in Education with the Early Childhood Education option from California State University, East Bay. She has been at BlueSkies since March of 2021.

  • Sia Katoa

    Teacher Assistant

    Sia came to BlueSkies through our collaboration with Castlemont High School in Oakland. She has been working in the Playroom since she was hired in early 2024.

Homeroom

  • Benjamin Haywood

    Master Teacher, Homeroom

    Benjamin has been working at BlueSkies since he was a teenager! He has 12 Early Childhood Education units and has worked in most of the classrooms at the school.

  • Moneka McAroy

    Acting Head Teacher, Homeroom

    Moneka joined BlueSkies in 2022. She has a B.A. in Collaborative Health and Human Services from Cal State Monterey Bay and is enrolled in Early Childhood Education courses.

Schoolroom

  • Rosalia Arteaga-Romo

    Head Teacher, Schoolroom

    Rosalia holds a B.A. in Early Childhood Education from San Francisco State University, became a teacher in the Wobbly Walkers in 2012, and the Head Teacher in 2014. She worked in the Wobblies until 2019, at which time she shifted to be Head Teacher of our Schoolroom classroom.

  • Magdalena Chacon Diaz

    Teacher, Schoolroom

    Magdalena graduated from San Francisco Bay Area Montessori Teacher Education Center. She has an Associates degree in Early Childhood, and Teacher Credential. She has been working with children aged 3-6 years since 2004.

  • Sharry Aschenbrenner

    Teacher, Schoolroom

    Sharry started at BlueSkies as a summer teacher in 2022, and has now found a place in our Schoolroom classroom, where her storytelling and appreciation for the children shine.

Substitute Teachers

  • Dyana Arteaga

    Substitute Teacher, Ellen Sherwood Nursery School

    Dyana started at BlueSkies in 2019. She has an AA in Child Development, and her son, Alessio, attends BlueSkies.

  • Keneesha Fowler

    Substitute Teacher, Hedco and Nursery School

    Keneesha joined BlueSkies in September 2023. She holds an A.A. in Early Childhood Studies with over 15 years of experience as a teacher.

Housekeeping and Cooking Staff

  • Hilda Rocha

    Head Housekeeper

    Hilda started at BlueSkies in 2016 as a housekeeper in HedCo. She is now our Head Housekeeper, managing the rest of the Housekeeping staff and ensuring the school stays up to her high standards of cleanliness and order.

  • Melesio Santiago Sanchez

    Head Chef

    Melesio joined BlueSkies in summer of 2023. He is an excellent chef with great experience running a kitchen and ensuring food is safe and well prepared for the children, a well as ensuring any dietary accommodations are seen to.

  • Maria Smith

    Assistant Cook

    Maria Smith started in the 80s at BlueSkies, left for a bit, then returned in 1996. She has worked in the classroom with the infants, in the kitchen, and as our Head Housekeeper.

  • Kalaya Maw

    Housekeeper

    Kalaya joined us in 2022 to support with Nursery School housekeeping.

  • Von Chu

    Housekeeper

    Von joined us in 2024. She is currently supporting Todds and the front of school.

  • Guillermina Mendoza de Ortiz

    Housekeeper

    Gia joined us in March 2023. She works primarily supporting the HedCo program.