Meet Our Staff
Administration
Tim Harper, Director
Education:
- Ed.D Candidate Social Justice and Equity in Education
- MA Early Childhood Education
- Early Childhood Special Education Credential
- BA Child Development
- Transdisciplinary Infant-Family and Early Childhood Mental Health Practitioner, and Reflective Practice Facilitator State of California
Started working at De Anza:
Permit Level: Program Director
Personal Interest in Education:
Maritza Fuentes , Administrative Assistant
- Education
- AS Business Administration, Heald College
- Translation & Interpretation Certificate, National Hispanic University
Started Working at the CDC:
Personal Interest in Education:
Kathy Zhang, Enrollment Specialist
- Education:
- B.A. in Health Service Administration (Saint Mary’s College)
- Child Development Certificate (De Anza College)
- Started Working at the CDC: 2012
- Permit Level: Site Supervisor Child Development Permit
- Personal Interest in Education:
- Assisting families with the enrollment process
- Sharing love of art and music with children
(Administrative Assistant)
Teachers
Amy Zhen, Teacher
- Education
- B.A. degree in Chinese Literature and Education
- A.A. degree in Human Development
- Started Teaching: 2004
- Permit Level: Site Supervisor Permit
- Personal Interest in Education
A strong passion for educating young children. Creating engaging and inclusive environment
Aye Khine, Teacher
Education:
- A.A. degree in Early Childhood Education
Started Teaching: 2011
- Permit Level:Child Development Teacher Permit
- Personal Interest in Education:
- Believes in fostering developmentally appropriate expectations
- Provide guidance and support that align with a child’s age and stage
- Nurture long term growth and well being
Bertie Cannon, Assistant Teacher
Education:
- A.S. Degree in Early Childhood Education from Foothill College
Started Teaching: 2017
Permit Level: Child Development Teacher Permit
Personal Interest in Education:
I have been caring for younger siblings and cousins since my early childhood.
The care, education, and uplifting of children from early in their lives is very important to me
Kim Nguyen, Teacher
- MBA Emphasis in Marketing, USF
- BA in Biology, UC Santa Cruz
- Site Supervisor Permit
- Program Director Permit
Lakshmi Padmanabhan, Teacher
- BS Mathematics, St. Stephens College
- AA Child Development, De Anza College
- Master Teacher Permit
Myrna Gust, Teacher
- AA Early Child Development, De Anza College
- Certificate of Achievement, Early Child Development Mental Health
- Site Supervisor Permit
- PITC Graduate
Sofia Varela, Teacher
- MA Counseling in Education, San Jose State University
- BA Human Development, Pacific Oaks College
- AA Child Development, Foothill College
- Site Supervisor Permit
Shuyan Wang, Teacher
Education:
A.A. degree Child Development, De Anza College
Started Teaching: 2006
- Permit Level: Teacher Permit in Early Childhood Education
Personal Interest in Education
- Believes in learning through emotional readiness and play
- Enjoys engaging with families and planning fun activities
- Has experience in bilingual Chinese preschool settings
Bill Wright, Teacher
- BA Early Childhood Development, Pacific Oaks College
- AA Human Development, De Anza College
- Early Childhood Developmental Instructional Permit
Yoko Iizuka, Teacher
- MA Educational Linguistics, Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
- BA American Studies, Trinity Washington University
- AA Child Development, Foothill College
- Site Supervisor Permit