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Samantha completed a degree in Child Development at Chico State University in 1997. After graduation, she moved to the Bay Area to continue her education and to teach preschool at Hoover Children's Center in San Mateo. In December of 1999, Samantha earned her teaching credential and for the next five years went on to teach Kindergarten at Westlake Elementary School and The Hilldale School, both in Daly City. Samantha holds a California Child Development Permit and enjoys continued professional development through a variety of different Bay Area and National organizations. Being at the beginning of a child's educational path is both inspiring and rewarding to Samantha. Sweet Peas was created shortly after the birth of her first son as Samantha decided to create a family based preschool where children are both nurtured and stimulated, a place where she would want her own children to be if they were in someone else's care. Her vision to offer this kind of nurturing learning environment was what inspired her to create multiple locations for Sweet Peas and she feels very blessed to work with so many wonderful families throughout their children's formative years.

Annette Medrano (she/her/hers) is a native Californian who received her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development from Whittier College in Southern California and is currently pursuing her Master's in Education at the University of San Francisco. She has had the opportunity to teach in Germany, Spain and Los Angeles before finding her passion in the educational management industry in the San Francisco bay area. Annette is entering her sixteenth year of early childhood education and has experience in program management, mentoring, leadership development and community engagement. Annette strives to make a lasting impact in the lives of her staff, students and community by fostering compassion and intellectual curiosity, igniting imagination and instilling a love of learning. In her spare time, Annette enjoys spending time outside with her husband and two daughters, getting up early for a sunrise trail run in the Marin Headlands, and being enthralled by the latest thriller novel.

As the eldest of four children and the daughter of an early childhood educator, Charlotte comes to Sweet Peas with a wide variety of both personal and professional experience working with children. She spent several years as an educator at a natural science summer camp in Big Sur and last year served as an Extended Day teacher for kindergarteners at the San Francisco Friends School. Charlotte has worked with children and young adults with special needs at a supported living service and has a heart for making education and learning accessible and equitable. She studied International Relations at UC Davis and is currently obtaining early childhood education credits at CCSF. She’s interested in how the experiences people have early in life impact how they engage in the world and she’s honored to play a role in children’s formative early years. She loves to see the wonder and delight children get from imaginary and sensory play and facilitating a child’s growth and learning through play brings her great joy. In her free time, Charlotte enjoys hiking, reading, backpacking, exploring the city, and taking her corgi to the dog park.

May graduated from Cal State East Bay in 2023, receiving her BA in Human Development with a concentration in Childhood Development. While at Cal State East Bay, she participated in the College Corps Fellows program in which she was placed in community-based organization working in K-12 education, climate action, and food security, which was a very gratifying experience for her! It allowed her to learn and grow alongside the students and communities that she supported. May also worked as a mentor/coach for students on the autism spectrum attending CSU East Bay. She discovered that by helping students build the confidence to navigate social, academic, and emotional challenges, she developedd a deeper appreciation for resilience, the power of mentorship itself, and an understanding of neurodiversity. After graduation, May worked at a Montessori Children’s Program in the East Bay with their toddlers and twos and enjoyed the experience of learning the Montessori Pedagogy as well as thoroughly enjoying the age group. In her family, May has always been the person who cares for family members when they are in need, always attuned to the needs of those around her. May has a natural gift for caring for children, blending patience, empathy, and creativity into everything she does. May’s favorite animal is a polar bear; she enjoys the outdoors, the ocean, yoga, and ice cream. 

Brianna brings multifaceted experience and passion to our Sweet Peas community. Originally from Santa Barbara, California, she pursued her Early Childhood Education studies before relocating to the Bay Area in 2011 to advance her professional development.
Her commitment to early childhood education deepened upon becoming a mother to twin boys, providing her with valuable insights that enhance her educational approach. Prior to joining our team, Brianna served as an educator within the Oakland Unified School District's inclusion preschool program, where she developed expertise in creating supportive learning environments for diverse student populations. Brianna’s teaching philosophy centers on fostering classroom communities where every child experiences a genuine sense of belonging. She is dedicated to creating caring spaces that are not only cognitively enriching but also emotionally nurturing for all children.
Beyond her professional life, Brianna enjoys exploring the Bay Area's parks and hiking trails with her children. Her enthusiasm for travel and culinary discoveries reflects her appreciation for diverse experiences—a perspective she thoughtfully incorporates into her educational practice.

Sophie’s experience in Early Childhood Education goes as far back as middle school. She spent most summers working as a camp counselor and volunteering at Saturday school. Her career in childcare officially began when she moved to San Francisco from Austin, TX in 2020. Since then, she’s worked in preschools under many different philosophies including Reggio Emilia and Montessori. Her degree is in studio art from San Francisco State University, and she brings a creative flare to her role as teacher. Sophie views her relationship to the children as symbiotic, she frequently learns from them as much as they learn from her. She is endlessly inspired by the children's unfiltered self expression; she aims to honor and maintain each child’s individuality by catering to their specific needs. Sophie understands that each child deserves patience, kindness, and empathy, and she works hard to offer the children the language they need to express their feelings. When Sophie is not teaching, she spends her time painting, writing, cycling, doing yoga, and spending time with her two sisters, who also live in the city.

Anahi is originally from Mexico and is currently pursuing Early Childhood Education studies at Foothill College. Spanish is her native language and she enjoys sharing language opportunities with the children. She looks forward to completing her studies and continuing to grow as an infant/toddler teacher. One thing that is particularly interesting to her is finding creative ways to help children meet their development milestones. She also enjoys giving back to her community by sharing tools and information that can be beneficial to the children's educational opportunities. She enjoys playing a role in children’s formative early years and loves seeing the delight children get from imaginary and sensory play. Anahi has been a teacher at Sweet Peas off and on for a couple of years, taking a break to become a mother and is so happy to be returning again. She has also spent time as a nanny and working in some other programs but we are thrilled to have her back on our Sweet Peas team! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, reading, listening to music, exploring the city and its surroundings with her son. Her favorite thing is to see the world through her son’s eyes.

Michelle graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in Journalism and a secondary concentration in Special Education. Her research on education and early childhood development motivated her to ensure all students have a welcoming space to learn and grow. Growing up in the Bay Area, Michelle helped care for her younger siblings and soon began to work in childcare. Her career in education began as a Behavioral Therapist for infants and toddlers, where she learned how to make learning accessible and exciting. She also worked as a paraprofessional in San Francisco's K-12 public schools. Michelle believes her experience in these roles and at Sweet Peas Too helps her continuously find new ways to show students how they can build their paths to success. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys working on her photography, writing, and going to concerts.

Kaitlin was born and raised in New York and recently moved to the Bay in pursuit of her Master's degree in School Counseling at Saint Mary's College of California. Kaitlin earned her Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and has always had a passion for working with young children. Besides their parents, she believes that educators have the most influence on children's development, and she takes a lot of pride in being a part of shaping their experiences and personalities. Kaitlin has experience with children starting with volunteering at a bowling alley from a young age to working as a sleepaway camp counselor before she began working with the special needs population as a paraprofessional and teacher's aide at a charter school. She is excited for this opportunity at Sweet Peas and in California and looks forward to exploring San Francisco as her new home away from home. Her passions include music, movies, nature, and ultimately being able to connect with friends.

Jackie is a proud mother of two energetic boys, which has deepened her passion for working with children and supporting their growth and development. She believes that every child is unique and has something special to teach us, and she really enjoys building meaningful relationships with both children and their families. Jackie attended CCSF, where she earned credits in child development, and she is eager to continue her education to further her understanding and skills. Jackie previously held a few different roles at a childcare program in Rohnert Park where she was able to explore her passion for connecting and supporting children at this early stage of their development. Joining Sweet Peas, she remains dedicated to creating a nurturing and engaging environment where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to explore. In her free time, Jackie enjoys crocheting, reading, and expressing her creativity through art. She is excited to be part of the Sweet Peas family and looks forward to getting to know you and your little ones!