Zaca Center Preschool
Meet our Staff
Meet our amazing team of Early Care and Education Professionals
Shelley Grand Executive Director
Shelley has been in the field of Early Care and Education since 1983, working as a classroom aide, a teacher, an assistant director and since 1996 has been the Zaca Center Preschool Director. Shelley grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley attending Jonata Elementary and the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. Shelley received her Associate of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education from Allan Hancock College and earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from the University of Cincinnati. She is a member of the Santa Barbara County Child Care Planning Council and was the past co-chair of the Santa Barbara County Outdoor Classroom Project Steering Committee. Shelley is an Outdoor Classroom Specialist and is on the Zaca Center Preschool CSEFEL Leadership Team--Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning Shelley is married to her husband Ed and has one son, Parker. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, camping and spending time outdoors.
Shiela Stevens
Assistant Director
Shiela has been working in the Early Care and Education field since the early 2000's. She grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley--attending Ballard, Solvang, Jonata and the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. She was lucky enough to raise her three children in the Santa Ynez Valley. She has one grandson and feels so blessed to be a part of his life. Shiela holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and has been trained in NAEYC Accreditation, ITERS (Infant, Toddler Environmental Rating Scale), ECERS (Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale, the CA Department of Education's Early Learning Standards, Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP), the Outdoor Classroom Project, as well as the Centers on the Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL). She prides herself in keeping current with the many changes in the Early Care and Education field. Shiela has been a classroom aide, a teacher and now serves as the Assistant Director. She loves to make learning fun. Shiela enjoys spending time at the local beaches, lakes or spending time with her family outdoors. She feels truly blessed to have made a difference in our community and with our families--especially with our little ones.
Cheryle French
Lead Teacher
Cheryle has been our Pre-kindergarten Teacher since 1998. Cheryle is an Outdoor Classroom Specialist and has completed the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) Training. Cheryle grew up in Santa Cruz and later moved to Buellton where she attended Jonata Elementary and the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. Cheryle attended Allan Hancock College for her Early Childhood Education. Cheryle has five grandchildren--three of which have attended Zaca Center Preschool. In her free time, Cheryle enjoys going to see the latest movies, shopping and spending time with her grandchildren.
Erica Ibarra
Ladybug Teacher
Erica's bio is coming soon!
Vanessa Sparkes
Dragonfly Teacher
Vanessa has spent her entire life living in Buellton. She has a twin sister, an older brother, a niece and a nephew and a set of amazing parents. She attended Oak Valley Elementary School, Jonata Middle School and the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. In high school Vanessa played water polo. Vanessa holds a degree in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in Administration. She has completed her training through the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL). Vanessa is able to apply the skills she has learned in order to use a variety of strategies to support the social and emotion development of children.
Sharee Marymee
Butterfly Teacher
Sharee works with our two year olds--our youngest group of children. She fell in love working with children when she worked with the West Orange County Consortium. When her husband's job brought her to the Santa Barbara County she had to leave the young children that she had come to cherish and looked for similar opportunities in the Santa Ynez Valley. As soon as she came upon Zaca Center working on occasion as a substitute--she knew this was the job for her. She returned to school and took early childhood courses to become a certified preschool teacher, and she was eventually hired on as a permanent staff. She says she "has spent the last several years living the dream!" Sharee is a mother of five, now all adults and is the grandmother to one grandchild. She says, "I consider my girls the bookends--keeping the boys in line, setting the pace and keeping the family together." She is one of ten children and was lucky to be raised in a time when children came home when the street lights came on. She was able to explore the many canyons and the coast of San Pedro. "Our world is beautiful and vast. When I learned of the Outdoor Classroom Project at Zaca Center I immediately understood the concept, as I had always longed for real hands-on learning in a school setting. At Zaca Center I am able to help facilitate learning through the child's natural desire to explore their world, and I get to enjoy it with them." Sharee's hobbies include hiking, exploring, crafts, gardening, and spending time with my immediate and extended family.