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Dargica (Datsa) Strbac- Educator
Datsa has been an enthusiastic and committed educator in the Discovery West school house since before we were Discovery West! Previously, Common Threads Montessori, Datsa learned Montessori philosophy and methods from the great Jena Massengill, co-founder of Common Threads Montessori. She brings over a decade of experience with working in a mixed age group, creating curriculum that is inspiring for children! All of the families appreciate Datsa’s loyalty and deep understanding of their children. Datsa is a proud mama of two children who went through the Scotts Valley school district and who both attended UCLA. You will always see Datsa fostering children’s love for science and engineering with experiments and hands on building and math!
Monica Chestnut- Educator
After I graduated from San Francisco State University, receiving my Bachelors and Associates in Communications, I moved back to Santa Cruz to further my education in Early Childhood Education. I love Discovery West families, my co-workers and creating fun and inspiring new ideas for the children! I am thrilled about sharing my enthusiasm for kindness and playfulness with young learners. In my spare time I love backpacking, surfing the point, and playing the piano!
Alice Young - Educator
I am thrilled to be a part of the Discovery West team. I graduated in 2018 from UCSC with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. In 2019, I decided to explore the world of early childhood education and enrolled in some classes at Cabrillo, where I immediately felt like I found my true calling. I have always worked with kids in some capacity, so teaching felt like the next natural step for me. I am so excited to learn from the children, with the children, and support their learning, exploration, and growth in all aspects of development.