Step By Step
Early Learning and
Childcare Center
Bunnies
Paola Gonzalez
I am currently working in and the Lead Teacher in the Bunnies classroom. I work with children ages 12 months through 24 months. Although I have been working with children since 2014, I started working with younger toddlers in 2019. Working with younger toddlers has been an adventure and I love it. I work with two amazing teachers and the three of us make a great team working together towards educating the children.
Education
I have my Associate teacher permit for Early Childhood Education and am working towards the next level. I attend yearly professional trainings and upkeep a current CPR First Aid certification.
Teaching Philosophy
Throughout the years my favorite thing about working with kids is being able to watch them grow and learn new things every single day. It brings me joy when I come into my classroom and my students are naming colors, numbers, and calling their friends and teachers by their names. My favorite things to do with children is art and nature walks. I love doing art with the children. When we display the children’s art in the classroom as they go throughout the day, they see their art displayed, they get really excited about it and love to show their parents when they take it home. I also love going on walks with the children and see them being able to enjoy nature and soaking up a little bit of sunlight. They are always so inquisitive of the world around them. We are so fortunate to have our school in the beautiful surroundings of South Lake Tahoe in our front and backyard. We are also located on the Tahoe Rim Trail so we are able to take our students for short walks down the trail and back.
How I Spend My Time
I like spending my free time with my family and friends. We enjoy the outdoors, go on bike rides, or simple walks to the beach. I’ve also been passionate about makeup since I was a teenager. Some weekends I record tutorials for Youtube for fun or I go to work with a local cosmetologist and watch her work with bridal parties or other clients learning about different techniques and styles I could use.
Adriana Rizo-Palomera
I am a teaching assistant and work with kids ages 6 months to 5 years old. I have been teaching at Step by Step since the summer of 2018. I started working in childcare when I had my 3rd child. It was then I realized I enjoy being around children and wanted to make teaching my career.
Education
I am working on completing early childhood education classes at the local community college. Once I get my Associate Teacher’s permit, I plan to continue working up to a Site Supervisor permit.
Teaching Philosophy
From my time being around children, I have discovered that children are learning with every interaction they have and everything they play with. I learn new things being with these children every day. Taking early childhood education and development classes I have learned even more. The kids are always entertaining, and I enjoy being their teacher and assisting with their education.
How I Spend My Time
Outside of work I enjoy going on outings with my family. I also enjoy drawing and listening to music.