Mrs. Karen Wilson
Director |
Mrs. Karen Wilson believes preschool offers young children the opportunity to play and interact within a group setting and to learn to share, cooperate, and be inspired by each other. Preschool is a place where a child’s imagination is encouraged to soar or their spirit to be reflective. Our preschoolers usually get their first exposure to being cared for and accepted in a group away from the safety and security of their own homes. By offering stimulating – age appropriate atmosphere – Mrs. Wilson feels young children learn through their play to embrace our world and the people in it.
Born in Evanston Illinois, Karen has lived in Riverside since 1984 and has been a member of First United Methodist church since 1988. She has taught Sunday school, co-directed our Vacation Bible School, taught the Church’s 3rd & 4th graders “Getting to Know Your Bible” classes, and volunteered in her daughters elementary schools. She has 3 beautiful daughters: Her oldest Daughter Leslie graduated from UCR and is now in Management at Target’s .Com Distribution Center in Rialto. Her middle Daughter Courtney Graduated from UCR, received her Master of Education Degree from Claremont –McKenna College and now teaches at Peralta Elementary School. Courtney & her husband, Kevin, are also the proud parents of Aiden, Karen’s 1st Grandchild and a second Grandson is on the Way! Daughter Stephanie, the youngest, was a preschooler here and is a Medical Assistant having graduated from Concord College. Married October 2016, Stephanie and her husband Abran are expecting their first child in April. Karen enjoys cooking, gardening, football, baseball, & hiking. She has hiked Lake Tahoe’s Rim Trail, summited Mt. Whitney at 14,496’, & walked 14 days completing the Northern Route of the Pilgrimage to Santiago, Camino Del Norte, in Spain. |
Miss Danielle Salquist
Friendly Fish |
Miss. Danielle Salquist finds her joy and purpose working with children. In her classroom she strives to create an environment that is inviting and full of fun. She believes that preschool sets the foundation for a child’s love of learning and establishes positive social skills. Danielle has two children of her own and loves being a Mother. She was born and raised in Riverside and attended college at Cal State Fullerton. She has taught preschool as a substitute teacher at many schools here in Riverside. She volunteers her time as a CASA (court appointed special advocate) for children in foster care and served as a children’s leader for Bible Study Fellowship for four years. She is excited to be teaching this year and feels very privileged to be a part of the FUMPS team!
|
Mrs. Lisa Sherman Lucky Ladybugs |
Mrs. Lisa Sherman is our Lucky Ladybug Pre K teacher. We first met Lisa when her children were preschoolers at FUMPS. Her son Tyler graduated from Puget Sound University and is in his third year of Law at William & Mary Law School. Her daughter Morgan is in the nursing program at CBU.
The youngest of three children, Lisa, her brother Michael, and her sister Kathy were born and raised in Eugene, Oregon. She met her husband Steve (they’ve been married for 33 years) while vacationing in Europe. Starting her teaching career with FUMPS as our nutrition teacher 18 years ago, Lisa moved to assistant teacher in the Pooh Bears, then to a 4 year old classroom and then started her Lucky Ladybug Pre K class. She teaches our lesson on Hanukkah & the Festival of Lights. Believing preschool should provide a positive learning environment, improve a child’s socialization skills and sense of independence, Lisa’s enjoyment of children, her creative nature & easy going spirit are most apparent in her relationship with her own family and make her a pleasure to work with and fun in the classroom. |
Miss Melissa Erdman
Cute Kittens |
Born in Orange County about a mile from Knott’s Berry Farm, Melissa’s family moved to Riverside when she was in first grade. She has one older sister who lives in Northern California and a niece and nephew whom she likes to visit. Melissa began her teaching career while still a student a RCC. She had stopped by their Work Experience Office to fill out job applications and while she was there, First Methodist’s Director, Mrs. Natta Lea Wiffin called looking for an assistant teacher. Miss Erdman applied and was hired. Melissa has her Associates degree in Early Childhood Studies. She believes that childhood should be a journey and not a race. She believes the preschool experience is very important and she works to make it the best experience it can be.
These days Melissa opens each morning for Early Drop Off and Closes in the afternoon with Lunch Bunch. She handles our re-cycling of aluminum cans, plastic, & glass. Melissa collects Precious Moments figurines, loves cats, travel, gardening, the beach, cooking, and her Cute Kitten Class. Her favorite pastime, and one that she is expert at is counted cross-stitch. |
Mrs. Selma Vasquez
Sunny Sunflowers |
Mrs. Selma Vasquez first came to FUMPS when her daughter Krystal was a Pooh Bear. Selma spent one morning cooking homemade tortillas in the classroom and we watched her natural ability with the children. Our first opening was for Nutrition teacher, so we excitedly offered the position to her. She Accepted, Krystal went to kindergarten at St. Catherine’s, and her son Anthony started preschool as a Pooh Bear. As openings came available, Selma moved into our youngest 3’s classroom as assistant teacher and then to lead teacher of her own Cuddly Cow class.
Born in Guanajuanto, Mexico and growing up in Eagle Mountain with two brothers and two sisters, Mrs. Vasquez moved to Anaheim, met and married her husband Tony. They celebrated their 38th anniversary last June. Krystal works for Riverside’s Municipal Court and is mommy to Selma’s first grandchild Isla, who is in 2nd grade at Camino Real Elementary. Her son Anthony lives in Riverside. Selma enjoys the outdoors and camping. She loves animals, (not rodents, reptiles or crawly things!) and collects sunflowers and LLadro. We celebrate her 26th year with FUMPS and her 15th year with the Sunny Sunflowers! |
Mrs. Lisa Skiver
Busy Bees |
Mrs. Lisa Skiver decided right after high school that she wanted to work with young children. Once she began taking classes at RCC, she knew this was her calling and that the preschool age was her age group. Lisa has worked at Temple Beth El Preschool for 8 years, UCR Child Development Center for 3 years and then while her two boys Ryan, now attending college, and Jacob, now in 11th grade, attended FUMPS, she began subbing for us. She believes a preschool that is safe, values play, encourages children to be themselves and allows them to experiment with their own creativity is a great introduction into a school setting. A good preschool sets the foundation for a positive school experience and teaches confidence and respect. Lisa wants her classroom to be fun and creative. She enjoys color and her classroom reflects positive energy and excitement. She encourages parent involvement and nurtures that same enthusiasm in her families.
This is Mrs. Skiver’s 11th year with FUMPS. Born in Anaheim, Lisa’s family moved to Riverside where she graduated from La Sierra High School and met her husband Aaron of 21 years. Her life is filled with home, family, and activities her sons are involved in. |
Mrs. Judi Jack
Assistant Teacher |
Mrs. Judi Jack believes preschool helps children with being away from their parents, learning to share and to play in groups with other children. She wants her classroom to be a safe, loving and fun environment where children feel comfortable and relaxed and able to learn. Judi has been married to her husband Mike for 22 years and has one daughter, Amanda, who was a ”FUMPS-ter” and now an 8th grader at Encore Jr/Sr High School. Growing up in Alta Loma with two brothers, one older, one younger, Judi was the “middle” child. She moved to Riverside in 1991 and worked in cardiology for 13 years and volunteer on the board of Riverside’s M.O.M.’s Club (Moms Offering Moms Support) holding the positions of secretary and vice president. Judi has taught VBS with us. She loves to cook and I’m sure holds the Guinness Book record for most cupcakes baked by one person in a single day!
|
Mrs. Alice Musarra
Assistant Teacher |
Mrs. Alice Musarra keeps our playground in shape (with Mrs.Vaughan’s & Mrs. McComb’s help) and the multitude of outside activities she has designed for your children just constantly spew out of her brain! She is an amazingly creative & tireless woman! She came into this world all blue & quiet in Sherman, Texas on March 13, 1963. Her dad was in the Army so she has driven through every state in the U.S., and lived in practically every state, including Alaska. She has been to Okinawa. Her mom and older sister were born in Oklahoma, her brother in Alaska, dad in Canada and she met her husband, John, in Albuquerque, New Mexico where her dad retired! Growing up she moved every 1½ years and attended 3 different high schools. All this moving around had no ill effect on Alice as she received two college scholarships for Dramatic Arts: one to the University of New Mexico & the other to the University of Arizona!
Alice has 4 children: Chris, Michael, Rose & Matthew - The two youngest are FUMPS graduates; , 6 guinea pigs, 3 fish, lots of birds, 2 rabbits and a cat and they all get along! She is our “Pintrest Queen” & has more ideas for your preschoolers than we have days in the school year! Alice loves tye-dye and colors, beading, reading, and serving at church. She teaches our Sunday school & our Vacation Bible School Science. Monday through Friday you will find her on our play yard setting up all kinds of fun & challenging activities for our preschoolers. Alice believes preschool serves to get children ready for school by teaching them the social skills and readiness skills needed for the classroom. Environments for young children should be bright, sunlit, organized, and stocked with age-appropriate games, books, posters, music, etc. We are most fortunate to have Mrs. Musarra as part of FUMPS staff! |
Mrs. Lisa Higgins
Office Manager |
Lisa Higgins was born in Anaheim and moved to Riverside at age 6. She is a middle child with one older sister and one younger brother and they are all good friends. Married to her husband Jim in 1994 they had 4 boys over the next 8 years. Her oldest, James, attends Boise State University and is part of the Blue Thunder Marching Band. Her son Charley is a freshman at RCC. George & Andrew both attend Poly High School. Her greatest joy, and some days her greatest challenge, is being their mother! She enjoys watching sports (especially when her children are playing), Spring Training, reading, walking and cooking.
Lisa sees preschool as being a child’s first group-care experience outside the family and it should be a loving environment providing positive learning experiences where children can explore safely and freely the things that are of interest to them. She believe that this is best achieved through a positive relationship between child, family and school. Over the years Lisa has worn many hats. She has volunteered at Alcott Elementary, taught Sunday school at her church, been a hotel manager, customer service assistant, sales manager, bookkeeper & administrator for Riverside Ballet, but we are most pleased she has been part of FUMPS for 11 years! She has kept our play yard organized, been a classroom teacher, nutrition teacher, and now is managing our preschool office. |
Mrs. Ramona Laib
Fluttering Butterflies |
Mrs. Ramona Laib believes the classroom should facilitate and provide hands-on experiences. It should provide the children with many tools and activities to help them grow physically, emotionally, socially, cognitively, and creatively. Mrs. Ramona believes that play is the most important part of a early childhood education. Play is a way for a child to first view the world and make sense of things around their lives.
Mrs. Laib was born and raised in East Los Angeles. There she attended Sacred Heart of Jesus high school. She graduated and attend at Mount San Antonio College where she took early childhood development classes, and knew from then on that she wanted to teach preschool children. She then worked for Granada Park United Methodist nursery school and kindergarten in Alhambra for 12 years. She is married to her husband Jeff and they have one daughter Ashley will who will be turning 13 years old this year. Ashley attended FUMPS in 2008 and was a Lucky Ladybug. At this time Mrs. Laib would substitute for us and we got to know her and her caring nature for others. Mrs. Laib enjoys collecting teapots, crafting, cooking, and yoga. This year will be her 4th year at FUMPS and her 2nd year as lead teacher in the Fluttering Butterflies classroom. |
Mrs. Nancy Vaughan
Assistant Teacher |
Mrs. Vaughan has lived in Riverside since she was 5. She graduated from North High School, San Diego State University & earned her Master of Science Degree from Cal State San Bernardino in Educational Counseling. Married to her husband Jim since 1997 who is Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Poly High. They have 3 children who Nancy feels are all growing too fast: DJ, a Sophomore at UC Irvine; Kati, a Freshman at UC Santa Barbara & Jerry, a 7th grader at Gage!
Nancy has worked in daycare, as a counselor in a Provisional Accelerated Learning Center in San Bernardino & a private High School in Running Springs. All of her 3 children attended preschool which she feels prepared them socially & academically for Kindergarten. She came to us through Mrs. Higgins & had an instant connection with the children & the teachers. Because she does relate well with this age group, has a great sense of humor, lots of energy & enjoys being part of their learning experience, she completes her goal everyday 100%, by making our playground a fun, safe & loving environment for all preschoolers! Mrs. Nancy Vaughan keeps our playground activities exciting & challenging, not to mention creative & organized. |
Mrs. Raquel Campbell
Nutrition Teacher |
Mrs. Campbell brought her 4 children, Aidan 13, Tristan 11, Ian 9, & Madeline 6 to FUMPS for 10 straight years. They have been Bouncing Bunnies, Pooh Bears, Caring Caterpillars, and Sunny Sunflowers. She was a member of our Preschool Board but only lasted through two meeting before we offered her the Nutrition teacher position. This is her third year with us.
A true Riverside native, her background is in law. Raquel has worked as an investigative assistant & legal secretary, but prefers the warmth and fun of preschool to criminal law! She volunteers at sandals church in their Children’s Ministry and at Pachappa Elementary School. Married to husband Greg for 15 years, they enjoy RV camping, movies, and spending time with family and friends. Raquel is lovingly called “The Snack Lady” by the preschoolers! |
Mrs. Natalie McComb
Assistant Teacher |
Natalie McComb was born and raised in San Diego County with her younger brother Jason. She attended San Diego State University where she earned a Bachelor's Degree as well as an Elementary Teaching Credential. She moved to Riverside right out of college to teach at RUSD. She taught for over ten years before making the decision to stay home with her young children. She has been married to her husband Jim for twenty-one years and has one daughter, Emma and one son, James. Her favorite hobbies are reading and traveling.
|
Mrs. Laura Robinson
|
Mrs. Laura Robinson has lived in Riverside most of her life. She has been happily married for over 10 years to Joaquin, a Math and Science teacher at a local Middle School. They have a son and daughter in a local elementary school, Josiah and Harper. Laura is an active member at her Church, she loves to cook, read and camp with her family.
Laura found her true calling when she became a preschool teacher. She believes in play based learning that allows children to explore, socialize, and grow. She believes that art and music are a key component to the learning process. She has seen through experience that through play, fine and gross motor skills are developed, critical thinking occurs, and scaffold learning emerges. Laura believes through play we see our children grow and learn. She loves to see the magical sparkle in a child’s eyes as they conquer a new feat. She creates a safe and loving environment for all her students. Laura encourages cultural understanding and acceptance in her classroom. |