Andi Dierolf
Director, Toddler and T/Th Teacher
Andi holds a Master's degree in Education from the University of Connecticut Graduate School with emphasis on Therapeutic Recreation. She earned her Early Childhood Education Certificate in 1994. Andi has a California State Teaching Credential in Parent Education, as well as a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit. Andi has 7 years of experience as a Recreational Therapist at Stanford Children’s Hospital, and has been working with children for over 17 years. Andi has been involved at WPNS since 1996 in a variety of roles: Parent, Participation Board Member, Renovation Committee Chairperson, Teacher, and Assistant Director. Andi also has five years of experience as the Toddlers and Two’s Teacher and Parent Educator at Redwood Parent’s Nursery School. Andi and her husband, Volker, live in Redwood City with their two children, Christina and Matthew, and dog, Naia. She enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, cooking, and reading.

Lolly Miller
Pre-K Teacher
Lolly has a Master's degree from San Francisco State in Early Childhood Education. Her area of expertise is emergent literacy. She also has a Standard Elementary Credential from San Jose State. Lolly has taught in parent cooperatives for more than 30 years, believing that this model for education is truly the best and most productive form of education for any age group. Lolly lives in Menlo Park with her husband, Mr. Teacher Lolly. She has twin sons who have flown off into the world with confidence and a never-ending lust for life. Lolly's empty nest is filled with one bad cat named Shady.

Mary Russell
Pre-K Teacher
Mary has been teaching for 13 1/2 years. She has completed her A.S. Degree in Early Childhood, and holds certificates in Violence Prevention and Early Childhood which were completed in 1995. She continues to take classes to further broaden her education and lifestyle. She has worked at several schools in the area including Playschool in Atherton, Littlest Angels in Menlo Park and Windmill in Portola Valley. While her children were growing, she helped in their schools as the school librarian, yard duty, teacher's aide and also served several positions of the P.T.A. Mary was honored with an award from the State of California for her outstanding service to the Public School System. Mary is married to a wonderfully supportive husband Jerry of 40 years, has two beautiful daughters, Carly,a Registered Nurse, Kelli, a Dental Office Manager and two grandcats.

Lolly Schenone
MWF Teacher and AM Coordinator
Lolly started working at WPNS in 1993. Lolly received a Secretarial Degree from Shasta College. She has an Early Childhood Education Certificate from Canada College, a California Child Development Master Teacher Permit, and an Adult Education Credential in Parenting and Office Practice. Lolly attends San Francisco State Classes and is completing her BA – concentration in Young Child and Family. Always attending classes, seminars and conferences, Lolly believes this is important in furthering her education, goals and value as a teacher. She enjoys spending time with her husband, Don, walking, going to the gym, reading and knitting. Lolly also loves to spend time with her sons Aaron, and his wife Tiffanie, and Brandon and his girlfriend Kim. Lolly likes to go shopping, to lunch, and to visit with friends.

Sarah Schauer
MWF Teacher
Sarah attended City College of San Francisco, and San Francisco State University, beginning as a Psychology major and graduating with a B.A. in Physical Education after playing on the very first women’s soccer team at SFSU. In 1987, Sarah began her dream job – a parent. When her first child, Matthew, was at WPNS she began working here as a Teacher’s Aide. She retired to have two more children, Meaghan and Timothy, who are both WPNS Alumni. Sarah served on the WPNS board as the Membership Chair as a parent. She has served as President of the Parent-Teacher Organization and Site Council President at Henry Ford Elementary School. Sarah also volunteered her time as a board member of the Redwood City Education Foundation. She is currently the President of the PTA at Kennedy Middle School. In her spare time, Sarah loves to play tennis, horseback ride, and garden… and sometimes she even cleans her house!

Tammy Taylor
MWF Teacher
Tammy has a Master’s degree in Education from Harvard University. She is currently pursuing a special education credential from San Francisco State University with emphasis on Deaf/Hearing Disorders. Her teaching experience includes 9 years of elementary school in Union City, two years with San Mateo County’s Early Start program, and one year with the Portola Valley School District as the Early Childhood Special Education Teacher. She has had a private tutoring business for the last 10 years for children of all ages, and is most passionate about preschoolers. Tammy has two sons, and a houseful of animals that she loves. Someday she plans on merging her love of children with her love of animals in a therapeutic way, but for now she is enjoying her second year of teaching three year olds at WPNS!

Debbie Parenti
T/Th Teacher and AM Coordinator
Debbie was born in San Francisco and raised on the S.F. Peninsula. Debbie received a B.A. degree in Anthropology from Chico State. During her school years she had many jobs, including working with children as a swim instructor, helping autistic and visually impaired children and children with Down’s Syndrome. She was a recreation leader for after school programs and a 3rd grade teacher’s aid. After college, she spent 10 years in the medical profession as a medical assistant and EEG-EKG technician. Debbie also loves art and did volunteer work at the De Young Museum and the San Francisco Legion of Honor for different art exhibits. After her children were both in school, Debbie decided to go to Canada College and get her ECE Certificate. In 1994 she began at WPNS as a Pre-K teacher and has been here ever since.

Darlene Gorman
T/Th Teacher
Darlene is a native to the area. She lives in Menlo Park with her daughter and husband. Darlene graduated from San Jose State College with a B.S. degree in Recreation Administration / Early Childhood Education. She has over twenty years of experience working with children in a variety of environments: teaching pre-school, teaching and coaching swimming, running school programs, and working in day-care centers. Darlene’s teaching career includes 6 years at Trinity School in Menlo Park, 7 years at Windmill School in Portola Valley, and Skyline College where she helped set up their pre-school/daycare center. She was the head teacher and ran that program for two years.
Darlene chose to be a stay home mom for 5 years before coming to WPNS. This will be her third year at our school. She continually attends several education classes specifically for pre-school teachers each year to gain new ideas and strategies to enhance the children's experiences. Darlene loves being with her family and friends when she is not at work. She loves the outdoors, working out, and reading a good book.

Lisa Decottignies
Toddler Teacher
Lisa was born in San Francisco and grew up on the peninsula. Lisa received her B.A. in Liberal Studies with a minor in Psychology from Notre Dame de Namur University. She went on to receive her teaching credential from the University as well. While working on her credential, Lisa taught preschool in Atherton. She enjoyed that age of exploration and independence. She then went on to teach school-age children and has been teaching second grade for the last nine years. Now the mother of a preschooler and a newborn, Lisa loves experiencing all their “firsts” as they move through their developmental milestones. Other interests Lisa enjoys are photography, traveling, scrapbooking, reading and get-togethers with her big, Italian family.