PRESCHOOL FACULTY & STAFF
Administration
Laurie Cerefice
Program Director
Vince Piña
Assistant Director of Preschool / Young Pre-K Teacher
Colleen Fitch-Avila
Assistant Director of Preschool
Laurie Cerefice
Years with Serendipity: 25
laurie@serendipityschool.com
Education
Multiple Subject Teaching Credential — Notre Dame de Namur University
B.A. in Liberal Studies — San Francisco State University
E.C.E. (Early Childhood Education) — 20 units
Relevant Experience
Preschool Director — Serendipity School — 2016 to Present
Preschool through 2nd Grade Teacher—Serendipity School — 1995 to 2016
Vince Piña
Years with Serendipity: 17
preschool@serendipityschool.com
Education
A.S. in Early Childhood Education—Cañada College
ECE Certificate—Cañada College
Relevant Experience
Assistant Director—Serendipity School: Since 2007
Teacher/Pre-K Teacher—Serendipity School: Since 2004
Teacher for Family Day Care in San Mateo: 1996-2004
Colleen Fitch-Avila
Years with Serendipity: 20
preschool@serendipityschool.com
Education
Conley Business School
ECE Certificate—Cañada College
Relevant Experience
Assistant Director—Serendipity School: Since 2009
Office Administrator – Serendipity School: Since 2004
Floating Teacher – Serendipity School: 2000-2004
Corporate Business Administration for 17 years
Classroom Teachers
Vince Piña
Assistant Director of Preschool / Young Pre-K Teacher
Kathy Lam McDonald
3s Teacher
Jennifer Evanchik
2s Teacher
Madelyn Pacas
3s Teacher
Janel Mesick
2s Teacher
Marcia Guzman
3s Teacher
Carla Murray
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Patrice Warto
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Lauren Banner
3s Floating Teacher
Sandra Bianchi
PK Floating Teacher
Elvia Hernandez
Preschool Teacher’s Aide
Ginny Johnson
2s Teacher
Stacy Harmon
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Alisa Thompson
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Annie Russell Zinzuvadia
Transitional Kindergarten Teacher
Gisel Cruz Solorio
Teaching Assistant
Vince Piña
Years with Serendipity: 17
preschool@serendipityschool.com
Education
A.S. in Early Childhood Education—Cañada College
ECE Certificate—Cañada College
Relevant Experience
Assistant Director—Serendipity School: Since 2007
Teacher/Pre-K Teacher—Serendipity School: Since 2004
Teacher for Family Day Care in San Mateo: 1996-2004
Kathy Lam McDonald
Years with Serendipity: 14
Education
Education
ECE Certificate—City College of San Francisco
Relevant Experience
Teacher—Serendipity School—2007 to Present
Preschool Teacher in South San Francisco—2000-2007
Jennifer Evanchik
Years at Serendipity: 14 years
Education
ECE Certificate
Relevant Experience
Serendipity School 2017 – Present
Learning Links 2013 – 2017
Serendipity School 2000 – 2010
Madelyn Pacas
Years with Serendipity: 3
Education
21 ECE Units
Relevant Experience
Teacher—Serendipity School: 2017 – Present
Merry Moppet 2007 – 2017
Janel Mesick
Years with Serendipity: 1
Marcia Guzman
Years with Serendipity: 7
Education
Aragon High School—San Mateo 2001
ECE Units & General Education—College of San Mateo 2010
B.A. Child & Adolescent Development—San Francisco State University 2012
Master Teacher Permit—In Progress
Relevant Experience
3’s Teacher—Serendipity School: Since 2013
Bridge Point Academy—Teacher 2010
Youth Services Tiny Tots & Pre-K—City of San Mateo Parks and Recreation 2001-2006
Carla Murray
Years with Serendipity: 13
Education
ECE Certificate—Cañada College
A.S. in Hotel/Restaurant Management—City College S.F.
A.A. in Radio Broadcast Announcing—College of San Mateo
Relevant Experience
Preschool Teacher—Serendipity School: Since 2008
Preschool Teacher—Hoover Children’s Center: 1998-2008
Patrice Warto
Years with Serendipity: 23
Education
Program Director Credential—Notre Dame de Namur University
Site Supervisor Credential—Notre Dame de Namur University
Master Teacher Credential—Notre Dame de Namur University
B.A. in Liberal Studies—Notre Dame de Namur University
A.S. in Early Childhood Education—Cañada College
ECE Certificate—Cañada College
Relevant Experience
Preschool Teacher—Serendipity School: Since 1997
Preschool Director—Serendipity School: 1997-2016
Preschool Teacher for over 35 years: 1974-2009
Assistant Director/Teacher in Burlingame for 10 years: 1987-1997
Sandra Bianchi
Years with Serendipity: 1
Relevant Experience
Pre-K Floating Teacher—Serendipity School: Since 2004
Elvia Hernandez
Years with Serendipity: 21
Relevant Experience
Teacher’s Aide—Serendipity School: Since 1999
Ginny Johnson
Years with Serendipity: 2
Education
12 ECE Units
Relevant Experience
Preschool Teacher — Serendipity School — 2018 to Present
Preschool Teacher — Hoover Children’s Center— 1985
Preschool Teacher — Stepping Stones Preschool — 1981 to 1984
Stacy Harmon
Years with Serendipity: 1
Education
B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development: ECE
Site Supervisor Permit from California Commission of Teacher Credentialing
Relevant Experience
Preschool Teacher—Serendipity School: Since 2018
Preschool Teacher at various schools since 2013
Alisa Thompson
Years with Serendipity: 1
Relevant Experience
Pre-Kindergarten Teacher — Serendipity School — 2020 to Present
Annie Russell Zinzuvadia
Years with Serendipity: 14
Education and Experience
Education:
B.A. in Marketing Communications and Business Management—Notre Dame de Namur
University
ECE Certificate—Cañada College
Years of Teaching Experience: 19
Gisel Cruz Solorio
Education
Enrolled in California State University, East Bay working on general education requirements
Relevant Experience
Cashier at parent’s restaurant – 2016 to present
Babysitter – 2016 to present
Volunteer at a homeless shelter – 2017 to 2018
Specialist Teachers
