About
Our Team
Warm, responsive, well-trained teaching teams, sensitive to each child’s needs.
Meet our Director
Carolyn S. Jones, Director
For 25 years Carolyn has worked in areas serving children and families, designing innovative and prize-winning programs. She served first as a social worker, then as a college professor, and then as a director of preschool programs.
She trained with Dr. T. Berry Brazelton and has planned several major child development conferences, some featuring Dr. Brazelton and his colleagues. As a school district principal, she tripled the number of families served by Head Start, State Preschool and First 5, and was named Outstanding Administrator of the Year. She brought a struggling Head Start program to a perfect federal review and the State Preschool program to the highest level achievable.
Carolyn has been with Saint Andrew’s Children’s Center since January 2010, and considers Saint Andrew’s her favorite program.
A personal greeting from Father Peter
Father Peter Browning, Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church
“Greetings. My name is Peter Browning. I have been the priest at Saint Andrew’s since 2005.
One of the great joys I have is interacting with the children and staff at the Center. While Saint Andrew’s Children’s Center is connected to the Episcopal Church, we welcome people of all faiths. I believe one of the great things about Saint Andrew’s is its diversity. Our child development center is one of the most important outreach programs of the Church.
The Center was created so the community of Irvine would have a safe, caring and loving place where parents can take their children and trust that they are well cared for. That vision remains today. More than ever, Irvine needs a place where parents know the staff will work with them to ensure that their children’s social, emotional, physical and cognitive needs are met. Thank you for taking the time to read this, and please know that we are always available if you have any questions.”
Our teachers
Our teaching teams bring warmth, creativity and a sense of fun to every day, whether they’re leading circle time or putting on the Fairytale Theater for the children.
Staff education and training
Saint Andrew’s Children’s Center staff are all teacher-qualified. The majority have college degrees or are completing their degree requirements. All teaching staff have completed the required college-level child development classes and fully meet Community Care Licensing’s requirements to teach in preschools, and many hold teaching credentials issued by the California Department of Education.
- All teaching teams are trained in disaster preparedness and hold current First Aid and CPR certificates
- Teachers are trained in the HighScope curriculum by a well-recognized HighScope trainer, with ongoing access to HighScope support and training
- Preschool staff are trained in and use Zoo-phonics®
- All staff are trained in the Baby Signs® Program, used daily with infants and toddlers and in our preschool program
- Infant/toddler staff are trained in Primary Infant Toddler Caregiving by WestEd, which provides training for the California Department of Education
- Teaching teams are trained in behavior management by CUIDAR (the CHOC–UCI Initiative for the Development of Attention and Readiness)
Come see us
The best way to get to know Saint Andrew’s is to visit. Book a personal tour of our campus, or call us at (949) 651-0198.