Children possess a vast imagination, are active explorers, natural experimenters, and endless discoverers. We believe that children’s learning happens all the time and everywhere, therefore, we provide abundant opportunities for significant, engaging, play-based learning experiences in both the indoor and outdoor environments, and within our community.
Excelsior Leadership Team
Excelsior Preschool Gold River
I have been in the field of early child education for over 30 years. I have had chances to work in many areas of the field as a Teacher, Asst Director, Regional Manager, Recruitment Coordinator, and Quality Assurance. My love always comes back to directing and building a fantastic team of teachers. This field is a wonderous place to watch children grow and develop each day. They learn so much in the few years we spend with them. To see the growth each day of what they achieve is miraculous to me. I have opened many schools and rebuilt others. This is really the most important part of education for young children, being able to have a safe, clean, and educational environment that is there for the whole family, not just the child. I have earned my AA in business and my BA in Early Childhood Education Administration. I have had the privilege to attend many conferences nationwide and join classes that are taught by top leaders in the field of Early Childhood Education.
My name is Brandi Higgins and I’m the Assistant Director at Excelsior Preschool. I fell in love with Early Childhood Education completely by accident! I was taking tumbling classes at a gymnastic facility and was offered a job teaching gymnastics to young children. That is when I discovered my passion for working with young children. I then enrolled in a child development class, and I never looked back. I have been working in childcare since 2013. I have done everything from an assistant teacher to management. I earned my bachelor’s degree in child development with Honors from Sacramento State while working full time, being a mom (and even during my pregnancy with baby #2). I practically live and breathe Early Childhood Education! Early Childhood Education is so important to me because I believe it provides the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health. I truly believe that a strong foundation helps children develop the skills they need to become well-functioning adults. When I’m not working, you will most likely find me shopping at Target or eating sugary sweets with my family!
Excelsior Preschool Torrance
My name is Janel Martinez. I am the preschool director for Excelsior Preschool Torrance. I have served passionately in the Early Childhood Education Field for three decades. I studied Early Childhood Education at De Anza College and Business Administration at San Jose State University. My career highlights include developing innovative early childhood curriculum, multi-language learning environments, constructing outdoor classrooms, school-aged enrichment programs, recruitment, and professional development, and establishing developmentally appropriate programs. While living in the Bay Area, I served as an advocate for early childhood education in the United States, discussing issues surrounding early childhood education with state and US legislatures.
Hello, my name is Kiara M. Ortiz, and I am the Vice Director here at Excelsior Preschool Torrance LLC. My passion has always been working with young children and being able to help foster and develop their young minds. I have been in the field of early childhood education since 2010 and started off as an assistant teacher. Through the years and experience I was able to achieve goals that I had set for myself and due to my hard work and dedication I was able to advance in my career. I currently have a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and would like to eventually get my master’s degree.