*UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2014*
These Team SLOCA members are returning to teach Little Wonders for the 2014-15 school year, and were featured in last year's Friday Faces:
Merideth Eades
Preschool Director, Jr. Kinder Core Teacher (Track A),
Lead Team
Q: What is your degree in?
A: Early childhood Education & Psychology
Q: What was your last job before your SLOCA life?
A: I taught 1st grade and Reading Recovery for 13 years in San Luis Coastal School District.
Q: What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
A: Have a cup of coffee
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
A: Kailana Sushi in Atascadero
Q: What was your favorite book when you were a child?
A: Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
Q: What is your favorite piece of literature that we've read at SLOCA?
A: The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt
Wendy Rey
Little Wonders Co-Director and Preschool Teacher (Track B)
Q: What is your degree in?
A: BS in Social Sciences from Cal Poly and a Qualified Early Childhood Education Director (these classes were completed from various colleges.)
Q: What was your last job before your SLOCA life?
A: Preschool teacher at Johnson Ave. Preschool
Q: What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
A: Start making coffee 
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
A: Ummm…I like a lot of them. One of my favorites is Giuseppe's in Pismo Beach.
Q: What was your favorite book when you were a child?
A: Books were, unfortunately, not a large part of my childhood. The one book I remember my dad reading to me before bedtime was Sesame Street Stories and he would read it in a Grover voice. That was my favorite part and a very special memory. I am so thankful that my children will have many memories of mom and dad reading good books to them.
Q: What is your favorite piece of literature that we've read at SLOCA?
A: Another tough decision… I have loved so many! I would probably have to say The Shakespeare Stealer or The Golden Goblet. Oh wait…..loved Don Quixote too!
Jessica Wilson
Preschool Teacher (Track A)
Q: What is your degree in?
A: I'm delighted to share I received my degree in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California. I also have specializations in Early Child Education, Progressive Education and Play! Play! How cool is that?
Q: What was your last job before your SLOCA life?
A: From my first job babysitting to my last as an assistant at a local preschool near downtown SLO I seem to have always worked in areas that involved children. The bulk of my pre-education career (I did not have children of my own) was in children's books. I am a bit of a children's book bibliophile. I was also once an extra in a movie, a part time elevator operator, and did a summer stint with the International Stamp Collectors Society and while I was not a fan of the stamps when I worked there I surely wish I could get my hands on some of those packs now!
Q: What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
A: The first thing I do is to rehydrate with a glass of water – it is oh-so-exciting. Next, I have to admit that I stumble to the good old laptop for an email check and pinterest browse.
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
A: We don't eat out too often but when we do it tends to be either Petra here in town (love their fresh made pita bread), or Sylvester's in Los Osos. It's the chocolate malts that attract us so.
Q: What was your favorite book when you were a child?
A: The first book I ever got to choose for myself was Ellen Tebbits by Beverly Cleary. I lost my own copy years ago and recently discovered a tattered copy with the same cover on it at a thrift store. It's now on my bookshelf and I reread it often. Whenever I cut beets or bake brownies, I can't help but think of Ellen and Austine.
Q: What is your favorite piece of literature that we've read at SLOCA? (or if this is your first year here, feel free to list any favorite book.)
A: I know, I know, we always say we can't simply pick just one but it's true! One of my favorite picture books is Ellington Was Not a Street by Ntozake Shange. A favorite early reader is The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes. As for young adults, I really liked Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli and for a regular old adult read I'll say The Girls by Lori Lansens… this week at least.
Amy Turner
Jr. Kinder Core Teacher (Track B) and Friday Foundations Little Wonders Teacher
Q: What is your degree in?
A: Child Development
Q: What was your last job before your SLOCA life?
A: Nanny and worked at Boo Boo Records
Q: What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
A: Feed my two cats
Q: What is your favorite local restaurant?
A: Ember in Arroyo Grande and Sidecar in SLO
Q: What was your favorite book when you were a child?
A: The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord
Q: What is your favorite piece of literature that we've read at SLOCA?
A: Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis
Thank you wonderful teachers, for letting us get to know you a bit!
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