Jan Lozito - Director
Jan Lozito has provided licensed child care since 1980 in her home, known also as Yellow House Playschool. She raised three children of her own. A Child Development major in college, Jan has kept current by taking related courses through UC Davis Extension, Merritt College, and Bananas Childcare Resource Center. She is trained and certified through the Oakland Public Library's Books for Wider Horizons program, which provides weekly story times for Head Start Centers, and has received extensive training and volunteered with REACH, an intervention program for elementary students performing below grade level in reading. Jan also currently provides private tutoring in math and language arts to elementary school students. Jan served as PTA president at both Crocker Highlands Elementary and Edna Brewer Middle School and currently serves on the board of The East Bay Children's Book Project, which provides books to children in need.
About Us
Fern Lehner - Teacher
Fern is the mother of three and grandmother of five. She taught elementary school in New Jersey before moving to California.
Once her own children were school aged she taught for twenty years at an OUSD Early Education Center.
Fern brings a profound love and appreciation of children along with a vast repertoire of wonderful art projects. On her days off from Yellow House, Fern is an active volunteer in the community.
Debbie Ross-Smith - Teacher
Debbie has worked in Early Childhood Education since 1989. She has taught preschool, directed programs and was the case worker for children ages birth to three with disabilities.
Debbie attended Bakersfield College in Bakersfield Ca. and College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas. She has obtained over 30 unites in ECE and special education.
Debbie is married to Dean and they have 4 children, Three dogs and two granddaughters. Debbie enjoys spending lots of time in Indiana with her grandchildren.
Risa Lenore - Teacher
Risa uses active storytelling by incorporating elements of creative movement, creative dance, and physical theater. As a teacher, Risa guides the kids, by enthusiastically telling a story and inviting them to become the many elements of the story- characters, places and objects. Risa intentionally approaches the stories with awareness of social-emotional growth and developmentally appropriate content. The childrens’ input is incorporated as often as possible.
Stephanie Pepitone - Singer / Songwriter
Stephanie Pepitone is a singer/songwriter and Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Oakland. She began playing music 15 years ago as the guitarist/vocalist in several punk rock bands.
Becoming a mother and spending time with the next generation inspired her to begin writing children's music. Nowadays, Stephanie facilitates music enrichment programs to local schools, daycares, and playgroups.
She is also the host of the Rockin' Kids Sing-A-Long, held every Friday (10:30 AM at La Pena Cultural Center, 3105 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94705)
Check out Stephanie's music at www.rockinkidssingalong.com.
Rebecca Cisin - Movement Teacher
Rebecca is the owner-operator of Tiny Toes Movement, She began Irish dancing at the age of 11 and competed in multiple national championships.
Teacher Rebecca now specializes as an early childhood dance instructor, a field which combines her love of movement, music, and dramatic expression.
As an instructor, Rebecca is passionate about fostering a love of movement, dance, and rhythm in young children while maintaining a joyful classroom environment.
Check out Rebecca's website at TinyToesMovement.com