“Come Fly With Me”, traveling back in time to the 1950's and the era of Pan Am while you help support our beloved Redwood Parents Nursery School. Join us on April 1st, 2023 from 6pm - 11pm for this year's Janet Cocconi Auction and Dinner! You’d be a fool not to attend (pun intended!)! Click here for more details!
Our Staff
RPNS offers children a stimulating and unique place to begin their educational experience. It also offers parents the opportunity to learn a great deal about parenting styles and early childhood development.
All of the RPNS teachers hold California state teaching credentials in Parent Education and it is during the night classes that the parents are given the opportunity to increase their knowledge
and share their observations of the children.
Margie Lawson
Director
Margie graduated from California State University, Chico, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. She earned her Early Childhood Education Certificate in 1993 and holds a California State Teaching Credential in Parent Education. In 1987, the Lawson family joined the membership of RPNS with their children Joe and Kate, and Margie sat on the Board of Directors as 3rd VP Membership. Margie’s experience as a parent at RPNS, her vast experience volunteering at her children’s schools, along with the encouragement of former teacher, director, and mentor Janet Cocconi, led her back to school to earn her Early Childhood Credential. In 1990, Margie joined the RPNS staff as a teacher and over the past 32 years has taught the Toddlers, Twos, Threes, and Pre-K Classes. In 1998, she became Director. In 2007 Margie proudly received the Teacher/Director Lifetime Achievement Award from the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools. RPNS has further honored Margie by awarding her the Betty Strombom Award in 1998 and again in 2005 and the Janet Cocconi Award in 2015. At the end of the 2021-2022 school year, Margie retired as the RPNS Pre-K teacher after 32 years of teaching at RPNS. She continues in her role as Director. Margie and her husband Rich live in Redwood City. Their son Joe, his wife Debbie, and their children Alice & William, live in Pacifica. Their daughter Kate and her daughter Aubriana, who also is an alumnus of RPNS, and the newest addition to the family Delaney, live in Redwood City. Margie’s special joy in life is being a grandmother, and she enjoys spending time with her four grandchildren! She is a die heart Forty-Niner and Giants fan and loves attending games. Margie is enthusiastically looking forward to getting to know all the families at RPNS.
Andi Dierolf
Two's and Toddler
Andi graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Master’s degree in Education. Prior to joining RPNS, Andi worked as a Recreational Therapist at Stanford Children’s Hospital. She holds both an Early Childhood Education Certificate and a California State Teaching Credential in Parent Education. Andi was the Director and Toddler Teacher at another co-operative nursery school for five years. She is a proud recipient of the 2018 Teacher Director Award from the California Council of Parent participation Nursery schools. To further honor Andi for her commitment and dedication to the families of RPNS, Andi has been awarded the Betty Strombom Award in 2014 and the Janet Cocconi Award in 2021. Andi and her husband, Volker, live in Redwood City and have 2 children, Christina and Matthew, and two miniature dachshunds. Andi enjoys gardening, cooking, walking her dogs, crafting and reading. Andi is looking forward to her 18th amazing year at RPNS, filled with the joy and wonder of learning along with her toddlers, twos, and their families.
Carina Neumann
Pre-K
Carina graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development. She then completed her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from the College of Notre Dame in Belmont. During her college years, she worked with children of all ages. She has experience working with school-age children in an after-school program, as well as, working as an Assistant Director at La Mesa Early Learning Center. Once she enrolled her oldest child in RPNS, she realized that the co-op environment was exactly what she wanted for her children. Six years later, she returned with her daughter. Carina owned a retail store in downtown San Carlos for 8 years. When her business closed, she decided to go back to preschool. She joined the RPNS staff in 2011. Carina was honored for her dedication and commitment to the families of RPNS in 2012 when she received the Betty Strombom Award. This year she will partner with each of our teachers in the Threes and Pre-K classes as the Assistant Teacher. She loves being crafty. Carina loves being a part of such a dynamic teaching staff. This year she is excited to begin her 11th year in her new role as the Pre-K teacher.
Amanda Yob
Assistant Teacher Threes
Amanda graduated from Chico State University with a Bachelor’s of Social Work. Once graduated, she went to work as a behavioral therapist in ABA therapy. In 2010 she began teaching preschool until she became a parent. The Yob Family joined RPNS in 2017 with their older son Landon, followed by their younger son Hudson, who graduated Pre-K in June 2022. Amanda joined the RPNS Board of Directors in 2019 as 2nd VP, Operations and has held a board position ever since. She joined the RPNS staff in 2019 as a substitute assistant teacher, and in 2021 she accepted the role of assistant teacher. Amanda is extremely crafty and is always helping the teachers and community by creating unique and beautiful projects. She is looking forward to assisting in the Threes Class this year.
Kathy Pastore
Three's
Kathy graduated from the University of California, Davis, with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Biology. Kathy also received her California State Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from UC Davis and holds a California State Adult Education Teaching Credential. Prior to joining RPNS as our Mixed Ages teacher in 2000, Kathy was Director and Kindergarten teacher at a private school in San Mateo. Kathy is actively involved in the Special Olympics and helping those with learning differences. She also continues to participate in educational workshops. Kathy has been honored by the California Council of Parent Participation Nursery Schools by receiving the Teacher Director Award in 2007 and in 2020. To further honor Kathy for her dedication and commitment to the families of RPNS, Kathy has been awarded the Betty Strombom Award in 2006 and in 2010 and The Janet Cocconi Award in 2021. Kathy and her husband, Carl, live in San Carlos and have three adult children, Alyssa, and Jennifer, who recently got married, and Matthew. Kathy has a little granddaughter Ava who is 6 months old. In her spare time, Kathy enjoys traveling, sporting events, shopping, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Kathy’s passion has always been working with young children and looks forward to beginning her 23rd year at RPNS with the Threes class.
Dorian
Assistant Teacher Pre-K
Dorian graduated from San Jose State University with a Bachelor’s degree in English and an emphasis on both education and technical writing. Throughout college, Dorian worked as a counselor at Camp Conrad-Chinnock, a summer program for children with type 1 diabetes located in the mountains near Big Bear, California. Since graduating, Dorian has worked in the aviation and healthcare industries and has spent many hours volunteering in the classroom and subbing in the Redwood City School District. For the last 4 years, she has worked as a teaching assistant in the TK classroom on the Clifford School campus. Dorian is married to fellow camp counselor, Matthew Sheble, and they have two adult children, Taylor and Evan (proud RPNS alumni). Dorian and Matthew are also guardians of a 3rd grader, Chandler, who currently attends school in Redwood City. In her free time, she continues to volunteer at school, enjoys running, gardening, the outdoors, and spending time with the “parent friends” she made while at RPNS.