Our teachers
Our teachers are the guideposts for both preschoolers and parents. Each PNS teacher meets or exceeds state requirements as early childhood educators.
Teacher Amy
Co-Director and Teacher, 2's/Young 3's Class
Amy is a Palo Alto native, where she grew up attending Palo Alto schools, including Parents Nursery School for two years with Virginia Debs as her teacher! She has a BA from Middlebury College, an MA in education from Stanford University, a California teaching credential, a California Child Development Site Supervisor Permit, and numerous ECE units. She taught at the high school level for eight years, both at St. Francis High School in Mt. View and at Palo Alto High School, before becoming a full-time mom when her second child was born. Amy, along with her husband Joe, came to PNS as a parent with their oldest child Luke and was delighted to join such a wonderful community for both children and parents. She completed seven consecutive years at PNS as a parent, first with Luke, then with daughter Anna, and finally with her youngest daughter Sarah. Amy taught our youngest class for four years, then taught the 4 and 5-year-olds for 11 years, and is excited to go back to the 2's and young 3's for the 2025-2026 school year. Like the other PNS teachers, she truly believes in the value of early and consistent parent involvement in their children’s education, and loves working with this age group. Amy lives in Palo Alto where she enjoys spending time with her busy family.
Teacher Theresa
Co-Director and Teacher, Mixed Age Class
Theresa was born and raised in Palo Alto. She studied sociology at California State University, Sacramento, and has received her Master Teacher Permit from the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Theresa is a dyed-in-the-wool Giants fan and a bit of a gadfly. She married “the boy next door” (a PNS alum) and they’ve been together nearly thirty years. They have a son, Jack, who went to PNS as well. Theresa joined PNS as a parent in 2009, but when Jack was promoted to elementary school she didn’t want to leave! She joined the PNS teaching staff as an Assistant Teacher for the mixed age class at the start of the 2011/12 school year because she loves everything about it: the philosophy of the school and the parents who believe in it, the sense of community, the fantastic play space, and the snickerdoodles. This year she is looking forward to returning as lead teacher in the Mixed Age classroom. When she’s not at PNS she can be found biking around town or goofing off with Jack. She enjoys reading, cooking, swimming, photography, and being outside. Theresa believes in parent involvement, play based learning, and paying things forward.
Teacher Chris
Assistant Teacher
Chris and his wife moved here from Boston in 2009. They now consider the Bay Area home and a big part of that is their amazing experience at PNS. Chris has two boys who have gone through preschool at PNS. Not only does he work here but he is lucky to say he’s made some great friends and built a wonderful community that his family and he will always be grateful for. He is currently in the process of obtaining his bachelor's degree in education, with the plan of getting his CA teaching credential.
Teacher Courtney
Assistant Teacher
Courtney grew up in Los Altos Hills and attended Palo Alto schools. She went on to receive a BS in Biology from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. Courtney and her husband, Philip, first came to PNS with their older daughter, Claire, in 2018 and fell in love with the philosophy, yard, community, and teachers. She was a parent at PNS for five consecutive years until her younger daughter, Violet, graduated in 2023. Courtney did not want to leave the most magical corner on Earth, so she earned her Early Childhood Education units and began teaching in the Mixed Age class in August 2023. In addition to being a teacher and a mom, Courtney also spends her time tending to the zoo at her house (1 dog, 3 cats, and 1 Guinea pig).
Teacher Kathy
Assistant Teacher
Kathy is our music teacher. She ensures a musical community where students and their families will share and enjoy music together for many years to come. Kathy is originally from Los Angeles and began her professional music career at 15, playing guitar and bouzouki. It was there that she observed the emotional impact music has on people. Kathy studied ethnomusicology at UCLA and earned a degree in classical guitar performance from the SF Conservatory of Music. She received my early childhood music education in a joint class from Music for Minors and Foothill College. She worked for 5 years as a music docent for Music for Minors at Ohlone School in Palo Alto teaching the K-1 classes. She was also a member of People of Note, an organization bringing concerts for children to the Bay Area. Kathy is married to Len, an analog engineer who dabbles in machining and metal art. Her CDs include: “Listen to Your Mama” and “Singing on a Star” with her band Hey Mom!; “Welcome to the Folk Song Cafe” with her band The Good Folk Collective; and “A Time to Sing, A Time to Dance” and “New Songs of Old Athens” – this one, a Grammy semi-finalist for best world music album – with The Plaka Band.
Grandma Virginia
Legacy Teacher
Virginia is a native Californian and was raised in small towns throughout the West and Midwest, spending summers in Berkeley with her Swedish grandparents. She studied at UC Berkeley, Harvard, and Tufts, and holds a Life Credential in Parent Education. Virginia began teaching parent education at PNS in 1969. In 1996, she began team teaching, which allowed her more time to travel. Now 99 years of age, Grandma Virginia has only the occasional opportunity to visit classes, but her visits are memorable! She loves teaching about nature and science, starting with all the things to be found on our great PNS yard. She and her late husband, Bob, have two children – Douglas, an engineer (and railroad enthusiast), and Missy, a communications specialist working overseas. Virginia is enthusiastic about people, the out-of-doors, books, opera, ballet, cooking, and (of course) PNS. The Grandma Virginia Memory Project, a series of interviews with Virginia, was completed as a gift for her 82nd birthday in 2006.