A Teacher’s Love for Magnolia
To kick off the new school year, Site Supervisor Stephanie Merlo shares her journey in early childhood education and when she first fell in love with the Izzi at Magnolia site. Interview conducted by Izzi Marketing and Communications Manager Angel Chang. Photos provided by Stephanie Merlo.
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Izzi: To start off, tell us your current role and how long have you been with the organization?
Stephanie: My current role is the Site Supervisor for our Magnolia Site. I have been with the organization for 7 years now!
Izzi: Awesome! What is your day-to-day like?
Stephanie: My day is always unpredictable, but usually I get in around 7:15am. I like to make sure everything is set up for the site to run smoothly. When it hits 8:00 am, the families start coming in. I run around in the morning, popping my head into every classroom to say good morning to the staff and the children. When the meals arrive, I pull it in, separate it per classroom, then make the delivery to each classroom saying my hellos to the kiddos. I make sure staff have taken their breaks and come back and try to keep up to date with all the work that needs to be done.
To be able to help and make a difference in the lives of the children and families here is important to me.
Izzi: So busy! Were you studying to become a preschool teacher?
Stephanie: Yes! When I decided to go back to school, it was mainly to get credits to become a preschool teacher. I went to Foothill College and received my AA in Child Development and my AS in Early Childhood Education. I just recently graduated from SFSU and received my Bachelors in Child & Adolescent Development with a concentration in Early Childhood.
Izzi: Congrats! So then how did you join our organization?
Stephanie: Back in 2014, I started working as a substitute teacher with Child Care Careers. My first school that I was sent to was actually Magnolia! I started subbing here regularly during the week, and I just fell in love with the site, the kids, the whole vibe of this place. The staff and supervisor at that time were just so welcoming and nice. I had asked the supervisor if they had an open position, and she said yes! I applied and was hired by the next school year.
The ECE field to me is more than just education. It is the personal and beautiful relationships that are created between teachers and students.
Izzi: That’s amazing! Now what does it mean for you to be serving the community?
Stephanie: East Palo Alto was a lot different when I was younger. I remember my parents wouldn't let me visit my grandma in East Palo Alto, because it was "too dangerous." Serving the families and children in this community is the reason I love what I do. To be able to help and make a difference in the lives of the children and families here is important to me. Working here all these years, I have really learned the importance of building relationships with parents and children. By doing just that, I have built so many connections and have had the amazing opportunity to still see the kiddos I had in my first class here at Izzi all grown up!
Izzi: Any favorite/stand out memories with students and then with parents or staff?
Stephanie: I have SO MANY MEMORIES! I wish I could share them all, but my favorite memory is from our end of the year celebration in 2018! We got together at a park in Palo Alto, and it felt like a party! We had a MASSIVE water balloon fight! Almost half of the parents (mostly the dads) got so involved with the children and running around trying to wet everyone! That was the best celebration to date!
Izzi: That sounds like so much fun! Lastly, what does it mean to you to be working in the ECE field?
Stephanie: When people ask me what I do and I tell them I work at a preschool, they automatically imagine that I just play all day with kids. (Which for the most part....yes I play with kids, but that is by far not the only thing I do all day.) Working in this field to me means I get to be a part of these families' lives. I get to be a part of childhood memories. I get to watch them grow and become these independent people that are going to continue growing and learning. The ECE field to me is more than just education. It is the personal and beautiful relationships that are created between teachers and students. If I can set a positive example in one child's life, then I know I am doing what I'm supposed to.
Thank you Teacher Stephanie for sharing your journey and your passion for serving the community! Have a great story to share with the Izzi community? All staff/parents are welcomed. Email Angel Chang at achang@izziearlyed.org to connect!
