Fun Memories with Izzi Early Education
As we celebrate 41 years of positive impact in our community, we wanted to also share our favorite memories along the way.
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“Angel Barrios and Casey Federico dancing to Beyonce's, Single Ladies, while pregnant!” Ofelia Alfaro - Quality Assurance Manager, Main Office (2010)
“Favorite memories at Izzi is going to different field trips by bus to visit a Kindergarten class, SF Zoo, Academy of Science in SF, Children's Museum in San Jose, and Lemos Farm Pumpkin Patch in Half Moon Bay.” Claudia Montepeque - Site Supervisor, Izzi at Serramonte
“When I got hired by Izzi” Jill Gilongos- Family Services Specialist, Izzi at South San Francisco (2017)
“My favorite memory was when Teacher Irma won a flat screen TV at our End of the Year Retreat through the raffle in a park in San Mateo, we were so excited for her cause we had just found out she was pregnant with her first son!” Stephanie Merlo, Site Supervisor, Izzi at Magnolia (May 2016)
“My favorite memory is opening City Center for the first time ever!!!” Ines Flores- Family Services Specialist, Izzi at City Center (Oct 2024)
“One of my favorite memories was attending a two-year-long math training at SMCOE with others from my site (Fair Oaks).” Jennifer Pifeleti, Deputy Director, Izzi at Fair Oaks (2011)/Main Office
“Seeing Izzi celebrate Maria Hernandez's retirement with a cruise vacation.” Sunshine Wu Fisher- Mental Health Coordinator, Main Office (Nov 2023)
“I received a lot of Ore from my supervisor (Kifah) on my first day of work with Izzi, and every minute she would give me comments. Then she gave me 2 options: 1- do you want me to give all comments end of the day 2- I said this is a good idea instead every second 🤣” Mona Alsadat Rezay Nazari- Lead Teacher, Izzi at Lakewood, Room 5 (Nov 2019)
One of my favorite Izzi memories is when my brother Jose Ivan Ibarra+ presented Porchea with a recognition award at the 35th IHSD Celebration.” Lupe Ibarra, Developmental Service Manager, Main Office (Oct 2018)
“I remember when the agency used to provide school buses for long field trips for families and children.” Yamilette Canas, Lead Teacher, Izzi at Lakewood (1994)
“Mi memoria faborita es la fiesta de Navidad, no recuerdo la direction pero fue en un campo de golf.” Guadalupe Montoya, Teacher, Izzi at Moonridge (2018)
“There was a year we were at the Main Office in SSF so much that we ended up creating a ‘Welcome Song’ for people who came to apply for their children.” Moana Lupe, Family Engagement & Community Coordinator, Main Office (2016-2017)
“Going to Pinstripe and watching everyone have a good time bonding and bowling. Love when we all get together for some fun time and be able to catch up with other teachers :).” Muna Motumanu, Lead Teacher, Izzi at East Palo Alto, Room B (Dec 2022)
“One of my Favorite Head Start memories is when I stayed as a student at Izzi at EPA. It was a pleasure to have the opportunity to be a student, parent, and staff member at Izzi.” Mariela Valencia, Family Services Specialist, Izzi at Menlo Park (Aug 1999)
“Volunteering with Sequoia and making library shelves for the kids!” Jonathan Oei, Development and Marketing Intern, Main Office (2024)
“Every day working at Izzi is a learning experience that creates memories that are going to stay in my mind forever. That is why I am so proud to be part of this program. One special memory is when the program brought farm animals for the kids. They were so surprised and excited to see all the different farm animals they had never seen only they were taken to the zoo. Happy 41 Birthday Izzi🎉🎊🎈🎉🌷”
Yamilette Canas, Lead Teacher, Izzi at Lakewood, (Oct 2017)
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A huge thank you to those who sent in their favorite memory and if you have a memory you’d like to share feel free to reach out!
