Teachers
Leyla Wagner
Director
Ms. Leyla came to CUMC Preschool in 2005. She has a B.A. degree in Liberal Studies from CSULB with a concentration in Child Development. She has worked in early childhood education for 19 years.
Miss Leyla spends most of her time ensuring the safety and security of the children at CUMC Huntington Beach Preschool. She is actively involved in the classroom supporting teachers. She is as an advocate for early childhood education working with Social Services and a variety of regional early childhood development organizations.
the wonderful CUMC Preschool teachers.
Denise Lydon
Miss Denise has taught all sessions at CUMC Preschool since 1977 and has been in early childhood education for 49 years. She received her Liberal Studies degree from CSULB.
Catherine Thompson
Brittany Mendoza
Jazmin Brickett
Jean Quilico
Jacqueline Smith
Ms. Laura has been a preschool teacher since 2009. She graduated Cal State Fullerton with a Bachelors Degree in Child & Adolescent Development. She also obtained her preschool teaching certification from Orange Coast College.
Carol Morris
Ms. Carol taught primary grades in Garden Grove Unified School District for 33 years and retired in 2021. She graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a BA degree in Liberal Studies. She also earned a Reading Recovery Certificate and has many continuing education experiences. Ms. Carol attended CUMC Preschool as a child many years ago.
Morgan Schulz
Mel Dydasco
Lauren Payami
Miss Lauren has been teaching in early childhood since 2017 and has a B.S. in Child Development. She has a passion for working with children and is excited to be teaching at CUMC where she attended preschool as a child.
Lupe Guadarrama
Caitlynn Evans
Lizzy Chavira
Kristen Shelby
Laura Peplowski
Ms. Laura has been a preschool teacher since 2009. She graduated Cal State Fullerton with a Bachelors Degree in Child & Adolescent Development. She also obtained her preschool teaching certification from Orange Coast College.
Lara Hamilton-Halford
early childhood educators
are fully qualified, very experienced and extremely dedicated to their roles – many have been with us for twenty years or more.
Most classrooms are instructed by a lead teacher and are supported either part-time or full time by a second, equally qualified teacher to maintain our ability to focus on each child’s unique developmental needs.
Our educators work as a team, ensuring that as your child grows through the CUMC Preschool classrooms, we get to know them on a personal level and we are able to help them develop the skills they need most prior to starting kindergarten.
