Julie Yamada

Ms. Julie is the director of Discoveryland St. Helena. She graduated from Pacific Union College with a B.S. in early childhood education and a B.A. in Spanish. She’s also certified as a child development program director by the state of California. She has been working with children for 17 years.

Ms. Julie has a husband and two boys who keep her busy most of the time. When she’s not busy, she enjoys riding bikes and scrapbooking.

Ana Maria Saldana

Ms. Ana is the Caterpillars’ (three months to one year) teacher at Discoveryland. She holds a certificate in early childhood education, and has been working with children for 28 years.

She has four children of her own and loves spending time camping with her family. She also enjoys reading romance novels and riding quad ATVs.

Ericka Ramirez

Miss Erika works as a teacher's assistant in the Toddler room at Discoveryland. She is currently enrolled in an early childhood education program, and has been working at Discoveryland for two years.

Miss Erika has three children of her own, and they love going to the beach and swimming.

Heather Calkins

Miss Heather is one of the Monkeys’ teachers at Discoveryland. She holds a B.S. in early childhood education and has been working with children for 18 years.

She has an 11-year old daughter named Noelle and loves going to the beach to read and spend time with her family.

Katie Keener

Miss Katie teaches the Threes at Discoveryland and is Assistant Director. She holds a B.S. in early childhood education and a site supervisor permit from the state of California. She has been teaching for 7 years.

Miss Katie is very active; she likes running, playing basketball and football, and riding dirt bikes. Her favorite thing to do is laugh with her friends while drinking coffee at Starbucks.

Raquel Bobst

Ms. Raquel is one of the Ladybug teachers (4 and 5 year olds) at Discoveryland. She holds an A.S. in early childhood education and is also a certified nursing assistant. She comes from Mexico, where she also earned a social work degree. She has been working with children for 12 years.

Ms. Raquel enjoys taking walks, listening to classical music, and gardening.

April Castillo

Mrs. April teaches the Ladybugs (4 and 5 year olds) at Discoveryland. She has a certificate, is currently completing an A.S. and plans to go on to a B.S.—all in early childhood education. She’s been working with kids for over 12 years.

Mrs. April loves cooking and teaching children how to cook. She also makes earrings for fun and works on similar craft projects with kids. She is married and has two kids of her own, Maya and Ashton.

Ana-Amelia Saldaña

Mely, as the kids know her, works as a teacher’s aid at Discoveryland. She has been working with kids of all ages at Discoveryland for three and a half years.

Mely loves anything colorful—taking pictures, scrapbooking, watching movies, and making cupcakes.

Kate Friesen