Caitlin Mason
Orange/Yellow Classes

After a fun year of teaching Red Class at Westside Cooperative Preschool, I am looking forward to teaching Yellow and Orange Classes in the coming school year. Before teaching at WCP, I taught preschool for three years in Boulder, Colorado.

I was born in Olympia and grew up on Lopez Island. I attended the Evergreen State College and graduated with a Bachelor's of Science degree in 1999. I currently live in East Olympia with my two sons, Isaiah and Nicolas and my husband Kephran.

I feel fortunate to have worked with children from 2 1/2 to 5 years old. There are such amazing milestones reached along every step of their journey. I have learned, and continue to learn so much from each child that I have had the pleasure of teaching. I consider teaching to be my most valuable parenting resource.

In Boulder, I taught at a private school with two teachers per class room. I was astonished to see how capable two and a half year old children are. I was also excited to be a part of their first experience spending time with adults other than their parents. I enjoyed helping my students develop a community with other children their age.

Over the past year I have really enjoyed teaching in a cooperative setting. The sense of ownership and community is a wonderful aspect of being a part of a coop. I feel like I get to know not only the children in my class, but their families as well. The fact that the care and upkeep of the school and its property is the responsibility of the families enrolled in the program makes us all appreciate and care for the school that much more.

Kaylene Smith
Red Class

I am so happy to be joining the Westside Co-operative Preschool crew. I taught the 8-week summer school session in 2008 and relished getting to know the school, the children, and their families.

I was born and raised in Olympia. I have a BA in English and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Willamette University. I taught Kindergarten and reading in the Salem, OR public schools. My favorite years were spent teaching the pre-Kindergarten program at Charles Wright Academy in Tacoma. I love being immersed in the amazing and beautiful world of 4- and 5-year olds. I especially enjoy supporting emerging literacy and math skills through play-based and hands-on activities. I strongly believe children learn essential social, emotional, and cognitive skills through play.

When it came time to choose a preschool for my own son, I only considered co-ops. After hearing about friends' experiences at co-op preschools, I knew it would be just right for us. My son and I spent three wonderful years at Kirkland Co-op Preschool. I was the Parent Leader for his class during two of those years, and served on the preschool's board. As a parent, I found being involved in a community centered on our children to be enriching and rewarding. Continuing the co-op ethos, I am a very active volunteer in my son's elementary school classroom.

After about seven years away, my husband, Matt, and I are thrilled to be back in Olympia. We live in the South Capitol neighborhood with our son Owen and our dog Tug.

To learn more, call 360.866.7383

Westside Cooperative Preschool
202 Delphi Road
Olympia, WA

email westsidecp@gmail.com | a celebration of childhood