Faculty

Executive Director
Theresa M. Heim - Theresa recently left her position at Camp Pendleton, California as the Deputy Director for Children and Youth Programs to fulfill her goal of building a center to deliver quality education to children in San Diego County. Over the past 14 years while working for the Department of Defense, Theresa worked as a preschool teacher; a Training and Curriculum Specialist; a Child Development Center Director (CDC); and finally an administrator with responsibility for six Camp Pendleton CDCs and all school aged programs. While running the programs at Camp Pendleton, she helped supervise the construction of three new CDC facilities.

Prior to her work with the Department of Defense, Theresa had been an elementary school teacher and a preschool teacher in several different private and public schools. A long time member and active participant in the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), she is a NAEYC-certified CDC validator and a review representative for the early childhood credential program.

Theresa earned her degree in Early Childhood Education from Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts. She often speaks at various seminars and conferences on curriculum development for young children.

Director
Mare Williams - Mare comes to Aspirations, School of Learning with twenty years of teaching experience in the Early Childhood field. During the last ten years while at The Children’s School in La Jolla, Mare became a Mentor Teacher with the State of California, earned a Specialization in the Reggio Approach, was a member of a North American Study Group who spent time in the schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and is a current member of the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance. One of her greatest joys as a teacher has been participating in the development of an art program for preschoolers called, “The Great Artists.”

Mare has added to her teaching experience through continuing professional training with degrees including a Bachelor’s of Art in Human Development and Early Childhood Education and a Master’s of Art in Human Development with a Specialization in Leadership in Education from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California.

Teachers
The staff at Aspirations is selected based upon their experience, skill and understanding of Emergent Curriculum and the Reggio Emilia Philosophy. We understand that the success of your child's learning is directly tied to the commitment of the classroom’s staff as well as the teaching team. Creation of a dynamic, safe and exciting learning environment is a primary objective when we bring members onto our team. Each staff member is screened and verified to ensure they meet the highest standards of safety and security.