Silvia brings over 25 years of experience in early childhood education, supporting children, families, educators, and community-based programs. Her work spans classroom teaching, program leadership, coaching, and system-level initiatives across California.

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She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Child Development, with an emphasis on outdoor and social-emotional learning.

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Leadership & Experience

Throughout her career, Silvia has:

• Taught infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children for over 18 years
• Managed Sacramento County’s Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS)
• Served as a coach, assessor, and evaluator for early learning programs across California
• Mentored teachers, administrators, and program leaders
• Taught as an adjunct professor at Sacramento City College and CSU Sacramento
• Founded Nature’s Lab, a fully outdoor, experiential early learning program

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Philosophy & Approach

Silvia’s work is grounded in the belief that children learn best through connection, curiosity, and meaningful experiences.

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At Nature’s Lab, this comes to life through:

• Outdoor, play-based learning

• Strong relationships between children, teachers, and families

• Individualized, responsive teaching approaches

 

A central focus of her work is social-emotional development. Nature’s Lab integrates Conscious Discipline practices into daily routines and offers ongoing parent education, including monthly workshops designed to support families in building strong, connected relationships at home and in the community.

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A Personal Note

Born in Mexico and raised in Colombia, Silvia brings a multicultural perspective to her work and is deeply committed to building inclusive, connected communities where families feel seen, supported, and valued.

She believes that when children and adults are surrounded by kindness, respect, and understanding, they develop the foundation for lifelong learning and well-being.

Outside of the classroom, Silvia enjoys spending time with her son, caring for their many pets, and exploring the outdoors through hiking, gardening, and travel.