Sunshine Family
The community and enthusiasm at Sunshine are fostered by the guides who respect each child and their family, and who know that a cooperative environment is truly a partnership for the benefit of our future.
Portia Fischer
Working with children is my passion! As a child, I always knew that I would grow up to be a teacher. I never wavered and have been teaching for over 25 years. And every day I feel like I have the best job in the world!
I received my Elementary/Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from UC Irvine and have taught grades 2-6 in Irvine Unified School District and Fullerton School District. I have also been a substitute for many years in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. I never really considered teaching little ones until my children attended preschool, and I realized that three and four year olds are so amazingly bright and capable! My four children all attended Sunshine Preschool... it was the perfect fit for a teacher mama! And after my youngest graduated from 3-Day, I was blessed to have the opportunity to become the Director and 3-Day teacher in 2009. School House is such a unique program that I am so passionate about and grateful to guide.
My journey at Sunshine has been very special. The families and education guides with whom I am honored to work, and their precious children, enrich my life every day. And nothing warms my heart more than the continued connections we all share. Sunshine is truly a loving and kind community.
I have been passionate about working with children for as long as I can remember. With over 25 years of experience in early childhood, I have wisdom in Montessori (certified from the University of Irvine), Reggio-Emilia, and cooperative philosophies. I have dual bachelor’s degrees. One in Human Development with an emphasis on Early Childhood and the other in Psychology from Cal State San Bernardino.
The heart of Sunshine is safety and kindness, as the Early Childhood Enrichment Director I encourage these virtues within the 2-Day and 3-Day programs. As both a Momma and education guide, Sunshine is such a perfect fit. I have been guiding early education at Sunshine since 2015. Both of my children have attended Sunshine, with our youngest son currently still in attendance.
I am overjoyed to be guiding our early childhood enrichment programs alongside wonderful parents as well as my nieces and nephews, because at Sunshine Enrichment Cooperative, we truly are a family.
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Crystal Delle
As a former Sunshine student Grace is thrilled to come full circle and contribute to the community as a School House Prep Guide. Grace has been the School House Assistant as well as 4-day /TK program provider and is an excellent guide for letter formation, writing, reading, and overall readiness for our School House program/ Elementary.
Grace holds a Bachelor Degree in Recreation and Tourism with an emphasis in Hospitality. She has always had a love for working with children and a natural ability to guide and nurture.
Grace Fischer
Claire Wilburn
Claire has been a parent at Sunshine for over a decade and was a natural choice for the role of School House Assistant. She is a beautiful mother, role model, and caregiver to our Sunshine Community.
Jenny Novakoff
Miss Jenny is the sweetest ray of sunshine! She is such a joy to be around! Miss Jenny found Sunshine first as a momma, her daughter joined our program in 2022. She became the early childhood enrichment aide in 2023. Miss Jenny is also a youth soccer coach. We are lucky to have her as apart of our team!
Katie VanBerckelar
Miss Katie has been apart of the Sunshine Community for over a decade. Her two children attended our early childhood program and she has been a member of our community and of the Costa Mesa community through the years. She is an excellent mother, friend, and guide. Her humor and kindness shine as bright as she does. We are so lucky to have Miss Katie as apart of our team.
