Pam Cayton – School Founder and CCC Director
Originally from Australia, Pam lived and worked in Nepal for ten years where she taught English to Nepali and Tibetan children in the Kathmandu Valley. After moving to California with her family in 1988, Pam founded Tara Preschool in 1989, which she then expanded to Tara Redwood School in 1996, with the aim of educating the whole child. The purpose was not only to convey the joy of learning but to provide a foundation for the emotional and inner development of each child. Working with the school's staff, Pam researched, created and implemented strategies for awakening compassion, wisdom and social responsibility in the minds and hearts of children. In 2009, Pam began to tour the world to share her methods with educators and parents. To date, she has presented the Seven Steps at workshops in 10 countries in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America. pam@tararedwoodschool.org
Bev Gwyn —CCC Head Educator and Preschool Teacher
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Bev Gwyn was born in Quebec, Canada and holds BA degree in Teaching from University of British Columbia in Vancouver. She has travelled extensively around the world and has lived in Tibet, India and Nepal. She is a student of the Tibetan Buddhist teacher Lama Yeshe and is one of the founders of the Vajrapani Institute in Boulder Creek.
Bev has been with Tara Preschool since 1992. She helped develop our beautiful CCC curriculum for 3 - 4 year old children which she is still implementing after so many years. She is our senior preschool teacher and she has worked as a high school counselor early on.
Her favorite activities involve reading, meditating, gardening and being with friends. bev@tararedwoodschool.org
Adela Lopez– Head Teacher for the Rainbow Class (Preschool, 24mo–3yrs).
Adela began working with children when her own son was three years old. She began as a volunteer at her son's school, and was soon asked to be a substitute teacher. She discovered her passion being around children and began taking courses at Cabrillo College in Early Childhood Development. Now, Adela has been working with children for the past 25 years and loves every minute of it. She has been at Tara Redwood School for the past three years. She enjoys discovering the forest with the children. In her spare time, she loves hiking the forest trails, running on the beach and listening to music.
Tanya Zoghieb– Assistant Educator for the Rainbow Class (Preschool, 24mo–3yrs).
Tania is newly relocated to the Santa Cruz area after being in Oregon for the past couple of years, and having grown up in Southern California. Having had the opportunity to be surrounded by nature, solidified her love of all things outdoors, and is excited to continue to explore her community.
Her favorite things to do include reading, being surrounded by trees or swimming in the ocean.
Tania has worked with children for the past 15 years, and holds her B.S in Child Development. She has always considered it one of her greatest joys to be able to witness children discovering the world and magic around them.
She is excited to be welcomed into the Tara Redwood community, and embracing the beautiful school and curriculum that highlights kindness, empathy and compassion.
Regina Selix-Lead Teacher for the Mandala Class (PK, 3-4 yrs old)
Bev Gwin- Mandala Class Assistant Educator
Cheryl McGowen- Assistant Teacher for Mandala Class
Cheryl comes to Tara Redwood with over 25 years of experience as a preschool teacher. Cheryl will also be leading our summer program in conjunction with Adela. Cheryl is originally from the Bay Area. She taught at a Montessori School for 30 years until it closed in 2022. She moved to Santa Cruz in 2020 and bought a home close to the ocean, where she loves to be. Hiking in the redwoods, meditating in nature, being with animals and spending time with family are her favorite pastimes. Cheryl is excited to be a part of the community and Tara Redwood School ! She is passionate about guiding children to nurture their innate curiosity of wanting to touch and experience the world tangibly around them. Allowing them to foster a love of learning and the freedom to be able to in their everyday surroundings.
Michelle Namasya Carpenter –Lead Teacher for Element Explorers Class (TK- K-1st)
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Michelle Namasya Carpenter has been teaching for eleven years. She is a Certified American Montessori Society (AMS) Teacher. In 2005, she created her own cooperative home school group and she founded an intentional living community focusing on sustainability and children. Namasya is an avid traveler, spending 4 years of her early adulthood traveling within the US, living abroad, and sailing throughout the world before settling down in Santa Cruz to start a family. She is a mother of two amazing children, ages 10 and 17. She believes in creating community. She is a certified Integral Hatha yoga teacher, certified Spiritual Practitioner, and is a Master Potter and teacher of pottery. She is a lifelong student and enthusiast of dance, and studied African Dancing in Ghana.
She is absolutely in love with nature, taking opportunities to meditate outside, swim in rivers, climb trees, and hike in the redwoods. She is a professional percussionist and has been an active member of a local band for the past 12 years. Namasya feels passionate about teaching children and inspiring them to see their own light within themselves, and helping them to recognize their innate connection with nature. namasya@tararedwoodschool.org
Riley Roth-Element Explorers Assistant Educator
Margaret Ames – Element Explorers Educator (Fridays)
Margaret holds an AMS Montessori Early Childhood credential and has over 25 years of experience teaching in Montessori classrooms. She is also a Reading Specialist, dedicated to nurturing the whole child. Margaret inspires a deep respect for nature, encourages self-discovery, and cultivates each child’s unique talents. By embracing mindfulness and mentorship, she creates a space where children can grow, reflect, and celebrate their journeys together. Margaret is passionate about guiding the next generation to lead from their hearts, develop self-awareness, and become powerful forces for peace in the world.
Jessica Steurer
Director & Office Administration
Ted Ruiz- School Shuttle Driver
Ted is our beloved bus driver, loyal to Tara Redwood School for nearly a decade. He is a Santa Cruz local who loves to joke and entertain our students during commutes.
Enrichment Course Educators
Tara Redwood School has a curriculum that allows access to wonderful resources we have in our families and community.
We are committed to make the students' learning as experiential and stimulating as possible.
Every parent volunteer is a professional in the enrichment course they teach.
Matt Cleaver-Music Educator
Matt has been teaching music at Tara Redwood for nearly 5 years. He is a parent alumni educated in band instruments that range from trumpet, drums, guitar, and clarinet. He teaches every Wednesday.