Preschool Campus
& Staff

Discover the beautiful learning environments at Good Shepherd Preschool in Salinas, California. Our page showcases our two welcoming campuses—the main Church campus nestled in the scenic Corral de Tierra area and our nearby Grange campus—along with profiles of our dedicated teaching staff. Get to know the nurturing spaces and caring professionals who make our preschool a special place for your child’s early education and faith formation.

Church Campus

301 Corral de Tierra Rd, Salinas, CA
License No. 270700262

  • A playground with a wooden climbing structure, slides, and a colorful dome-shaped climbing frame set under tall trees on a sunny day.
  • Wooden playground with blue slide, climbing features, and a fenced area in a park with trees overhead.
  • A wooden playground structure with slides and a small roof is set in a backyard with tree branches and Spanish moss overhead, sunlight shining through the trees.
  • Child on a swing and another child standing nearby in a playground with trees and a house in the background during late afternoon or early evening
  • Wooden playground structure with slide and climbing dome in a wooded outdoor area during daytime
  • Child climbing on a blue spiral-shaped metal playground slide at a park, with other playground equipment and trees in the background.
  • Colorful house-themed board game pieces and cutouts on a tiled floor, with a wooden bowl and parts of a person's blue sleeve and pants visible.
  • Wooden shelf with various wooden geometric shapes and blocks, and educational children's puzzles and cards on a wooden table in the foreground.
  • Table with two sorting trays of buttons and pins for a children's threading activity and a small black container of colorful buttons and shapes.
  • Children's sleeping area with a colorful dinosaur-patterned sleeping bag, pillow, and rolled-up blue blanket on a green carpet in a room with vintage armchairs and picture frames on the wall.
  • Colorful paper hearts hanging on a string with clothespins, a yellow chair holding a basket of paper cutouts, and two other baskets filled with paper and clothespins on a blue carpeted floor.
  • Colorful plastic insects and buckets spilled on a carpeted indoor play area.
  • Wooden classroom easel with various colorful foam geometric shapes on the whiteboard and in the tray, including a red circle, yellow triangle, green square, green semicircle, blue rectangle, red rectangle, and blue semicircle.
  • Child's hands holding a bead string craft with colorful foam and plastic beads on a wooden table.
  • Three trays with wooden bowls containing lettered blocks on a table with a colorful rainbow and clouds decoration.
  • A small play kitchen setup and a round table with a blue checkered tablecloth, set with placemats, a bowl of fruit, and a flower arrangement, in a children's play area.
  • A classroom bulletin board decorated with a nativity scene and a collage of sea creatures on crumpled paper, representing a manger scene and the ocean.
  • A turtle with a dark shell resting on a piece of wood inside a glass enclosure.
  • A wall display with colorful plastic bottle caps and small decorative items arranged in the shape of a heart.
  • Wooden indoor playhouse with stairs, a picture of a girl holding a baby, and a window. A child is playing near a window in the background.
  • A wooden storage cabinet with labels for hole punchers, scissors, and tape, containing office supplies and papers.

Our Staff

Staff Gallery
Miss Sandy
Miss Sandy

Sandy French is an experienced early childhood educator and leader who is returning as Director of the preschool after serving as its director for 20 years. Her long-standing connection to the school reflects a deep commitment to its mission as well as the families and communities it serves.

Sandy believes that play is the foundation of early learning. Grounded in the principles of Early Childhood Education, she values a play-based approach that supports children’s cognitive, social, emotional, spiritual and physical development. She is dedicated to creating a nurturing environment where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to explore.

Raised in a military family, Sandy developed adaptability and a strong sense of community from an early age—qualities that have shaped her approach to leadership and relationships. She is a proud parent of grown children and a grandparent to three grandchildren, and she brings both professional experience and personal understanding to her work with families.

In her personal time, Sandy is an avid gardener who enjoys nurturing plants and creating beautiful outdoor spaces. She loves hiking and reading, and is an active member of Church of the Good Shepherd, where she finds community and spiritual connection.

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Miss Traci
Miss Traci

Traci serves as the School Chaplain and Director of Youth Services at Church of the Good Shepherd, where she brings her love of children, faith, and storytelling together to nurture the spiritual growth of young hearts.

Traci holds two Associate Degrees and has completed both Core and Advanced Training in Godly Play storytelling. Godly Play is a Montessori-inspired approach to Christian formation that invites children to explore Scripture through storytelling, wondering, and play.

In her ministry, Traci thoughtfully follows the Episcopal liturgical calendar, connecting the stories she shares with the seasons and traditions of the Church. Through her work with preschool children, Sunday School, and family ministries, she strives to create a welcoming environment where children feel loved, valued, and encouraged to grow in their relationship with God.

Outside of church, Traci enjoys baking, playing golf, and spending time with her beloved dog, Poppy.

Above all, Traci considers it a blessing to walk alongside children and their families as they discover the wonder of God's love.

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Miss Ana
Miss Ana

TBD

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Miss Adriana
Miss Adriana

My name is Adriana Jasso, the teacher's assistant of the Turquoise. I attended Hartnell College, where I received my AA degree in Early Childhood Education (ECE). I’ve been working in the ECE field for over 4 years. I strongly believe that children learn through play and by providing a positive environment that allows the children to explore and enhance their curiosity. In my spare time, I enjoy baking, crafting, going on road trips, but most of all spending time with my family. It’s going to be a fun year of learning and new adventures. I can’t wait to see what the year has in store for us.

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Miss Heather
Miss Heather

My name is Heather Hoogendyk, and I am the assistant teacher with the Yellow Class. I am delighted to say that I have worked in the field of education for over 20 years. From teaching infant swim classes to coaching middle school soccer, I have always gravitated toward working with young people. A native of Southern California, I am a fairly recent transplant to the Central Coast. Upon arrival here, time in my child’s preschool classroom soon rekindled a love of interacting with this very special age group. I am very excited to start my second year at Good Shepherd Preschool. When not at work, I enjoy going to concerts and baseball games, being outdoors, or reading a book. I look forward to nurturing a love of learning through play alongside your children.

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Miss Jazmin
Miss Jazmin

My name is Jazmin Murillo, and I am a graduate of Hartnell College and received my AA in Early Childhood Education. I have been working in the ECE field for 7 years. I’ve lived in Gonzales, CA, for 23 years, got married, and moved to Salinas, CA. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my Family, traveling, and shopping! I am very excited to work with your child. I am passionate about creating a safe and inclusive learning environment.

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Miss Laura
Miss Laura

Hello! My name is Laura Clark, and I’m thrilled to be the Lead Teacher for the Yellow Class family this year!

I hold a B.A. in Human Development with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education from Pacific Oaks College, along with numerous child development courses from Monterey Peninsula College. My education has shaped my belief in teaching the whole child through hands-on, play-based learning.

I am excited to be part of the warm, collaborative community here at Good Shepherd and truly honored to be a part of your child’s early education journey. My goal is to empower each child to reach their full potential, grow socially and emotionally, and develop a lifelong curiosity about others and the world around them.

I have been working with preschool-aged children since 2008 and was also blessed to spend several years as a stay-at-home mom. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two amazing children—Audrey (10) and Aria (3). I’m an avid reader with a growing collection of books, especially children’s books! I also love crafting and scrapbooking our family’s adventures.

I can’t wait to see what this school year has in store for us. I look forward to watching your child grow, learn, and create wonderful memories in the Yellow Class!

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Miss Sandra
Miss Sandra

My name is Sandra Carrasco, and I am the teacher for the Green and Turquoise Family this school year. I am originally from Zinapécuaro, Michoacán, Mexico, and I have called the Salinas Valley home for ten years. I began my journey in Early Childhood Education in 2018, studying at Hartnell College and working at the Hartnell Child Development Center. I currently hold a California Teacher Permit and a Site Supervisor Permit.

As an early childhood educator, I believe every child deserves an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and feel valued. I believe children are naturally curious, capable, and have so much to discover and develop. My goal is to create a warm, safe, and nurturing environment where children can explore, build independence, express themselves, and learn through meaningful play and hands-on experiences. I enjoy getting to know each child as an individual and celebrating their unique strengths, interests, and personality.

Outside of the classroom, I am a mother of three boys, and I love spending time with my family. We enjoy dancing, singing, cooking, creating art, watching Marvel and Disney movies, and traveling whenever we can. I look forward to building meaningful relationships with the children and families in my classroom and creating a positive, caring environment where every child feels welcomed, respected, and excited to learn.

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Silhouette of a baby hand with a heart shape in the palm, black and gray tones.