1012 SW Trenton St.
Seattle, WA 98106

206-767-4906

highlandpark@communitydayschool.org

CDSA is pleased to be able to offer you preschool and school-age childcare on site at Highland Park Elementary.

National Accreditation (NAEYC)

CDSA is proud to announce that our Highland Park is now nationally accreditated by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). To learn more about CDSA’s accreditation process and NAEYC vist our accreditation page.

Mike Harpel - Center Director

Mike has been with CDSA since September 2010 as a School Age Teacher and then as a director in November.  Before working at CDSA he was teaching kindergarten in China and Korea.

Mike is excited to get to know the families at CDSA, and the Highland Park community .  He looks forward to creating a wonderful CDSA experience. 

Outside of CDSA, Mike enjoys being active.  He likes to run, hike, and skateboard.  He even owns his own skateboard company with his friends.  Please feel free to talk to him anytime with questions, concerns, or just to say hello.

 Lauren Valencia – Preschool Teacher

Lauren grew up in the Bay Area, California and later attended U.C. Berkeley where she earned her B.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies. Upon earning her degree, Lauren began working as a literacy tutor at local elementary schools. For the last seven years, Lauren has worked as a tutor, mentor, and teacher. Though her focus has mainly been with kindergarten through second grade, Lauren has worked with youth of all ages.

Lauren has strong interests in working with and for her community and developing connections with the families and their children.

Princess Yalung – Preschool Teacher

Princess was born and raised in the Philippines where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Communication at the Polytechnic University. Currently she has her Teaching Certificate and Masters in Education, and recently completed her CDA in Washington DC.

Princess’s background includes 5 years as a teacher at an elementary school and college  in the Philippines, followed by teaching  early childhood education. There is much to learn about children and working with them often brings her great joy!

Jessica Lasky – Fink – Enrichment Teacher

Jessica has been with CDSA since November 2011. Prior to coming to Highland Park, she served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Namibia, southern Africa. While there, she worked on community development projects and taught HIV/AIDS education classes in the local schools.

 Jessica has worked with children in a variety of capacities for the last ten years. She loves teaching and working with kids of all ages and have really enjoyed getting to know the diverse Highland Park community. Outside of work, traveling is  her greatest passion. Jessica enjoys learning about other people and languages and experiencing new cultures., ,especially trying food from all over the world! When she’s not working or traveling, Jessica enjoys reading, snowboarding, and spending time with her family, friends, and dog. She’s really excited to be here at CDSA and looks forward to getting to know everyone better in the coming months!

Meagan Lee – Preschool Teacher

Meagan Lee started out this summer with CDAS as the school age teacher and ran the school age program.  Sh has now been working in the pre-school class since September of 2011.  Meagan loves her new job here as a preschool teacher as her true passion is with the 4 and 5 year olds.  She moved to Seattle two summers ago and fell in love with the area.  Currently works and reside in the White Center area and being a part of this community has really helped her bond with the kids.  Aside from teaching at CDSA, Meagan also nanny for a family with two boys, ages 7 and 2, 4 days/nights a week. She truly loves working and helping children grow.  Megan has received multiple college credits taking advanced teaching courses in High School and have started on her Early Childhood Education degree.  This January CDSA is helping me improve my skills as a preschool teacher by paying for me to get my CDA, which is a certificate that allows me to be a lead preschool teacher in the state of Washington.  She looks forward to growing as a teacher within the CDSA organization.