The Baldwin Academy Staff
As Director of Baldwin Academy, Suzie Smiser makes running a preschool seem effortless and, more importantly, enjoyable. Suzie has been with the Academy for more than 20 years and is an invaluable asset in terms of her knowledge and abilities. She oversees the staff, the school’s programs and acts as liaison to the 130 families who send their children to Baldwin. With a warm and exuberant personality, Suzie welcomes and calms the new mother or father on a first outing to look at child care centers, as well as befriends and advises the parent who has been with Baldwin for several years.
Baldwin Academy is known for its warm, family-friendly environment, and Suzie is at the hub of it all – helping to facilitate a sense of community, sharing and encouragement for all those on the parenthood journey. Her professionalism, combined with her kindness and personal interest in the welfare of babies and children, makes her a pleasure to work with and an essential member of the Baldwin family.
A San Diego native, Suzie was born and raised in Pacific Beach and attended local schools. Suzie’s love for teaching began early, while in high school, Suzie chose as an elective course to teach at Bay View Elementary as a teacher’s aide. She arrived at Baldwin Academy fresh out of high school at the young age of 18 and began attending Mesa College, to earn her ECE units. Under the expert tutelage of Rose Baldwin, Suzie started teaching at Baldwin in the Parakeet program and, for the next 20 years, worked in the various programs at the preschool, from Parakeets to Big Nest, before becoming Director in 2008. Suzie and her high school sweetheart, Rene, have been together for 22 years, and their son, Preston, has been a Baldwin student since he was three months old. As a family, they enjoy hiking, beach combing, swimming, riding bikes, camping, traveling and spending time with grandpas, cousins and friends.
When she’s not taking care of one of the countless tasks required to run Baldwin Academy or looking after her family, Suzie takes pleasure in sneaking off by herself to a Sunday movie matinee or burying her nose in a good book.
A graduate of Mount San Antonio College, Ms. Darla earned her degree in Child Development, with an emphasis on infants and toddlers. She has her teacher’s permit and secured a place on the coveted Dean’s Honor Roll while in school. Ms. Darla is a southern California native who, fortunately for our preschool, moved to San Diego three years ago. When she first started at Baldwin Academy, she was a welcome addition to the Canaries program. After teaching our two year-olds for only a few months, she interviewed with Mr. Herbert; he discovered her talents as an administrator and promoted her to Assistant Director position. She is “excited and delighted” to be a part of the school’s administration team.
With two daughters of her own – ages 17 and 13 – Ms. Darla considers children to be our future and wants to give them the foundation to succeed. She has taught preschool for 10 years and has worked with kids of all ages, from babies through elementary. Ms. Darla has an impressive and interesting background, having lived in Europe, running a family landscape business, working as an art gallery administrator for two years, volunteering as a Girl Scout leader and room mom, even coaching cheerleading! Through it all, she has maintained her affection for children and is happy to be at Baldwin working with our families.
When she’s not working or taking care of her girls, Ms. Darla enjoys playing beach volleyball, shopping at local boutiques, creating arts and crafts projects, taking long walks and watching movies. Chocolat and Ice Age are particular favorites.
One of Ms. Darla’s favorite Baldwin stories revolves around helping one of the Canaries go to the bathroom. This young man was potty training, and Darla offered assistance with the button on his jeans. When she had finished, she complimented him on a great job of going potty! She also noticed his cool character underwear and said, “Jacob, those are cool big boy Spiderman underwear!” He responded with a big smile and asked, “What underwear do YOU have on?”
When walking into the Bluebird House, you’re likely to receive a warm welcome from one of the women who look after the youngest members of our extended family. A native of San Diego, Ms. Kari has been part of the Baldwin family for 13 years. She currently splits her time between caring for the Baldwin babies and handling administrative duties in the office. When not at work, Kari enjoys cooking, scrap booking, traveling and spending time with her precocious four year-old niece. An expert baker, Kari’s treats have become a staple at the school’s bake sales and Open House events.
Rounding out the Bluebird team is Ms. Christa, an Arkansas native. Christa earned a degree in Early Childhood Education and loves watching the babies and children interact with one another and with the teachers. One of her favorite Baldwin moments took place at the September Carnival, where she had the pleasure of watching the entire Baldwin community come together for a super Saturday in the sun! Christa enjoys shopping and spending time with family and friends.
With three children of her own ranging in age from four to 19, Ms. Pilar has a wealth of experience caring for babies and learning the special needs of each child. Pilar has been with Baldwin Academy for so many years that many of the families consider her their child’s second mom. She is bilingual and can be heard singing lullabies in Spanish to the infants in the Bluebird house. In her free time, Pilar enjoys shopping, going out with friends and walking on the Pacific Beach boardwalk. With such a focus on children, Pilar even enjoys kids’ movies such as Harry Potter!
The Bluebird team is happy to welcome Ms. Vanessa, raised in Calexico, California. A busy mom with one eight year old and twin six year olds (a boy and a girl), Vanessa enjoys spending time (when she’s not with the babies) going to the park and playing baseball with her boys. They watch movies as a family, too, including The Little Rascals and all the Disney flicks. Bringing a multitude of talents to the Bluebird house, Vanessa is fluent in Spanish and earned her Medical Assistant certificate in 2006. She’s excited to have joined Baldwin Academy and has gotten to experience the joys of working with each of our programs.
Led by Ms. Angela, the Parakeet program is comprised of a number of educated, experienced and committed teachers. Angela was born in Detroit, Michigan but moved to San Diego at the age of eight and has been here ever since. With two young children of her own – a three and a half year old and a 15 month-old – Angela is an expert with the preschoolers. She has worked in the childcare field for 12 years, with kids ranging in age from six weeks to five years. Angela enjoys going to the beach with family and traveling and she also likes playing basketball. We welcome Angela to our Baldwin family!
Ms. Rachel originally hails from the Bay Area and has lived in San Diego for a little more than two years. Like Arlene, she is an ECE qualified teacher with a background in elementary education. Rachel has been working with children (from infants to fifth graders) for seven years and loves it. During her two-year tenure at Baldwin Academy, she has shared her love of live music and local shows with the Parakeets. Our one-year olds are a lively bunch and they love to perform! Rachel is in the early stages of learning American Sign Language.
A native of Mexico, Ms. Laura moved to San Diego at the age of five. She has worked at Baldwin Academy for four years and had previously worked for other preschools as a teacher’s assistant. Laura enjoys all sports and has a particular affinity for soccer. With an engaging smile and an infectious positive attitude, Laura says she has learned a lot about children and loves working with little ones.
Led by Ms. Kaye, the Canary house is a lively place, filled with experienced, energetic teachers and a fabulous group of two year-olds! Kaye was born and raised just up the road in Los Angeles, California. She has her Bachelors degree in Mass Communication from UC Berkeley and has since furthered her education by earning 18 units in ECE, including hours in infant/toddler CPR and a certification in First Aid. Kaye understands Filipino and speaks a little Japanese. Arigato, Ms. Kaye!
A relative newcomer to the Canary House, but no beginner when it comes to children, Ms. Martha has three grown children of her own and an adorable grandson. Martha is originally from Mexico, is a native Spanish speaker and loves working with kids. She says that Baldwin Academy is “the best school” at which to work, which is high praise given her vast experience in the child care arena.
Sharing her time with the Parakeets, Ms. Amy is a San Diego native who loves music, drawing and dancing. Amy speaks Spanish and is currently studying Spanish translation and Art. She plans to enroll in child development courses this summer, which will come in handy when working with our creative Canaries!
As an invaluable aide in the Canary program, Ms. Estella lends her boundless energy and warmth to the two year-olds. Estella has four grown children and is continuing her education by taking English classes at night. She recalls a funny “Baldwin” moment when, one morning, she was changing a child’s diaper. The little girl told her, “That is not my diaper.” Apparently, Estella had taken another child’s diaper out of her cubby, but the smart Canary had quickly corrected her!
Leading the way in the Robins classroom is Ms. Alethea. Originally from the Bay Area, Alethea is currently finishing a Bachelors degree in International Business Administration and is beginning a degree in Child Development Psychology. Alethea fondly remembers Baldwin’s “Around the World Day,” during which the children “traveled” to various countries, learned about the cultures and tasted different foods. As the Gondolina for one group’s trip to Italy, Alethea helped the children create Italian masterpieces using paint, brushes and a blank canvas. In her free time, she enjoys singing, hiking and traveling. Alethea speaks Spanish and is learning French and Italian; Grazie, Ms. Alethea!
Delighted shrieks of “Good morning, Mr. Jeremy!!!” can often be heard first thing in the morning at the Robins’ Nest. The sole male instructor at Baldwin, Jeremy is a beloved teacher and feels he has found his true “home” at Baldwin Academy. In fact, while he was still in high school in San Jose, CA, Jeremy discovered that his passion was working with children. He signed up to work with the after-school program at his school, and it was apparent that the children more readily listened to him than they did to teachers more than twice his age. Jeremy has been in the child care field for 10 years now and the Robins are thrilled to have him in their classroom. In fact, he is highly sought after by all the Baldwin programs. When he’s not looking after our 3 year olds, Jeremy might be found at the beach or playing football or basketball with friends at the local rec center.
Ms. Quanita originally hails from Detroit, Michigan. With two children of her own – ages 14 and 18 – she still finds time to pursue her hobbies of cooking, signing karaoke and going to church. She’s an avid movie watcher and considers The Color Purple and A Walk to Remember and The Five Heartbeats some of her favorites. On the day she met Baldwin’s Director, Suzie, and was hired for the job, Quanita discovered that the little girl for whom she had been a nanny and she were “destined” to be together. It turns out that little Grace had enrolled at Baldwin! Her first job at 16 years old was at a daycare center, and she has been looking after children ever since.
Under the capable leadership of Ms. Kali, the Big Nest team is one of our most seasoned groups of teachers at Baldwin Academy. Originally from Lexington Park, Maryland, Kali is a sportswoman and lover of the outdoors, enjoying bike riding, running and skiing. Hobbies used to include volleyball, basketball and tennis and, now that she’s a SoCal resident, Kali is trying her hand at surfing! When she’s not showing off her athletic abilities, she likes to cook and entertain guests at home. She’s learning to speak Spanish and is excited that the Big Nest children are learning right along with her. Although new to Baldwin, Kali is seasoned at working with children, having lent her patience and understanding to children with autism back on the east coast. She’s appreciative of the support and welcome she’s received from her fellow teachers, particularly Gabby, whom she considers her mentor here at Baldwin Academy.
While not a mother herself, Ms. Rosa counts the 30 children in the Big Nest as part of her “brood.” Rosa recently celebrated her 16th anniversary with Baldwin Academy, and she brings to the school more than her 12 ECE units – she is one of the most loved teachers in the entire preschool. Rosa (and her Bosa alter ego) loves hiking and watching old movies. Rosa is often the teacher who starts the Big Nesters’ day with a rousing rendition of “Buenos Dias a Ti.”
A local San Diegan, Ms. Christina is originally from La Mesa, California. With three children of her own – Shannon, Kyle and Breanna – Christina is a busy lady, but never too busy for a quick tennis game, a bike ride around town or a hike on one of our famous walking trails. She considers cooking to be a passion and also hopes to learn the art of stained glass in the future. While new to Baldwin, Christina certainly isn’t new to the preschool environment. She has 10 years experience working with young children, including one year with two year-olds and five years as a Pre-K teacher. She also directed an in-home childcare facility for four years and spent time volunteering as a Sunday school teacher.
A native of San Diego, Ms. Adriana enjoys shopping, going to the beach, traveling, reading and spending time with family. She loves lots of movies but has a particular affinity for romantic comedies. When not lending her experience and kind touch to the Big Nest, Adriana is at school, pursuing a major in Psychology. Adriana fondly recalls an afternoon when one of the four year-old girls was styling her hair. She unabashedly asked if Adriana took showers since her hair was tangled, to which Adriana replied, “I put mousse in my hair, and that’s why it’s tangled.” The girl looked at her with wide eyes and said “Why would you put a MOOSE in your hair?”
A native of Connecticut, Ms. Kyla moved to Naperville, Illinois when she was 10 years old. Originally hired as the lead teacher in the Robins program, Kyla now lends her credentials and experience to the Parrot room. She graduated from Western Illinois University, where she earned a Bachelors degree in Early Childhood Education. Since moving to California, she has added to her already impressive resume by receiving her child development site supervisor permit. Working with children for the past seven years, Kyla exudes a confidence and warmth that is second to none. She says that every day at Baldwin Academy, the children, families and staff make her smile. Fully rooted in her “SoCal” lifestyle, Kyle enjoys going to the beach and relaxing. She also loves children’s literature and hopes to write her own books some day. In the meantime, she plays volleyball and tennis and practices yoga. Kyla says she wouldn’t trade the memories she’s making with the Kindergarten children for the world, and we wouldn’t trade her either!
When Herbert Perico (affectionately known by the children as “Mr. Herbert”), originally purchased Baldwin Academy from Rose Baldwin in the fall of 2007, he knew he would have some big shoes to fill! What the school’s families didn’t know, however, was how well-rounded and well-traveled an owner they were acquiring.
Originally from Colombia, Herbert grew up on a ranch about an hour and a half from Bogota. In 1980, he moved with his sister and parents to Washington, D.C. for a year where he attended junior high school, while his mom and dad were overseeing a joint venture between their business school – Escuela Administracion de Negocios – and Georgetown University. After another year in Florida, he moved back to Colombia in 1982 and graduated from St. George School of England in his native South America in 1987. Following in his parents’ footsteps, Herbert enrolled in their business school and earned a B.S. after five years of intense studies.
Ever the globetrotter, Herbert moved to Phoenix after college to prepare for the GMAT and TOEFL exams and started a Masters program in Strategic Management and International Business. He must have heard the sound of the ocean calling his name, as he moved to San Diego in 1992 and finished his studies two years later at USIU.
When asked “what’s the one thing most people would never guess about you?,” Herbert replies that it’s his stint as a pig breeder for three years during high school that is usually most surprising. He also grew and sold produce and for three years developed orchards in which oranges, tangerines, papayas, mangos and lemons flourished.
Fortunately for all of us here at Baldwin Academy, Herbert’s business experience and acumen extends beyond pigs and produce. A typical over-achiever, Herbert started importing trophies, metals and plaques from Miami while still in college and sold the business 10 years later. In 1998, after moving t the U.S. he started another business – California Candle Company – and learned everything there was to know about producing and wholesaling aromatherapy candles. After six years, he sold that business and got into real estate.
Between 2003 and 2006, Herbert remodeled and resold 16 houses and recently renewed his real estate license. One house he’s definitely NOT flipping, however, is the house in which our preschool is located, where the sounds of happy children float across the playground and up to his office located just above the Big Nest and overlooking the grass where the Robins, Big Nesters and Kindegarteners play.
As the father of two young boys, Sebastian and Gabriel, Mr. Herbert understands the temperaments and needs of children and prides himself on his Colombian upbringing which, he says, instilled in him humility and courage. Both of those qualities certainly come in handy, whether he’s piloting one of three different types of planes, riding horses with his sons, sailing, scuba diving or salsa dancing. When asked what the most unexpected thing he has encountered during his tenure at Baldwin Academy, Mr. Herbert humbly responds, “the fact that I am making [a positive] difference in a lot of lives and the awesome sense of responsibility that comes with running a preschool.”