El Montecito Early School’s Director
On a beautiful sunny Saturday, Suzy Dobreski and I met on the deck of the Santa Barbara Yacht Club. It was one of those “see-forever” days, and as she was kind enough to spend a few hours of her weekend with me, we decided a location with an ocean view might be the ideal place. Sitting in the shade of the overhang, I learned that this was one of the busiest times in the school’s calendar, with its annual fundraiser just a few days away, a huge event involving the entire staff and great many parent volunteers. The flurry of the fundraiser was followed by the yearly all-school Easter Parade with all of its preparations, after which the holiday weekend began with the celebration of Good Friday and Passover. “This is a very busy time of year for our school, keeps everyone occupied but results in tons of fun for everyone, parents and kids alike,” explains Dobreski. “A quiet weekend is a perfect time for talking a little about El Montecito Early School (EMES), its history and our mission.”
Known at the time as El Montecito Nursery School, the school was founded in 1958 under the auspices of El Montecito Presbyterian Church and served what was primarily an agrarian community. With a legacy that had its beginnings with the founding of El Montecito Presbyterian Church in 1887 and its move in 1888 to its present East Valley Road location, over the years the “typical country church” was rebuilt and expanded to accommodate its growing ministries. A Christian Education Building was erected in 1957, which eventually housed the early pre-school that continued to evolve and grow over the years.
In the year 2008, a reinvigorated pre-school program called the Early School was established for both children and their parents to learn and play together. Dobreski and a dedicated staff are committed to providing loving care for their students as they continue to uphold the original values and ideals of the founders. “In today’s modern world, the very same service is needed, but with teachers who are on the cusp,” she says, “of the changing world. Meika McCrindle, our assistant director, and I work together as a team to support our staff in implementing the curriculum, caring for our children, and expanding our mission into the greater community.”
The strong sense of commitment Dobreski feels regarding her work as director of EMES she attributes to the influence of her mother, whom she describes as “a deep woman of faith, strong, silent, dependable, and loyal.” Lessons learned from her mother have been a source of wisdom and strength for Dobreski. As a child, her mother would sing a song called “Whispering Hope,” written in 1868 by Septimus Winter that she’d learned from her own mother and grandmother. The song speaks to the ever-present silver lining that serves as a guide throughout life. “That song, my mother’s voice, and the philosophy behind it has been my beacon,” she says.
From Puerto Rico to Minnesota
The youngest of three children, Suzy was born in Puerto Rico where she spent her very early years. Her father had established a successful business there during the 1950s. When she was four years old, her father died leaving the responsibility of raising the children and assuming control of her husband’s business on the shoulders of her mother. “The loss of my father was a huge milestone in my life and in the lives of my family… everything changed. My stalwart mother carried on running the business and caring for the three of us, and eventually made the decision to move to the U.S. mainland, finally to settle in Minnesota, where she was born.”
It was after the eldest daughter’s acceptance to Westmont College that the family discovered Santa Barbara. On a visit to the college they fell in love with the Santa Barbara area and in 1980, packed up and moved from wintery Minnesota to sunny California. Dobreski first attended Santa Barbara Christian School and graduated from San Marcos High School. Following in the footsteps of her sister, she attended Westmont College where she earned a degree in sociology. Dobreski’s work with young children began by establishing a day care center for working mothers. As her interest in young children grew and deepened, she chose to return to school to earn a credential in Early Childhood Education. The ECE credential became the first step in a journey that led her to El Montecito Early School, first as a teacher for almost a decade, and now as its Director.
Last year, El Montecito Early School celebrated its 60th year, and provided a time to reflect upon EMES’s progress and present accomplishments as well as an opportunity to envisioning plans for the future. EMES has a broad range of responsibilities serving young children during the impressionable years from two to five years old. “Our school prides itself in caring for each child individually based on their developmental and educational needs,” notes Dobreski, “the most important aspect being a ‘hands-on’ approach. Most kids come to us in pull-ups and we are their first impression of the world outside of home.” The three-year program offers Kindergarten readiness, which includes math, phonics, art, music, and bible, as well as an outdoor program on the newly renovated playground area. “Thanks to the generosity of our parents,” she says, “the kids can learn and play outside, enjoy the beauty of the area, along with the good smells coming from Via Vai’s Italian kitchen.”
Looking toward the future, Dobreski sees El Montecito Early School as a continuing resource. Extending and broadening the existing outreach programs is her goal. “Raising children in today’s world isn’t easy and creating an atmosphere of community within the school that’s all inclusive for both parents and children is essential. Although our school has a Christian mission we love families that come to us just the way they are.”
Looking Ahead
Dobreski’s view for the future includes having EMES become a place where parents and children can be connected to the appropriate resource within the greater community. The present Tuesday Talks, a parent education program, is an example. Topics include: parenting in the digital age, fostering reading at home, marriage and the family, and the importance of gratitude. Dobreski believes that EMES is a vital part of the process of raising children. “We do have,” she boasts, a stellar “reputation for getting children ready for kindergarten.”
Dobreski continues to share her mother’s positive outlook and takes her autoharp into the classroom, the recording studio, and other venues, to convey the message that was passed down musically through the generations to her. As we parted company on that beautiful day with a view of the harbor, the Channel Islands and a gentle breeze from the sea, I was treated to a lovely afternoon while learning about the good work being done in one of the longest established pre-schools in our community. For further information about El Montecito Early School’s programs do not hesitate to visit: https://elmopres.org/earlyschool.
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