Our Staff

Meet the faces behind the Kid Works magic
Dinuka Ranasinghe

Dinuka Ranasinghe

Owner / Director

Born in England, raised in Hong Kong and Sri Lanka, lived in London, Washington D.C and New York, Dinuka eventually found her home in Long Beach, California with her husband. Having graduated with an LL.B (Hons) from the University of Sussex, England, she was then admitted to the New York Bar. In 2008 she decided to follow her heart working…

Amy Chiu

Amy Chiu

Director

Amy first became fascinated with child development when she became a mom. She had finished her undergraduate degree at UCLA when becoming a mother changed her whole perspective and lead her to take classes in Early Childhood Education. When her daughter turned three and entered preschool, Amy herself entered preschool as a brand new teacher. When she had her second…

Lisa Escobar

Lisa Escobar

Teacher

Lisa’s first experience in a preschool class came when she assisted in a bilingual co-op that her mom and some of her friends founded in the 1970s. Lisa found herself reading and telling stories with puppets to children just a few years younger than her. It was such a gift and a fascinating time for Lisa. In her early years…

Dana Ferrarelli

Dana Ferrarelli

Teacher

Play is not frivolous. It is not a luxury. It is not something to fit in after completing the important stuff. Play is the important stuff. Play is a drive, a need, a brain-building must-do. -Jeff Johnson Dana’s journey into early childhood education started in the 1980’s, after a childhood of playing in the mud, going on outdoor excursions with…

Rachael Cabos

Rachael Cabos

Center Assistant

Please forgive us, greatness cannot be rushed and we’re in the works on Rachael’s bio, check back soon for more information.

Melinda Saucedo

Melinda Saucedo

Teacher

Melinda was born and raised in Pasadena. While just a teenager, she worked with children as she helped her grandmother take care of her five younger cousins. She always enjoyed it and this experience put her on a path to loving and caring for young children. At sixteen years of age she volunteered at the daycare in which she attended…

Kimberly Garcia

Kimberly Garcia

Administrative Assistant

Born and raised in Long Beach, California, Kimberly was first introduced to the subject of child development in a community college course. Since then, her passion for working with children has reflected in the positions she has held over the years. Such positions include College Student Aide at the Long Beach Unified School District and Co-Teacher at Volunteers of America…

Testimonials

From our Parents and Students

My son has been at Kid Works for going on two years. They have taught him so many life skills and problem solving skills. I am so proud of how much he has grown socially and intellectually. He has been in all the classrooms and all the educators have treated him with so much respect and care. They act as a family unit there and treat my son like family. It’s important to my family that he was able to explore the world as he wanted to and at Kid Works he had that freedom. There he works his body and his brain. Even though it’s isn’t an ABC 123 school he has still learned his letters and numbers through play. It has been the best experience for us all. – Carolina V.

We truly cannot say enough great things about Kid Works. The philosophy, the director, the approach to learning, the classes & outdoor areas, and the staff – everything and everyone is exactly what and who I want my child around. They do such an amazing job meeting the children where they are…and for a mama with a kiddo that needs emotional help to feel comfortable in new settings (even a year later some days!) the teachers are warm, responsive and willing to do whatever it takes to make her feel good and safe. My child has absolutely thrived at Kid Works. I have toured many preschools in the area and I really feel lucky to be able to send my children here. We currently have our 4.5 year old in Kid Works and plan to send our 2nd child when she’s just under 3! – Lindsey M.

Kid Works is the best! We have been so pleased with everything about the school. All the teachers and staff truly seem to enjoy what they do and caring for the children. Over the past year plus that our daughter has been attending Kid Works, she has really blossomed and developed an amazing sense of self. This is undoubtedly thanks to the amazing care and guidance she has received at Kid Works. The outdoor space of the school is awesome and the program philosophy really allows the children to explore their creativity. There is also a great sense of community among the families that attend. In short, I love Kid Works! – Christen C.

Kid Works has been a wonderful experience for my family. The individual love and support the children receive there is second to none. I am grateful that we found Kid Works many years ago and would recommend it to anyone. – Erin U.

I’m sad. I miss my friends at school. I love that school.

David – Kid Works Student

Both my children attended Kid Works and loved it. Their program is the best and provides age appropriate skills for preschoolers to learn and grow.  The staff and facility are amazing and the schedule is also great for working families.  My boys have thrived at Kid Works and being part of this community has been a true gift to our family.

Tara H.

We discovered Kid Works from a friend and have loved the experience. The staff feel like family and it’s hard to get my son to leave in the evening. He is free to be dirty and encouraged to be hands on with all of the various and ever changing activities. There is a garden growing vegetables, water stations, pet bunnies, pet birds, and pet rats..etc. One day my parents came to pick up my son and he was busing his own dishes from snack time. He immediately came home and wanted to help with our dishes. Things like this are ever day events at Kid Works. We are so happy our friend recommended this wonderful preschool.

Dan J.

Awesome school, awesome teachers, awesome owner.  My son attended here when he was 3 years old.  The school opened up his imagination and artistic skills.  He is now 6 and doing great in Kinder.  Our second child, who is 3 years old, now attends Kid Works and loves it even more.  This place is a must visit if you are looking for a place that will care for your toddlers.

Ken E.

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