About Us
Cordova Bay Preschool is located in beautiful Cordova Bay behind St. David-by-the-Sea Church, in the municipality of Saanich, British Columbia and is a member of the Vancouver Island Cooperative Preschool Association (VICPA)
Cordova Bay Preschool has served the Cordova Bay, Elk Lake and surrounding community since 1949, it offers a quality parent participation preschool experience. The school is a registered non-profit organization. Co-operative preschools are administered and maintained by the parents who assist under the guidance of our Early Childhood Educators.
Meet Our Team
Leasa Gatschene
After a two year break to travel the world, Leasa is so pleased to return 'home' to Cordova Bay Preschool, where her heart is.
Leasa brings 30 years of experience in early childhood education, and is grateful to her early mentors, including Gingerbread Preschool and UVic Childcare services, for helping to shape her practice and philosophies.
In addition to working at Cordova Bay Preschool, Leasa is an instructor for first year Early Childhood Education students through Pacific Rim Early Childhood Institute. She finds the balance between working with children and families, as well as adult ECE students, fascinating, inspiring, and a great catalyst for a journey of lifelong learning.
Leasa believes that play is children's work, and is the foundation for the successful growth and development of the whole child. Borrowing from the Reggio Emilia philosophy, Leasa believes strong collaboration between educators, families, and the environment (the third teacher), creates optimal early learning opportunities for all children. It is her goal to provide a safe, nurturing, inclusive, and engaging program with a focus on building children's intrinsic self-esteem and community connectedness.
Leasa has deep roots in the community, and has taught at Cordova Bay preschool since 2005. She respects the notion that it 'takes a village' to raise a child, and cherishes her team; her coworker Shandra, her children and families, her facility community, and the greater Cordova Bay community. She looks forward to being part of this team, and to supporting children to grow to their full potential, for many years to come.
Shandra Clifford
Shandra holds an advanced diploma in Child and Youth Care, and has her ECEA from the Pacific Rim Institute. Shandra brings 33 years of professional childcare experience and has been a foster parent for 17 years. In her spare time, shandra enjoys photography, reading, and spending time with her own two children.
Shandra believes learning is happening all the time and that finding teachable moments provides opportunities for children to explore, discover, create and imagine.
Shandra has worked at Cordova Bay Preschool since 2019 and looks forward to meeting and collaborating with the families of the co-op.