Wilma Gold

I am a graduate of PO in Human Development (1972). Sometimes it is hard to believe that it has been so long ago. I began working as a preschool teacher in 1971. In those days in California there were no educational requirements to be a teacher. A colleague of mine suggested I investigate Pacific Oaks when I was fed-up with trying to graduate from UCLA. A big university was not for me. I was lost in the crowd and had trouble getting all the classes I needed. I thought that I would never get a degree.

I worked as a teacher for 2 years while in school and became a director upon graduation. I started in parent co-oping and that set my passion and values of including families in all the early childhood work I have done since. I have directed parent co-ops, state-funded, faith-based, private-for-profit and not-for-profit programs for infants through after-school. I also served a regional manager for Bright Horizons for 4 years. I retired from UC Santa Cruz where I was the Director of Child Care and Education Services.

In addition, I served as the chair of the Santa Cruz Child Care Planning Council and returned to the Council several years ago and recently retired. I served as President of Peninsula Association for the Education of Yong Children (PAEYC) and sat on the California Association for the Education of Young Children board. I have taught in the early childhood education department at UC Santa Cruz Extension and for Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz and now only for Pacific Oaks. My husband and I are a part of Educators for Peaceful classrooms and Communities, a training and consulting nonprofit, eduatorsforpeacefulclassroomsandcommunities.org. The organization provides training for families, educators and communities to support children's development of positive social, collaborative, communication and conflict resolution skills enabling them to become positive, contributing members of their community.