Membership
Broadmoor Preschool is a parent-operated cooperative, where every family participates in the administration and maintenance of the school. Our members commit to the following responsibilities:
Work one school day per week alongside one of our directors.
Plan and implement curriculum for our second and third trimesters.
Attend all required Parent Education Meetings : 2 Tuesdays per month 7–10 pm
Fulfill the commitments of your committee job. Typically a few hours of work each month.
Complete 3 hours of school maintenance each trimester.
Our Directors
Kacia Sato
Hello Broadmoor! My name is Kacia Sato and I can’t wait to meet you! I am an Oakland/San Leandro native who attended San Leandro schools before moving to Chico, CA where I received my B.A. in Bilingual Liberal Studies. I am a Special Education Credentialed Teacher and taught right here in San Leandro for nearly 10 years before starting my family. My husband, Brian (also a teacher), and I have 3 boys aged 12, 9 and 5. My relationship with Broadmoor began in 2009 when I attended Tot Time with my first son. I fell in love with Broadmoor! The inclusive atmosphere carefully tended by the directors, the joy and curiosity of the children, the community of parents and caregivers…..I was hooked! Since then, all three of my boys have attended and (sniff, sniff) graduated from this beloved preschool. I just couldn’t say goodbye, so I applied to be a director and here we are! I look forward to serving Broadmoor with Ms. Liz in the years ahead. See you soon!
Liz Allen
Hi Broadmoor! I’m so excited to be one of your new directors! I have lived all over the world but we landed in Pleasanton when I was in third grade. I went to CSU Hayward for my BA and my elementary credential, then taught in Pleasanton, Dublin and Alameda for about 10 years before starting my family and staying home with my children. My husband, Ron, and I moved our family to San Leandro at the beginning of 2017. I googled coop preschools and found Broadmoor. We were sold on the school as soon as we heard the previous directors start speaking about the program. We have 3 boys, aged 5, 3, and almost 1. Our oldest just finished his 2 years at Broadmoor and our middle son is eagerly awaiting his AM year. I’m excited to work with Ms. Kacia to bring Broadmoor families many more years of fun, play-based activities that our school is known for. I look forward to meeting you!
Cooking
Children can cook! With parental supervision, kids participate in food preparation while learning about safety and nutrition.
Skills: fine motor, motor planning, cooperation, sequencing (recipes/steps)
Curriculum
Art
Process over product! Creativity abounds when children are able to experiment with media, color, and texture.
Skills: fine motor, motor planning, sensory awareness, creative execution
Outside
Play big! Children get their synapses firing while expending abundant toddler energy.
Skills: large motor, motor planning, proprioception, strengthening vestibular apparatus, crossing midline, social interaction, imaginative play
Science & Math
Explore the worlds of math and science through hands on experiences.
Skills: fine motor, pre-math concepts, sequencing (steps of an experiment), making predictions, questioning, observation
Music & Games
Play Games! And by doing so, develop social skills such as sharing and cooperation.
Skills: fine motor, turn-taking, following rules of a game, social interaction, imaginative play
Floater
One-on-one interaction! Children revel in the power to hold an adult’s attention for an extended period of time. As the floater is not anchored to a station, there is opportunity to provide extended attention, challenge, and support.
History
Broadmoor Nursery School was formed in October 1939, as the first preschool play center in this area with the joint efforts of the Oakland and San Leandro Recreation Departments at Broadmoor Community Church, on a non-sectarian basis.
With a two-year W.P.A supported period, financing was provided by the parents through fundraising activities and a nominal tuition fee. In 1946, the school incorporated and joined the East Bay Council of Cooperative Play Centers.
In September 1949, sponsorship was provided by the Oakland Board of Education through the assistance of the San Leandro Adult School, planning to offer the community a study of child guidance and development through adult education.
In September 1950, the location at 633 Cary Drive, San Leandro was made available, providing additional facilities and room for expansion.
When the San Leandro School District unified in 1952, the nursery school elected to remain with the San Leandro Board of Education because sponsorship and membership was mainly from San Leandro parents. Morning and afternoon sessions were offered soon afterward.
In 1961, the parent education program was developed to serve the community. A committee was formed to plan and implement a better program for the parents. One director for both morning and afternoon sessions unified and strengthened the daily and evening programs.
In 1963, Broadmoor sponsored a symposium entitled “Parent Nursery Schools – Past, Present and Future” as a parent education project and was opened to all surrounding organizations, schools and settings interested in preschool education.
Along with the emphasis on parent education, the physical setting of Broadmoor was enhanced by parental involvement. Structures were built, equipment purchased, and general maintenance was afforded by the school.
In 1973, a new playground was designed by both directors, after appointments with a professional playground designer failed to materialize. All existing equipment was used in different ways and in different locations, with new features added – a sunken sand area, swinging bridge, fireman’s pole from the tree house. It took two full weekends plus uncountable miscellaneous hours, but the cooperative spirit of the membership was apparent when the final product was completed.
1977 offered the first summer session, with nature walks, trips to the beach, etc. being a part of the curriculum.
1981 was a memorable year because it was the time half of the yard was temporarily leveled to allow heavy traffic to come in and remove a tree that had fallen across the creek. According to veteran members, this was the beginning of the upsurge in parent education, as never before had there been such an emphasis on the night classes, in comparison to the daytime activities.
In 1982, child-made snacks were instituted, which combined cooking experience with juice time. A toddler program on Monday mornings for 18-30 month olds started in January 1983. Jan Pearson was teacher. Fathers Participation Day in late April was one of the best attended even though it rained. Talented parents assisted the preschoolers in building a stage on the patio as another avenue for dramatization.
The wheels of change began turning in 1987. Broadmoor was very involved in city politics, trying to have a new building erected on the Carey Drive land. The homeowners of the surrounding land were diligent in not allowing the school to remain. Work began with the district to secure a 5 year lease on the Farrelly building located on the Roosevelt Elementary School Campus. Sally Smith was appointed director of Broadmoor in 1987.
In the 1990’s Broadmoor Preschool moved to its current location on the Roosevelt Elementary Campus. This decade also welcomed directors, Dale Gregory and Colleen Trujillo. Recent projects have included a new sandbox and expanded garden yard.
In 2019, Broadmoor welcomed Elizabeth Allen and Kacia Sato as its new directors. During 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and shut down Broadmoor Preschool. Directors Liz and Kacia swiftly shifted our in-person preschool to an online classroom format and developed curriculum kits to foster learning and parent involvement at home. We are proud to be celebrating 80 years (and counting) within our community.
