Open Gate’s experienced teachers plan our curriculum, lead our children’s classes, and facilitate our parent education program. They enrich our community with their enthusiasm, wisdom, and passion for early childhood development.
Kristi Calcagno, Director, 3-Day and Pre-K Teacher
Teacher Kristi has been teaching the 3-Day and Pre-K programs at Open Gate Nursery School since 2003 and became Open Gate’s director in 2006. One of Teacher Kristi’s favorite things about teaching this age group is introducing the 3-4 year olds and their mommies and daddies in her class to the wonder and excitement of Small Groups. These structured lessons are some of a child’s first experiences sitting with a small group of his or her friends and engaging in curriculum taught by Teacher Kristi and the working parents in fine motor, large motor, language and literacy, science, mathematics and social interactions.
Teacher Kristi has a BS from Colorado State University in Human Development and Family Studies, an Elementary Education credential, a Montessori 6-12 year old credential, and an Adult Education Credential. Prior to coming to Open Gate, she taught preschool and Kindergarten in Colorado, and eight years of upper Elementary Montessori education in Napa and Berkeley.
Teacher Kristina, 2-Day Teacher
Teacher Kristina is very excited to be part of the Open Gate teaching team in the 2-Day class. One of her favorite parts of teaching this age is seeing the new discoveries that take place each morning. Whether it be a new way to run a train around a track, observing shells with a magnifying glass, seeing what happens when chalk and water mix or discovering tires can be a boost for the monkey bars. Everyday is a new day for discovery.
Teacher Kristina has a BA in Child Development from CSUS, a multiple subject teaching credential from San Jose State, an MA in reading from Notre Dame de Namur, a reading credential and is a reading specialist. Prior to teaching at Open Gate Teacher Kristina taught elementary school for 16 years.
When Teacher Kristina is not is the classroom, she is spending time with her husband and three young children, reading, taking photographs, scrapbooking or dreaming about the next place she will visit.
Lori Longo, Retired 2-Day Teacher (1989 – 2018)
After 28 years at Open Gate, we wish Teacher Lori a happy retirement!