Paloma's Nest

Paloma's Nest strives to create a nurturing and respectful "home away from home" for infants and toddlers. Authentic, trusting, and respectful relationships with children and families are at the heart of our work. The gentle rhythms of home life and nature provide the basis of our curriculum which we further enrich with intentional opportunities for exploration and discovery.

Our program is informed by current brain and child development research, the work of Magda Gerber (RIE) and Emmi Pikler, the schools of Reggio Emilia, and the principles of LifeWays.

At Paloma s Nest our goal is to work in partnership with parents and the children themselves to nurture a compassionate sense of wonder in each child. This goal includes:
- Confidence in self
- Intellectual curiosity and interest
- Deep connection with fellow humans and other living things
- A reverence for the planet

Vanessa Lane
Director and Head Teacher
Vanessa received her Bachelor of Arts from San Francisco State in English Literature. After graduation she was inspired to return to school to study early childhood education. She has over 36 ECE units from community colleges and graduate coursework at Mills College including a practicum in the infant/toddler room at Mills Children's School. Throughout this time Vanessa gained experience teaching children 2-6 years in Reggio-inspired schools, mentoring new teachers, and working as an administrator in programs serving children 0-6 years.

Vanessa took time off to devote to starting her own family. This has been her most impactful experience. During this time, she attended LifeWays training and the RIE Foundation course. Committed to lifelong learning, Vanessa continues to read the latest books and articles on child development, attend numerous trainings and conferences, and learn alongside her colleagues and parent peers.