JAMaROO Kids Club NOE VALLEY Preschool Combo Art, Music & Movement Class: 1 Day a Week : Wednesday

Melissa Torres joined JAMaROO Kids in the Spring of 2024 as our onsite Operations Manager and teacher at our San Francisco JAMaROO Kids Club, where you can find her working Monday through Friday. Melissa attended UC Santa Cruz, where she studied Anthropology, and the City College of San Francisco, where she studied Child Development and earned her 12 E.C.E units, fulfilling the state licensing requirement for preschool teachers. Melissa joined JAMaROO Kids with 7 years of experience in the field of Early Childhood Education. Before joining Team JAMaROO, she worked as a preschool teacher in the East Bay, where she enjoyed finding creative ways to inspire curiosity in the children. She believes that the arts are a joyful and fundamental part of a child’s development and continues to incorporate her love of art and music into all of her work. Melissa is a self-taught ukulele player and singer and also loves to dance. In her free time, she enjoys listening to audiobooks, hiking and backpacking, practicing yoga, and snuggling with her 4-year-old cat named Caspian. Some of her favorite things include traveling, painting, completing crossword puzzles, knitting, and thrift shopping. When Melissa was asked what she loves about working for JAMaROO Kids and working with children, she responded with, “I love seeing the way that art and music can bring joy to adults and children alike. I appreciate having a sense of community and kindness in the place where I work.” Fun Facts: Melissa moved to San Francisco 9 years ago from New York where she grew up. She has a younger brother who lives in Dallas. Favorite Animal: Cat Favorite Colors: Green and Pink Favorite Food: Sushi

Natalie Ernst joined JAMaROO Kids in 2013 as a full-time teacher with a degree in Child Development from CSU Chico. Her experience working with children prior to joining JAMaROO Kids spans over 10 years and includes working as a preschool teacher at a number of preschools, teaching summer camp, and teaching children’s gymnastics. Natalie has been singing and playing the guitar since she was a child. She has a background in musical theater and has been formally trained in gymnastics, which she still occasionally practices. When Natalie isn’t teaching for JAMaROO Kids, you can find her face painting for parties and events and performing with multiple theater groups and improv troupes.