Sara Balla- Founder/CEO

our administrators

Each day I am humbled by the strength of community, family and early childhood education created here at Discovery! It has truly been an honor to care for so many children here in our beautiful County of Santa Cruz. Along with my husband's support and guidance, I opened the doors to Discovery in July of 2015 with the intention of creating a community hub for new parents to build strong relationships and find solace in the nurturing environment created here for our children. I started my education career as an elementary teacher in 2004, working with children between Kindergarten and third grade, collaborating with amazing and innovative educator teams in the wider Bay Area and more recently at Pacific Elementary in Davenport. After the birth of my daughter, my husband and I opened a home-based preschool on Glen Canyon Rd. and eventually created and established today's Discovery Preschool and Family Center. My vision for the school is to foster the professional development and personal growth of our educators to become life-long learners and strong leaders in our educational community; additionally, I strive to create programs for families to feel supported and nurtured throughout the often challenging and ever-changing lives of early childhood!

Email: sara.scdiscoverypreschool@gmail.com

Susie Sakkestad- Co-Site Director at Soquel

I have loved working with children, families and staff for over 30 years now in various roles as a teacher, a curriculum specialist, a program quality specialist and a site supervisor (for over 20 of those years). I received my BA in Child Development from San Jose State University and I consider myself a lifelong learner, continually evolving my skills and deepening my understanding of how children develop and what inspires them. In the words of Rachel Carson, a writer and naturalist, "If a child is to keep alive his/her inborn sense of wonder.... he/she needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him/her the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in." I strive to be that person for each child. It also applies to how I support our amazing teaching staff, empowering them to grow, discover and share their best teaching practices.
I live here in the Soquel mountains with my husband and two children. I enjoy parenting, connecting with people and nature, spending time at the beach, hiking, camping, cooking, music, and being with family and friends. I am truly honored to take on this new role at Discovery, to be collaborating with each of you and discovering the wonder of each child!

Email: susie.scdiscoverypreschool@gmail.com

Allison Andrews -
Co- Site Director at Soquel

My name is Allison, and I am thrilled to be a co-site director at Discovery and have found the program to be a beautiful fit for my personal early education philosophy. I first studied Early Childhood Education at Cabrillo College and received a BA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College.
Most recently I am proud to have accomplished my Master’s Degree from Boulder Journey School’s program in Early Childhood Education. This particular master’s program focuses on the Reggio Emilia approach through a lens of our own context. I love co-creating curriculum with the children and building upon their curiosities. I am also a certified Positive Discipline parent educator and am passionate about intertwining positive discipline practices with early education. I look forward to building strong relationships with the children and families at Discovery. In my spare time I love spending time with my son, Ezra, my husband, Sean, and my amazing friends and extended family. I also enjoy painting with watercolor and am an avid fan of all things performing arts.

Email: scdiscoverypreschool@gmail.com

With over two decades of experience in Early Childhood Education, I have a deep appreciation for the learning, growth, and connection that happen during the early years of a child’s life. I’m passionate about building and nurturing communities where families feel supported, children are honored for who they are, and teachers work together with shared purpose and joy.

My journey into this field began not only through formal education, earning a degree in Child Development, but also through raising three children of my own and being an active member of a local co-op preschool. These experiences taught me how powerful it is when families come together, sharing stories, and supporting one another through the early parenting years.

I hold certificates in Anti-Bias Education, Families and Diversity, Curriculum Planning, Mindfulness, and Administration. I continue to be inspired by children, families, and fellow educators, and I see myself as a lifelong learner. I’ve always been drawn to the Reggio Emilia philosophy and constructivist theory, which both affirm that children learn through their environment, exploration, relationships, and meaningful experiences. I truly value supporting young children’s social-emotional development as they begin to make sense of themselves, their relationships, and the world around them.

Now that my own children are grown, I carry forward all that I learned from being a parent into my work as an educator and leader. I live in Santa Cruz, where my family has deep roots, and I enjoy creating art, gardening, hiking, watching basketball, taking long walks, and spending time with friends and family in this beautiful community.

I’m honored to be part of the Discovery team and look forward to growing alongside the children, families, and teachers, celebrating the wonder and possibility of these early years together.

Email: scdiscoverymidtown@gmail.com

Karyn Schmidt-
Midtown Site Director

My name is Alice Young. I have been working at Discovery West for many years, loving my time collaborating with our amazing team of educators! I will be serving our community as both an educator and site director.
I graduated in 2018 from UC Santa Cruz with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Throughout my time at UCSC, I worked as a nanny and summer camp counselor, and fell in love with working with children. After graduating UCSC, I went to Cabrillo to complete Early Childhood Education units and to receive my Site Supervisor permit. I landed at Discovery West in 2020, and feel grateful every day that I’m here! I feel so lucky to get to work alongside brilliant teachers, learn from and with amazing children, and work with caring families.
I am also passionate about Positive Discipline, messy play, and child-led, play-based learning. I am enthusiastic about helping children feel competent and capable in their own abilities while offering support and connection along the way. I thoroughly enjoy the Reggio Emilia philosophy and the way in which community is highlighted as a critical part of children’s growth. Working as a team between parent, child, and educator with respect, care, and compassion is a component of my teaching that I continuously reflect upon.

Email: scdiscoverywest@gmail.com

Alice Young-
Discovery West Site Director

Finnessa Watkins-
The Farm Site Director

What an honor it is to spend each day being inspired by lively minds! I believe in an intentional environment that is built from relationships and driven by curiosity. For the past 4 years I have been humbled by learning alongside the passionate team of educators, parents, and children that shape our program here at Discovery. 
My journey in child development started over a decade ago. I have been an educator at Play Based, Montessori, and Reggio inspired programs. I received a BA degree in cognitive studies with an emphasis in brain based learning from The University Of Arizona. 
I grew up in Southern California, and moved to Santa Cruz 2011. My husband and I immediately fell in love with the coastal familiarity of Santa Cruz. We started a family in 2013 and set roots down in Soquel. We have two children Finn and Owen and a fluffy dog named Baz. On the weekends you can find us at the beach or the local little league field. 
I am influenced daily by the partnerships built with our families through collaboration, communication, and trust. This partnership lends to a supportive early learning journey for your child, and I am truly honored to be part of your village! 

Email finnessa.scdiscoverypreschool@gmail.com