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- 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

Stephanie Arguelles -
Executive Director

I truly believe that honoring children as co-constructors of knowledge and working alongside them as current and engaged citizens creates the foundation for a more understanding and socially just world. Therefore, advocating for their work, their perspectives, and their rights through cultivating quality programs, curating rich curriculum & environments, and supporting professional growth among colleagues is work I find genuinely fulfilling and worthwhile. 

After graduating from San Jose State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child and Adolescent Development, I had the privilege to partner with children and families at the Children’s Center of the Stanford Community – a parent co-op – for five years. Because I believe in fostering a love of life-long learning through being curious ourselves, I chose to pursue my Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on Early Childhood Education through Boulder Journey School’s innovative teacher-education program (BJS TEP) in partnership with CU Denver. Through the BJS TEP, I had the amazing opportunity to visit and study in Reggio-Emilia, Italy. This is where my passion for cultivating richer learning environments and fostering strong connections between home and school through more reflective teaching practices sparked. That being said, I also believe in the old saying,“It takes a village!” and therefore, truly value partnerships and open dialogue with families in order to continue honoring each child’s many social contexts and individual learning approach. Overall, I have been in the field of Early Childhood for about 11 years and continue to be inspired by the work of children. When not at work, I usually spend my time outdoors, adventuring with my dog, Darwin and/or family & friends, trying new places to eat, and in the kitchen baking.

Email: stephanie.scdiscoverypreschool@gmail.com

My passion for creating beautiful community spaces, and deep intentional curriculum is what drives me each day with my work in the Early Childhood Education field. I believe in child led open ended play as the means to enriching learning opportunities that spark wonder and excitement. Connecting with the families in our communities and creating lasting relationships creates a foundation for which children thrive, and I am so grateful to help create these connections every day in the classroom. 
My journey into the Early Childhood Education field first started, unlikely enough, at the Santa Cruz Public Library. I volunteered with Toddler Time reading to children weekly while obtaining my BA at UC Santa Cruz and soon found that working with young children was my calling. I joined the Cabrillo College Children’s Center for two years teaching young children while completing my Site Supervisor license. During this time I found a deep love of the Reggio Emilia philosophy which led me to Discovery Preschool in Soquel. After working at Discovery Soquel for two years I have been fortunate enough to move to Discovery Midtown to start my new role as Site Director. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, gardening, art, and playing the ukulele.
I feel so fortunate to be a part of the Discovery team learning and growing alongside the children, discovering new things and creating a sense of magic and wonder together!

Email: scdiscoverymidtown@gmail.com

Suzy Plessas-
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