Jennifer Gumina-Silver - Director / Transitional Kindergarten

Jennifer Gumina-Silver has co-owned and operated Tiny Giants with her sister, Erin, since January of 2004. Prior to opening the center, she pursued her Bachelor?s of Science in Child Development at the University of California, Davis. She continued her education at the University of San Francisco where she was awarded a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential and a Masters? Degree in Education. She began working in the Santa Clara Unified School District as a Kindergarten teacher.  Jen continued teaching Kindergarten in the Jefferson School District of Daly City after two years, where she remained for another six years. Prior to and during her work as a teacher, Jen taught in an Archdiocese of San Francisco School, owned and operated a summer school program for kids in grades K-8, ran an after school tutoring program, coached athletic teams for children in elementary through high school, and was a nanny. Her experience, combined with that of her sister, and desire to start a school of her own was the perfect formula for the success of Tiny Giants.

Jen is deeply rooted to the city of San Francisco. The child of two native San Franciscans and married herself to a San Francisco native, she plans to raise her three beautiful children here in the city. Jen enjoys spending time with her friends and family and has thrown herself whole-heartedly into making Tiny Giants a huge success. Making kids happy and building a solid foundation upon which children can build  in years to come is what she strives for when working with children.

Erin Gumina - Director / Preschool

Erin Gumina is very excited to be living her life long dream as a co-founder and owner of Tiny Giants Preschool and Childcare Center. She began her career with children after studying Child Development at the California State University at Chico. Erin returned to her native San Francisco after her studies and began working at a multi-age preschool in San Mateo. After one year she became a lead teacher SaveCancel at the Laura Vicuna Pre-Kindergarten in San Francisco?s North Beach District where she taught for six years. In addition to her work as a teacher, Erin has been a swim instructor, a nanny, a tutor, and has run an after-school program for young children. She has always worked with children and continuously strives to provide all children she encounters with positive, safe and fun learning experiences.

Erin loves to dance and enjoys music. She has four brothers and sisters who all still reside in the city and is the proud Auntie of six beautiful nieces and nephews with whom she spends much of her free time. She has a fun-loving, carefree spirit and looks forward to a long career in working with children at Tiny Giants.

Minna England - Preschool

Minna England grew up in Southern California. She studied fashion before realizing that working with small children was what she really wanted to do.  She was a nanny for three years before her work began at Tiny Giants.  This will be her fourth year at Tiny Giants Preschool. Minna really enjoys seeing the children happy, safe, laughing and having fun.  She enjoys cooking and doing art projects with the students.  She realizes that even though she may go home extremely exhausted at the end of the day, the smile in her heart makes it all worthwhile. 

When she is not working, Minna likes to relax in the beautiful nature the Bay area has to offer and is usually doing something outdoors in her free time.

Teresa Meredith - Preschool

Teresa Meredith grew up in Columbus, Ohio and attended Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio. She holds a BA with a concentration in Early Childhood Education. She moved to San Francisco in 2000.  Teresa is entering her fourth year at Tiny Giants.

Before joining the staff, she was a bookseller at Books Inc. for four years, where she specialized in Children's Literature.  She loves books and shares the magic of reading with her students.

Teresa studies languages at City College of San Francisco. She also enjoys arts and crafts, especially knitting and photography.
 

Gina Prado - Daycare

Bio coming soon.

Devin Donnelly - Daycare

Bio coming soon.

Renee Cimarelli - Daycare

Renee Cimarelli was born and raised in San Francisco and has been working with children for over eight years. She studied child development during her college years and has known since high school that her focus in life would have an involvement with young children.

Renee's experience began with babysitting, and was followed by instructing children in an after school program. She has worked in traditional childcare settings as well as family childcare. The highlight of her career, thus far, was her experience as the nanny of an infant baby girl whom she cared for through her toddler years.

Renee is devoted, patient, and kind and believes that all children deserve a loving, nurturing environment in which they can learn and grow.

Deisy Linares - Daycare

Deisy was born in Son Sonate, El Salvador and moved to the United States in May of 1999. She is the proud mother of two beautiful boys and currently lives in Millbrae, California. In her spare time, Deisy enjoys shopping, dancing, and spending time with her family. They attend a variety of different sporting events together and she never misses cheering her son on at his weekly soccer games.

Before Deisy joined the Tiny Giants team in September of 2006, she took care of two children for a family here in San Francisco. She has been with us full-time since she began almost two years ago and never tires in her efforts of providing quality care for the children she encounters. Deisy is a happy, energetic, and lovely person to be around.

Jeanne Deely - Daycare

Jeanne was born and raised in the heart of San Francisco.  A graduate of Mercy High School, Jeanne began working at Tiny Giants part time when she was in her last year.  She is currently pursuing her degree in Child Development.  Jeanne loves children and has been working with them since the sixth grade. She has been a babysitter, day camp counselor, and volleyball coach. Jeanne continues to be an enthusiastic employee of Tiny Giants and looks forward to spending many more years here with children.

Tim Smith - Daycare

Bio coming soon.

Katie Newman - Daycare

Katie is originally from Newport Beach in Southern California and, although she misses her parents, little brother, and dog, is happy to be going into her fifth year as a San Francisco resident. She just graduated from the University of San Francisco with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art and is now finishing her Masters? in Elementary School Education. 

When Katie is not enjoying the children, families, and staff of Tiny Giants, she is absorbing all forms of art in the city, whether it is film, music, or simply getting lost in a sketchbook. She is hoping to one day teach art, but she also frequently dreams of illustrating children?s books. Katie has touched the lives of all of the people here at Tiny Giants since she began working with us in the fall of 2007.

Allison Mahaney - Daycare

Originally from Berkeley, Allison has lived throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. She attended school in Los Angeles for her first two years of college and is currently taking classes at The University of San Francisco.  She is majoring in Psychology, with a concentration in Child Development.

Allison has been working with children for about eight years.  She feels that working with children is rewarding and enjoys assisting children in furthering their learning and their understanding of the world around them. Allsion has worked as a childcare provider at the Bay Club in Marin and as a babysitter. She has been working at Tiny Giants since May of 2008 and plans on staying at least until she finishes her college coursework at USF in May of 2009. In the future, Allison hopes to travel around the world, especially Central and South America, where she hopes to be able to work with underprivileged children.