With a soft smile on her face and a welcoming energy, it is easy to see why Phyllis Schneider is the director of the Child Development Center at Los Angeles Pierce College.
The child development program has been around for 35-years, but has only been in its current location for about four years.
The CDC does not look like an average kindergarten or pre-school. The building looks like a childhood dream come to life. From the carefully placed art on the walls made by the children to the miniature furniture next to the beautifully set up library, every corner of’ this classroom is full of’ magic.
Schneider, 66, who has 23 years of experience working with children, has worked in private schools around the San Fernando Valley, but never for a state funded program.
The CDC provides child care to low income families and focuses on helping parents attend school. Schneider loves that she has experience working with both sides of the spectrum.
“This is a flip of what I’ve done for most of my life,” she says. “I’m working with a completely different population, a complete different set of regulations.”
The children from the CDC may be more limited in experience due to living in low income families, and many of them are English language learners, but as far as the development it is all the same, according to Schneider.
The positive energy in the child development building is contagious and the teamwork is noticeable. Miyuki Yatsuya-Dix, one of the center’s lead teachers, enjoys working side-by-side with Schneider.
“She’s really energetic everyday, and comes to work excited to be here,” Yatsuya-Dix says.
Aside from her work at Pierce, Schneider spends time learning French and giving back to the community. She is a volunteer at Kaiser Permanente in the bereavement section of hospice, facilitating groups for those whose loved ones have died. She’s looking forward to traveling abroad and living in France with her daughter and son in law when she retires.
As for now, Schneider hopes to keep the CDC working properly for the benefit of the children and the students.
“This is a very nice way to wrap up my career,” Schneider says. “I’ve seen the spectrum.”
