About Us
At Intercommunal Pre-School we believe that a partnership with parents provides the most effective school. We are committed to providing experiences through hands on activities that are challenging and encourage creativity, curiosity, and help each child develop their full potential.
Our Pre School Curriculum is taught by Early Childhood Education Teachers, whose credentials are vested by The State of California.
We serve nutritious breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack daily.
Low as possible rates support our original values that quality childcare should be affordable.
Our History
On July 10, 1972 when very few childcare centers were in existence and almost none were available for low income families, Intercommunal Survival School, opened with ten children. It was a free, community-based child development center founded on the philosophy that all children deserve free, quality childcare and development opportunities. For two years, the school operated from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. free of charge to low income parents, serving three meals a day and guiding children in growing and learning. Parents, friends and community members who believed in the program gave generously of their money, time and energy to keep the school open. ​
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From 1972-1978, the staff and friends of Survival School wrote grants and searched for money from many sources. They held bake sales, rummage sales, fashion shows, raffles and spaghetti dinners. Finally, the school received a CETA (Federal Comprehensive Employment Act) money to pay staff, and a grant from the Peninsula Community Foundation assisted for operating expenses.
Then just over 6 years from its opening day, in October of 1978, Intercommunal Survival School was awarded a state grant and became State Funded Child Development Center, serving 17 children of low to moderate income families.
Intercommunal Pre-School has always valued the help of volunteers. In 1980, it was parents of the program along with community members who took shovels in hand and dug out the basement to create a 2nd classroom for 12 additional children. One parent, a plumber, installed the sprinkler system, another supervised the concrete work, while others painted, built fences, laid vinyl floors, insulated walls and put up sheet rock. This truly was a great achievement.
Today we are licensed for 29 children in two beautiful classrooms and still flourish with the help of volunteers.
Meet Our Teaching Team
Mindy Camacho
Director
Joined Intercommunal Pre-School in July 2011. She has been in the field of Early Childhood Education (ECE) since 1987. She has an Associate Degree in Behavioral Science, over 50 units in ECE, and a BA in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Family Studies. She also has an ECE Program Director Permit, from the California Department of Teacher Credentialing, with a specialization in Infant and Toddlers. She volunteers as a professional growth adviser for ECE teachers in San Mateo County who need to renew their Teaching Permits. Mindy is married, and lives in Pacifica. She has two adult children, one of which is in college.
“I love being a director and working with children, parents and teachers."
Nancy Ramirez
Teacher
Re-joined Intercommunal Preschool in June 2022. (Nancy worked with us from 2012-2015.) She has been teaching preschool since 1993, in an array of schools; Big, small, for profit, non-profit, state funded, and church based too. She seems to always come back to non-profit communities. Nancy started taking her ECE classes at the age of 20 years, and now has her ECE Teacher Permit. She is bi-lingual and bi-cultural in English and Spanish. Nancy lives on the peninsula with her cat Luna, and is very close with her mom, dad, and brother, who also live close by. Nancy is also her nephews favorite Aunt. When not at work, Nancy enjoys music, reading, cooking, gardening, and quality time with her family and her Luna.
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“I enjoy seeing children grow and develop to be independent. I want to empower their confidence to believe they can do and be anything they want to be.”
Cindy Hernandez
Teacher
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Joined us in November 2022. Cindy is bi-lingual and bi cultural. She has 18 years of experience working with all ages from Infants to School Age. Cindy has 39 units of Early Childhood Education and qualifies for her Associate Teacher Permit, which she is in the process of applying for. She loves to work with children to help them learn new things every day. Cindy lives near to the school with her husband, 5 year old son and a cute maltipoo dog. When not at work she likes to spend time with her family, reading, watching TV and of course taking vacations with her boys.
“Children are the living message we send to an age we will never know.”
Jennifer Harris
Teacher Assistant
After subbing for a couple months, Jennifer joined Intercommunal Preschool in May 2022 as a TA. She has taken one ECE Class and hopes to take more in the future. Jennifer has worked with children of all ages for a total of 15 years. She is married and lives with her husband and 3 children, 2 who are attending an elementary school here in San Mateo and one adult child, who is taking classes at a local JC. If Jen, is not in the classroom, she is in the kitchen lending a hand or in the director's office helping with admin
"I enjoy playing with the children and helping the teachers manage the classroom"
Gabriel Shurtleft
Teacher
Joined Intercommunal Preschool originally in February 2020. Because of the Pandemic, he
was unable to stay with us. Then in September 2022, Gaby came back to do his student
teaching with us. Now living on the peninsula, with his wife and beautiful baby girl, he has
returned as a part time teacher in the Deer Classroom. He has worked with children of all ages
for over 12 years, is bilingual in English and Spanish and, has a BA in Liberal Studies from
SFSU with an additional 27 units in Early Childhood Education. Gaby is currently awaiting his
ECE Site Supervisor Permit from the California Credentialing Department. When not at work,
he spends time with his family and friends. He is into fitness & nutrition and loves being
outdoors.
“I believe we are students for life”
Rosa Chinchilla
Kitchen coordinator and Floating Teacher´s aide
Joined Intercommunal in September of 2022. Rosa has grown children and grandchildren. She has been a nanny and loves to be with children. You will find Rosa in the Kitchen prepping our meals and snacks,and jumping into the classrooms to help as needed. The kids call her abuelita. (which is little grandma in Spanish).
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"My favorite thing to do is play games with the kids outside."
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