WPENS - Westside Parent Education Nursery School - Preschool

I am so glad that I found WPENS. Not only has it provided a wonderful preschool experience for my kids, but it's also connected me with the most caring and helpful community that I know I will be a part of and that will help my kids grow for many many years. My elder daughter attended 2020 - 2022 and not only did she love it, it also made the transition to TK super easy. My younger daughter is currently enrolled and it's been so fun to see her come out of her shell and form these amazing little friendships with her classmates over the last 4 months. These are definitely going to be friends for a long time. Teacher Cory is an absolute gem - both my children love her to pieces and she is the most caring and so good about focusing on the kids. Being part of a co-op is more work than a drop-off pre-school, but it's so fun to get to know all the kids, and also for our kids to get to have a whole community of parents that they know and trust.

I feel so fortunate for WPENS and the space that Teacher Cory creates. A space of creativity and play for our communities children and the entire family. The friendships we have made will be the friendships my family will grow with. Love the memories created at WPENS!!

I was deeply uncomfortable with Cory, the main teacher. Jeannie on the other hand was consistently kind and fair I believe we were singled out due to being Asian & my son's small stature. Cory would persistently and unfairly punish my child for very minor issues while there would be another screaming tantruming child who would throw things, hit other children, bite them and even bully my child. But this kid was white and blonde and Cory had a very hard time treating us as equals! I think her reputation is overblown and misguided. She set myself and my son as outsiders because we were people of color, prosperous and she simply disliked my child. It was a traumatic and awful experience and when I had my second child there was no way I was going to subject my daughter to Cory. I realize most people have had good experiences with WPENS. I hope everyone has a better experience than our family did. It makes me very sad.

WPENS has absolutely changed the way we live in Santa Cruz! We made so many close family friends from this co-op, and teacher Cory is a Santa Cruz treasure. Our kids love going to class every day, and often don't want to come home. If you feel like you're lacking community, this is the place for you and your kiddos!

My son has only been going to WPENS for a few months, and since then he has made such a wonderful transformation! Teacher Cory has such a gift, and my son is always so excited to go to school and never wants to leave. My family and I have met so many amazing people so far, and what’s great is it’s not just the children who are learning. If you want your child to be part of a loving and supportive preschool, WPENS is the place to be!