Our Teachers
Our Teachers and Staff
Hilltop is staffed by fully qualified, enthusiastic and caring professionals all of whom have extensive training and background in the field of child development, possess CPR/ First Aid Certification, and are active participants in professional workshops in order to enhance their knowledge, growth and development as teachers guiding young children and their parents.
Lynette Anderson
Lynette has worked in childcare for over 30 years. She has a passion for helping families become stronger and more effective at communicating with each other. She finds delight and wonder in assisting children in discovering the world around them, as well as embracing the strength that comes from knowing about oneself. “There is nothing greater than having the privilege and honor of being a part of a person's first discoveries, a radish that’s been pulled from the ground, a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. This is the beginning of wonder and wisdom.”
She completed her basic and advanced training through UCLA Extension and is a Certified Parenting from the
Heart instructor. She has also had training in Brain Gym, Parent Effectiveness Training (PET), attended workshops and lectures in Reggio Emilia, Waldorf School pedagogy and is CPR/first aid certified. Learning and growing into becoming a better, happier person is a constant passion for her.
Outside of school, Lynette enjoys gardening, more recently into exotic plants, cooking and preserving foods
like ferments, canning, dehydrating and freeze-drying. She also enjoys working out at CrossFit, and Barefoot Movers and spending time with her family.
She has 3 daughters, Ariel, Rochelle and McKenna — all of which attended Hilltop! She has been with her
husband, Bob for 42 years and now resides in Fountain Valley along with their cat “The Dude”, a Great Pyrenees “George” and a Bernese Mountain dog “Marley”.
She has taught in the Seeds, Sprouts, Blooms, and Blossoms classes here at Hilltop Preschool. “I am excited
to be returning in the fall as the director of the school”.
Jalene Weigand
After many years as a Preschool Teacher, 29+years to be precise, Jalene is so grateful to have found Hilltop Preschool, which is a community, based on love, respect, and vast knowledge of Child/Human Development. Jalene has a broad range of experience in the field of Early Childhood Development working with children from the ages of birth through 12 years. She studied ECE/Human Development and received an ECE Leadership Certificate from Cal State Fullerton. Along with ECE Education, she is also a certified Life Coach focusing on Peaceful Parenting and Communication. Jalene has also studied the RIE philosophy (Resources for Infant Educators developed by Magda Gerber) and holds a RIE Certificate and is CPR/first aid certified.
She lives in Anaheim with her husband, Alan. They are the proud pet parents of 2 dogs, 3 cats, 1 bunny, and 4 fish. Jalene and her husband are extreme animal advocates and rescue any lost pet they come across. Jalene is looking forward to getting to know each and every beautiful family in the Hilltop community.
Alexa Featherstone
Alexa is excited to enter into another year with our returning families and getting to know all of the new families entering into our community. This will be her 11th year at Hilltop and 9th year teaching. She's had the chance to experience teaching in all of Hilltop's classes. In addition, she taught our parenting class known as Deeper Dives. Her oldest son, Jayden, and second child, Jionni, are Hilltop Alumni. Her youngest, Jodee, will be in the Blooms class this year.
Alexa has taken Early Childhood Development courses at Saddleback College and is CPR/first aid certified. She has also taken Parenting from the Heart with Mrs. Lynette and plans to further all of that knowledge as the years go on. She's eager to start this year with the Blooms class and to co-create with her colleagues to unite the community on this path of Hilltop magic.
Elizabeth Daniels
This is Elizabeth’s eighth year in the Hilltop community and her fourth year as a teacher.
Having many years as a working parent at Hilltop and two courses of Parenting From the Heart under her belt has prepared Elizabeth to lovingly nurture the Hilltop philosophy in these young minds.
As a parent of a Hilltop Alum and a neurodivergent child, Elizabeth believes she can provide an understanding of many layers of child development. Supporting her own child has engendered a passion for a deeper understanding of how to support their growth. Through all of this, she has had the Hilltop teachers to thank as they were the catalyst for her and her family’s journey.
Elizabeth earned both her BA in Fine Arts and Certificate in Early Childhood Education from UCLA. She is CPR/first aid certified.
She lives in Huntington Beach with her husband, two children and three Guinea pigs. Elizabeth loves trips to the beach, hiking the National Parks, playing board games and exploring the children’s library for the next great story
Ariel Anderson
Ariel comes to us as the first alumna to join our teaching staff. This is her fifth year teaching at Hilltop. She came to us after completing her masters program at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland and her undergraduate work at the University of Minnesota. She has completed Parenting from the Heart courses, participated in numerous Hilltop training opportunities, and has experience as an au pair for a family in Norway.
She takes an active role in board and general meetings, participates regularly in teacher development courses and classes outside of the school, and constantly seeks to further her own personal and professional growth. She has completed her associate teaching certificate in Early Childhood Education at OCC and UCLAX.
This will be her fourth year with the Blossom class. Her love for discovery and her constant desire to grow as a learner makes her a wonderful match to our program
Chelsea Hepner
Chelsea has been working with children, families and educators since 2007. She received her BA in Child and Adolescent Development from San Francisco State University and has worked with children in different capacities ever since. Chelsea has experience working in elementary age afterschool programs, infant and toddler programs as well as other reggio-inspired preschools. She has also volunteered in schools in Cambodia and worked with high school travel programs in Thailand.
Chelsea joined Hilltop first as a working parent and is now starting her third year as a classroom teacher. Chelsea is so grateful for Hilltop and deeply connects to the school’s beautiful philosophy. She is excited to continue to learn and grow in this community and work alongside the other wonderful Hilltop teachers!
Outside the classroom, Chelsea enjoys spending time with her family. She has two children, Harper (Hilltop alum) and Storm (Blooms). They love beach days, parks, nature centers, bikes rides and traveling.
Evelyn Balestra
Evelyn Balestra is an early childhood educator focused on advocating for children’s right to learn and grow in respectful classroom communities. With her RIE (Resources for Infant Educators) and Reggio Emilia influences, she is dedicated to shifting our cultures view of young children: Acknowledging that all children are capable humans on their unique journey in this world. She has worked alongside children, families, and college students for the past 13 years in a variety of capacities from facilitator, educator, and mentor. She received her graduate degree in Early Childhood Education from California State University, Long Beach. Evelyn has also studied the work of American schools practicing Reggio Emilia philosophy in Southern California, Oregon and New Mexico. Most recently, she studied the Swedish adaptation of the Reggio Emilia Philosophy in Stockholm. Evelyn serves on the Board of Orange County Reggio Round Table, where she advocates for elevating the professionalism in the Early Childhood Field and providing educators with knowledge of the Reggio Emilia Practices.
Evelyn and her family, Al (husband), Alfie (6 years old), and Abel (5 years old) enjoy spending time together at the beach and local sporting events. Evelyn looks forward to building deeper relationships with the teachers and families at Hilltop.
Thi Thai
Thi obtained her Multiple Subject teaching credential from CSULB and an Early Childhood Education Specialist credential from CSUF. She taught 7th grade language arts, kindergarten, preschool, and Specialized Academic Instruction for preschool students with special needs. Her goal as a teacher is to help children of all abilities learn in a safe, self motivated, respectful and engaging environment.
Outside of school, Thi enjoys gardening, pottery, camping and spending time with her husband and two kids.
Since joining the Hilltop community, Thi has had the pleasure of volunteering as a working parent, serving on the board as Vice President chair, and teaching in the Blooms class. She looks forward to connecting with students, parents and fellow teachers.
Stephanie Kehoe
This will be Stephanie's sixth year with the Hilltop community. She has been a working parent, Ways & Means chair on the board, a four-year parenting from the heart student and a teacher. Stephanie has her MA degree in teaching from Rider University and has over 15 years experience working with children. Stephanie taught kindergarten and preschool in the public school system but prefers Hilltop's heart centered, play based/Reggio inspired curriculum as the best way young children learn.
Stephanie lives in Huntington Beach with her husband Jeremy of 12 years, her daughters Harper(7) and Hudson (4) and her dog Callie (11). In her free time Stephanie loves to travel, cook, camp and workout -teaching Pure Barre. She is CPR and first aid certified. Stephanie is very excited to be teaching the Seeds and Sprouts classes this year and to work with all of the wonderful Hilltop teachers and families.
Bebe Contreras
Bebe is a dedicated educator returning to Hilltop, where she previously taught from 2015 to 2018. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies from Colorado State University. Bebe's diverse experience includes roles as a special education teacher, an in-home therapist, and long-term substitute teacher in general education. Additionally, she has completed multiple Parenting from the Heart courses. After dedicating time to homeschooling her two daughters, who are now aged 16 and 12 and both Hilltop Alumni, Bebe is enthusiastic about rejoining the Hilltop community.
Lisa Ohki
Lisa is excited to embark on her first year as a teacher at Hilltop. She holds a BA in History of Art from The University of Leeds in the UK and also completed a study abroad year at UC Irvine, earning an international certificate in History of Art. She is currently enrolled in an Early Childhood Program at OCC to earn her Assistant Teacher certificate. Lisa’s 5 year old twins Finley and Ophelia started their Hilltop journey as Seeds and will be starting their Blossoms year. Her volunteer work in the classroom over the past two years has been a source of inspiration, driven by the interactions with teachers, children, and Hilltop’s philosophy.
Before transitioning to teaching, Lisa had a successful career in the jewelry industry, where she designed, made, and sold jewelry. In her leisure time, she loves to travel and spend time outdoors, passions that she enjoys sharing with her family.
