Meet our Staff
Executive Director
Wendy Clark
Ms. Wendy has worked with children and families in the community for the past 28 years. She obtained her Degree from Gavilan College in 2003 in Early Childhood Education. She also graduated from Santa Monica College in 2010 studying Leadership and Social Work. Wendy has spent numerous years studying and implementing play based learning practices within her classroom. She possesses a California "Site Supervisor permit" as well as a "Master Teacher permit" from the California Department of Teacher Credentialing. Along with the numerous professional growth certificates she holds special education, infants / toddlers, art therapy, school leadership, literacy, she is also a certified "Waldorf" teacher. She has been a CASA worker for foster youth in San Benito County as well as a Mentor Teacher for Gavilan College students. Wendy has sat on the SBC Health Advisory Board, the Gavilan College ECE Advisory Board and the San Benito Highschool's Budget Advisory School Board. She enjoys implementing child driven learning and is a devout Christian dedicated to assisting children in discovering their faith.
Ms. Wendy is a proud mother of two daughters - Savannah and Lilly - as well as an adopted son Devin. In Wendy’s spare time, she enjoys reading, painting, volunteering in the community, excursions with her family, and spending time with her adorable dogs. She is also an adrenaline fan - car races, zip lining, roller coasters, bungee jumping, etc. And to top it off, Wendy is a proud Presbyterian Cooperative Preschool Alumni parent!
Pre K Teacher
Anna Santillan
Meet Ms. Anna. In 2006 she earned a Bachelor’s in Graphic Design Studies with a Minor in Advertising from San Jose State University. In 2008, after starting her own family and wanting to learn more about child development, she went back to school to take early childhood education courses. After taking time off to focus on her family, she completed her A.A. in Early Childhood Education in 2021. She is a state certified Teacher and credentialed for Site Supervisor as well. Her special interests in Education are; special needs, inclusion and equity.
Ms. Anna has four children: Joshua, Emma, Violet, and Maya. Her oldest just graduated High school! She grew up in San Jose and moved with her family to Hollister in March 2015. When she's not at school, you can find her going on road trips & spending time with her children. In her down time, she also loves baking, reading, photography and crafting.
Ms. Anna has been a part of the HPCP family since 2017 when her youngest two children attended the school. She had been an e-worker and Substitute before becoming part of the staff in January 2022. She has great love for the philosophy and mission our co-op stands for.
Older Preschool Class Teacher
Ashley Razo
Ms. Ashley can be found in the P1 classroom, working with children ages 3–6. She has been working with children since the age of 17 and brings many years of experience and heart to early childhood education.
She and her husband have been together for 23 years and are proud parents of two boys, ages 13 and 15. Both of her children attended school here, and Ms. Ashley has experienced the program from every perspective—as a parent in all three age groups, a room mom, and a board member. One of her favorite parts of the school has been the privilege of being involved in her children’s early education and forming lasting connections with other families.
When her children’s time at the school came to an end, Ms. Ashley knew she wanted to continue those meaningful connections. In the fall of 2018, she returned as an e-worker and substitute teacher while completing her final coursework. In September of 2019, she began teaching the 2s class, the newest age group the school had to offer at the time. She jumped right in with a class of 12 girls and never looked back. While her classroom and age group have changed over the years, her love for building strong bonds with students has remained the same.
Ms. Ashley loves both the challenge of teaching and the joy of watching a child’s eyes light up when they finally master a new skill. She is passionate about planting the seed of God’s love in children’s hearts at a young age. Through her years of teaching and her personal journey of faith, she believes God has gifted her with the ability to extend grace and pass it on to generations of students.
Outside the classroom, Ms. Ashley is a devoted animal lover and can often be found caring for her many pets, including one dog, three cats, two horses, fourteen chickens, and several fish in three different tanks. With both of her boys involved in sports, afternoons are usually busy. During the off-season, she enjoys gardening, tending to wildflowers, doing puzzles, or simply spending time with her family—always with a hot or iced cup of coffee in hand.
Younger Preschool Class Teacher
Patty Avila
This is Ms. Patty! She always knew she wanted to be a teacher and decided to pursue it when her first son was born with Down Syndrome. in 1999, she started her career in Early Childhood as a Teacher's Assistant. She worked in Special Education for nine years and then transferred to Preschool Education.
In her personal time, Ms. Patty pursues creative interests, frequently working with her Cricut. She is a great cook and maintains an active lifestyle by regularly attending the gym. When she isn’t at school, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and camping.
Ms. Patty loves spending time with children, bringing joy to their faces, and watching them learn and grow. Often, you can find her dancing or doing yoga right alongside the little ones in class. In the fall of 2022, she joined the HPCP family as an in-class aide, and in January 2023, she became the teacher of the young preschool class. Ms. Patty is grateful to be a member of this community, which has given her the chance to pursue her passion!