OUR HISTORY
Founder Biography
Hello, I'm Sylvia Olano, a Peruvian native and early childhood educator. I am the founder of Escuela Qinti, a Spanish immersion program, and The Community of Love Child Development Center. Raised in the Peruvian Andes, I witnessed the transformative power of education from an early age. My parents, both educators, instilled in me a passion for learning and community building as they taught in remote mountain villages where children of all ages gathered in one classroom, fostering a strong sense of unity.
Accompanying my parents to these villages, I immersed myself in their teaching experiences, which fueled my desire to provide exceptional education for children. Pursuing my academic journey, I obtained a degree in elementary education in Peru while also earning a Bachelor of Arts in sciences (Microbiology and Parasitology) from UNMSM in Lima. Upon immigrating to the US in 2000, I worked in a biomolecular laboratory at SFSU, eventually becoming a manager after three years. However, my heart was eager toto work directly with children in their formative years.
Following my passion, I completed a master's degree in Early Childhood Education at SFSU in 2010. Over the past 15 years, I've dedicated myself to learning the best methodologies for teaching children, gaining invaluable experience at renowned institutions such as Glendale Community College and UCLA.
Although the challenges of COVID forced me to adapt and teach Spanish classes remotely, my son and I relocated to Moorpark in 2021. Now in 2024, we are happy to have found a vibrant and welcoming community in Santa Barbara. I am deeply passionate about giving back to this community and continuing to provide exceptional early childhood education for all children.
Mission
The mission of The Community of Love is to foster excellence in the holistic education of every child through collaborative teaching and strong familiar bonds. We prioritize the unique needs of children from diverse backgrounds and are driven by a deep passion to explore and nurture each child's innate joy of learning. Our aim is to cultivate a community of engaged learners where children, teachers, staff, and families support and care for one another. Providing top-quality care and education in Spanish Immersion language acquisition 90% and English instruction 10%, we cater to children aged 6 months to 5 years old in Santa Barbara. We empower children to act as researchers and view teachers as partners in their learning journey.
Vision
Our vision is to create a secure haven for children and families alike. Within this sanctuary, children are empowered to harness their full capabilities and potential, learning and growing in a nurturing environment enriched with state-of-the-art methodologies in child development. We see ourselves as cultivators, planting the seeds for the optimal development and future success of every child entrusted in our care.
Why we are the best option ?
We are a premier Child Development Center dedicated to nurturing your child's growth and development.
The Community of Love stands as a distinctive program that integrates cutting-edge educational principles from Reggio Emilia, Montessori, outdoor classrooms, STEM, and second language acquisition within a warm and inviting environment, aiming to make your child feel as comfortable as they do in their own home.
Our child development center embodies the ethos of the Reggio Emilia approach, focusing on fostering your child's development across all dimensions: social-emotional, linguistic, academic, cognitive, and physical. With over 15 years of experience in top-tier child development centers across the Bay Area and Southern California, our founder Sylvia Olano has meticulously crafted our unique curriculum.
At our center, your child will engage in indoor and outdoor learning experiences designed to ignite their curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world around them, with the environment serving as their third teacher. Through sensory exploration, critical thinking, and hands-on experimentation, your child will embark on a journey of discovery and growth.
"At our center, children are regarded as global citizens, researchers who construct their own knowledge and theories. They are seen, respected, loved, and nurtured to reach their fullest potential, with teachers serving as their partners in the journey of learning." - S. Olano
Our Features
01 Steam Education
With our founder's background in biological science, we bring a wealth of experience in nature, the scientific method, and fostering a mindset of inquiry in our students. At The Community of Love, we go beyond merely encouraging critical thinking in math and science; we instill in our children a deep connection, respect, and care for our planet and all living creatures. Equipped with tools like a stereo microscope and a digital projector in our classrooms, we enrich the learning journey, allowing our students to explore and engage with the world around them in meaningful ways.
02 Spanish Immersion
Building upon our experience with Escuela Qinti, we harness the power of multiculturalism and children's innate curiosity to introduce Spanish as a new language in an Immersion style (90%). We are firm believers in providing a vibrant and enjoyable second language learning journey, facilitated by passionate educators, creative projects, captivating topics, and unforgettable educational adventures. Our commitment is to offer nothing short of excellence in language education for children. Children are expose to learn as a native Spanish speakers.
03 Reggio Emilia Methodology
The Reggio Emilia philosophy, originating in Italy, stands as a renowned pedagogical approach celebrated globally for its innovative research and educational methodologies. By intertwining art, fostering a positive image of the child, and embracing the wonders of nature, this approach delves into profound depths to nurture holistic development. We embrace the “atelier“ as a key element from this methodology to promote self expression, self-steem and community building.
Acreditations
