Melissa Reed-Murphy
Director

Hi! My name is Melissa Reed-Murphy and I am the Director here at Carlsbad Country Day School. I opened this school with my family in 2006, hoping to provide a quality learning environment for children under the age of six in Carlsbad. I am a mother of six children, 4 boys and 2 girls, and when my oldest was little, I had a hard time finding a quality program that was close to my home. Professionally, I went to school to be a public school Kindergarten teacher. As I grew in the field of education, I knew that designing my own school, where important developmental practices would be implemented, would fulfill my career.

Prior to opening CCDS, I received my BA in literature and writing with an emphasis on Early Childhood Education. Although I pursued my education to teach elementary school in California, after teaching for just a couple of years, I decided that working in the public school system was not what I wanted to do with my education. After receiving my Site Supervisory Permit for the State of California and gaining preschool and administrative experience at other schools in the north county area, I decided to open Carlsbad Country Day School.

I have been trained to administer and teach the Denver II assessment, an early childhood development test that measures your child’s growth and development in many different facets. While developing our program and curriculum here at Carlsbad Country Day School, I worked closely with public school administrators, seasoned teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and behavioral management specialists to create an optimal learning environment where children would love to learn.

Carlsbad Country Day School and its success is what drives me to wake up in the morning. I look forward to sharing my passion with your family and children.

Our Staff Members

• Naomi Fox, Assistant Director
• Nelida Barahona, Infants
• Sima Varghai, Infants
• Kristina Ryan, Lead Two Year Old Teacher
• Betty Dinse, Infants & Toddlers
• Amber Kelly, Toddlers
• Melissa Josefson, Three Year Olds
• Michelle Martinez, Two Year Olds
• Victoria Schrudder, Three Year Olds
• Jane Tate, Two Year Olds
• Shinaye Dannewitz, Three Year Olds
• Courtney Wilson, Four Year Olds
• Bailey Choi, Four Year Olds
• Brandy Barker, Lead Four Year Old Teacher
• Tiffany Williams, 3 Year Old Teacher
• Gabe Martinez, Kindergarten
• Joni Kearney, Kindergarten
• Jackie Fritts, Extracurricular Program Coordinator
• Lindsay Neal, 2 Year Old Teacher
• Sierra Hugger, Lead 4 Year Old Teacher
• Shayna Heath, Lead Toddler Teacher
• Amber Gustaveson, Extracurricular Program Coordinator
• Alissa Amico, After School Care Program Coordinator
• All Staff Members