Today we’d like to introduce you to Elenita Diesta.
Elenita, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Teaching has always been a big part of my life. I was a 3rd grade teacher in a private school in the Philippines for about 5 years before coming to USA. I taught for 2 years at St. Charles School in San Francisco. We moved to San Diego when my husband was stationed here by the US navy. Our 3 boys attended International Preschool when it was a newly started school by a couple in 1977. I missed teaching so when the couple decided to retire after 11 years I immediately offered to take over. By then, we were blessed with a daughter and I wanted to provide her and other children a safe, loving preschool environment that also includes strong academic preparation for the grade school ahead. We took over in 1988. We renovated the interiors and landscaping to make it more colorful, kid-friendly with a variety of outdoor play experiences. We also upgraded the curriculum. We thought we will just run it for a few years but we found a need here, truly enjoyed it and by May 2018 we will be celebrating our 30th year!
Our initial challenge was finding the capital to buy the business. We didn’t have much saved especially with having 4 children. We had to borrow from friends & relatives to come up with the down payment. So, in the first 5 plus years, we hardly made any money as we had to pay both business and private loans. It meant working about 10 hours a day, being frugal on all fronts and hardly any vacations. However, the hard work is paying off. Currently, we just have a few years remaining on the building loan. We are stable, proud of our reputation, have a great staff and most importantly, we happily believe that we are achieving our academic goals.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I have never managed a business before. So, the first challenge was to learn to run a business: manage staff, manage the finances, learn how to hire and fire (I only had to do it once), do the bookkeeping myself to save money and understand taxes, learn to deal with the public and government agencies. I learned through research, reading articles, asking others & attending trainings.
The bigger challenge was competing with other Centers or preschools in the area or immediate vicinity. Our school needs to achieve a strong, good school reputation to set us apart. IPSK’s goal was to be a safe, loving school with a solid academic curriculum. We hope to get the children truly prepared for the grade school ahead.
We want the children to love coming to school, excited about learning and respectful of teachers and others.
We believe we found success in the learning program we developed – a fusion of good Eastern & Western education practices. It hopes to result in thorough learning of materials and to inspire self-esteem and creative imagination through dance, music, arts, public speaking, etc.
It took a few years and a few “graduates” before the community began to know us. Now, most of our students come from referrals of happy parents.
So the challenge “to stay good and do even better” continues.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about International Preschool and Kindergarten – what should we know?
We are proud to see that most of our “little graduates” do very well years later. Most of them go on to college and we had several who graduated with top honors.
Indeed, nothing makes our teachers more proud than to feel that somehow, sometime ” a long time ago”, they helped plant the ” seed of learning ” in a little child’s heart.
IPSK has been blessed with good hearted teachers since the beginning. My present staff has been with me for many years now. They are all skilled and caring teachers. They are fully supportive of the school philosophy.
Our school motto: “Achievers Begin Here.”
Channel 8 featured us in one summer night newscast in 1990.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My present teachers (Ms. Fe, Ms. Machellie, Ms. Ann, Ms. Lyn & Ms. Vilma) are resourceful, loyal, caring and creative. We are thankful to them all. Please visit our website www.intlpreschool.com for their professional achievements.
Special mention to my husband Ric, who has been my help always and to my sister Ms. Lydia who helped plan the curriculum and Direct the school in my absence.
A very special thanks to all our parents who are with us now and those past ones who supported us by referring us to their families and friends. Your faith in us kept the school alive for the last 29 years and hopefully for many more years to come.
Pricing:
- Starts at $31/day depending on age and program
Contact Info:
- Address: International Preschool & Kindergarten
5940 Winchester St
San Diego, CA 92139 - Website: www.intlpreschool.com
- Phone: 619-479-2410
- Email: efd.ipsk@gmail.com
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