Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Cortese.
Elizabeth, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
In my senior year of high school, I enrolled in a R.O.P program which gave me the opportunity to visit different preschools in the area. I was able to create lesson plans, sing songs and read stories to preschoolers. That began my lifelong passion of teaching and working with the young minds of the future. Out of all the school’s I visited, Charley Brown Children’s Center was my favorite. I immediately applied for a position after graduating high school, but they were not hiring.
Now, 20 years later, I have been the Director at Charley Brown’s for over 12 years. All my experience from previous preschools taught me how to be the Director I am today. My favorite part thus far has been hiring the amazing team that I have the pleasure to work with. We all share the same passion, to make a difference in the lives of all the children that come through our doors.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When I first took the position as Director, we had staff that had become a bit too complacent in their positions which led to some negative licensing reviews. Since then I have been working hard to create a positive reputation in the community. I have had to make difficult decisions, but it was all to better the center so we could have the amazing team, students and families that we have now. In 2005, we only had 22 children enrolled. Today we are at maximum enrollment of 86 children, and all classrooms have a waiting list until summer of 2018. We have so many families that are wanting to attend our center that we decided to expand. We are currently working with the City of La Mesa to obtain a permit to open another classroom.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Charley Brown Children’s Center story. Tell us more about the business.
Charley Brown Children’s Center was built by volunteers back in 1972 led be Rev. Charles Brown. We specialize in growing children’s brains, literally! Approximately 90% of every child’s brain development happens between the ages of 0-5 years. The emotional, social and physical development of young children has a direct effect on their overall development and on the adult they will become. So we are doing our part to help make the world a better place.
We are known for our family atmosphere and our team of ladies. We even have two pairs of sisters as well as a mother-daughter team. We have staff that have their children attend as well as families that have been enrolled with us for over 7 years as they continue to have children. Our team goes above and beyond to make sure the families feel welcome and like they are part of our family as well. We are different from most centers because we allow a lot of freedom for our teachers to explore different ways of teaching our students. We have teachers who implement sign language, Spanish, and even Japanese in their everyday curriculum.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I always have an optimistic positive attitude so I don’t believe in bad luck. I feel that everything happens for a reason and as one door closes another one always opens. “Everything you go through, grows you.”
Pricing:
- Infant rate: monthly 1363.00 fulltime
- Toddler rate: monthly 1133.00 full time
- Preschool rate: monthly 878.00 full time
Contact Info:
- Address: 5921 Jackson Drive La Mesa CA 91942
- Website: www.charleybrownchildrenscenter.org
- Phone: (619) 463-5126
- Email: cbcc1972@gmail.com
- Instagram: Charley_brown1972
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/charleybrownchildrenscenter
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