Honoring young children and educators during the Week of the Young Child
Last week marked the Week of the Young Child, a time to honor educators and those who make a difference in young children’s lives. This
Last week marked the Week of the Young Child, a time to honor educators and those who make a difference in young children’s lives. This
We know how important children’s earliest years are in shaping their learning and development. Never before have the needs of young children and their families
Hundreds of early childhood educators were vaccinated against COVID-19 during the first week of eligibility SAN MATEO COUNTY – On February 22, 2021, San Mateo
Why should young children mask? During the February Commission Meeting, Dr. Stephanie Nguyen Lai, pediatrician at Palo Alto Medical Foundation, and Dr. Mary Rhee, pediatrician
This month, Congregation Beth Am, Community Equity Collaborative and Good2Know Network partnered in sponsoring a screening event for the film No Small Matter, which highlights
Wondering how child care providers are operating during the COVID-19 pandemic? First 5 San Mateo County and our partners organized a panel of local professionals
Written by Christine Padilla, Director of Build Up for San Mateo’s Children San Mateo County, along with five neighboring counties, were the first in the
Download the print ready version of this story here. How can San Mateo County close the gap of 19,000 needed child care, preschool and after
Knowing that early childhood education is one of the most critical factors to future success, organizations like First 5 San Mateo County (F5SMC) are working hard to make that a reality.
Build Up for San Mateo County’s Children and other organizations address the critical shortage of quality childcare facilities in San Mateo County by establishing child care centers on the grounds of existing faith-based organizations.
© 2023 First 5 San Mateo County
Kitty Lopez has served as the Executive Director of First 5 San Mateo County since 2012, focusing on policy, advocacy and communications development. Additionally, she is the Chair of First 5 Association of California. Kitty previously served as the Executive Director of Samaritan House, one of the leading safety-net nonprofit agencies serving low-income families and individuals in San Mateo County with food, shelter, clothing, health care, counseling, education classes, and holiday assistance from 2002 to 2012.
Kitty taught kindergarten, second grade, and high school in the Bay Area and in Santa Barbara, and was a consultant in schools with children who have autism and special needs. Additionally, Kitty worked in a residential substance abuse treatment center in San Francisco and psychiatric hospital in San Diego.
She attended University of California Santa Barbara earning a California Teaching Credential and B.A in Psychology. Kitty is active in her community serving on several community boards including HEART (Housing Endowment and Regional Trust of San Mateo County), STEP (Success Through Education Program), and Past President and Current Member of the San Mateo Rotary Club.