First 5 San Mateo County is committed to the youngest children in San Mateo County. As a First 5 San Mateo County Commissioner, a pediatrician and a father, I am inspired by my patients and their parents—especially the ones aged zero to five.
As our students get ready for a new school year, so do teachers. My friend Barbara’s daughter just got a job as a Kindergarten teacher, her first teaching job….and she is scared. Scared of making mistakes…..of not doing it right. Ah…..interesting…..I bet just like some of her Kindergartners. Teaching is a really hard job; I know because I was one. Most go into the profession because they care about children; they want to make a difference; they want kids to succeed. They just need help and support, coaching and resources….and empathy too.
Did you know that young children adapt how they play, learn, speak, act, and move as they grow? Doctors and other childcare experts measure this change and growth by a child reaching specific developmental milestones during an expected timeframe. There is room for concern about a child’s development if these
Getting to work on time in the morning is a magic trick in and of itself. For those who are able to accomplish this along with dropping our children off at daycare – you deserve an award!
As we approach the upcoming holidays we all remain concerned about the impacts of the recent tumultuous and divisive election. We know that many children and families may be afraid — afraid of being deported, being separated from their families, being attacked or bullied because of race, religion, sexual identity, language and national origin.
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Kitty Lopez has served as the Executive Director of First 5 San Mateo County since 2013, focusing on strategic investing, community leadership, policy and advocacy development for young children, 0-5, and their families.
Kitty has served as Co-Chair of the Advisory Body for Build Up for San Mateo County Children’s Initiative, with Board of Supervisor, Dave Pine, since 2018. Congressman Kevin Mullin is Honorary Co-Chair. This initiative was established to preserve, grow, and increase the number of early care sites in San Mateo County.
Kitty previously served as the Executive Director of Samaritan House, one of San Mateo County’s leading Core Service Agencies and safety-net nonprofits serving low-income families and individuals with food, shelter, clothing, health care, counseling, education classes, and holiday assistance from 2002 to 2013.
Kitty taught kindergarten, second grade, and high school in southern California and San Francisco 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 for children and youth in San Diego. Kitty’s roots in supporting children began as a 16-year-old volunteer at the Braille Institute in Los Angeles where she taught swimming to children and adults with visual impairments.
She attended University of California Santa Barbara earning a California Teaching Credential and B.A in Psychology. Kitty is active in her community serving as Vice Chair of the San Mateo County Event Center, and Past President and Current Member of the San Mateo Rotary Club. She is currently serving as Past President of the First 5 Association of California. On March 2022, Assembly Speaker pro Tem Kevin Mullin selected Kitty Lopez as the 2022 Assembly District 22 Woman of the Year.
