Our Redwood City Team

Denise Miller-Maciag is the Director of Safari Kid Redwood City. With a career spanning work with children from infancy through high school, Denise takes pride in creating safe, nurturing, and enriching environments where students can thrive. In her role as Director, she is committed to building a team of dedicated professionals who share her passion for supporting children and families. Outside of work, Denise enjoys spending time with her family and walking her dog.

My name is Chelsea Dames. I’ve been working in childcare for over 10 years, and I truly love being part of children’s early learning and growth. Creating a safe, fun and nurturing environment is so important to me, and I enjoy helping little ones explore, discover, and build confidence through play and hands-on learning. When I’m not in the classroom, I’m probably traveling with my husband, reading, practicing yoga or up in the mountains snowboarding during the winter months. 

Hi! I’m Shanu Mathur, proud Owner of Safari Kid – San Mateo and Safari Kid – Redwood City!

What originated from a passion while volunteering at my two sons’ elementary schools over 20 years ago ultimately led to me pursuing my dream of fostering my own early education experience for hundreds of children across the Peninsula area! I am a long-time resident of the Bay Area but have more recently grown to love and admire the Peninsula area – my husband and I just moved to San Mateo from South Bay! Prior to the Bay Area, we lived in Sydney, Australia and before that in various parts of India.

At our centers, I draw from my unique experience / perspective and strive to provide a nurturing and caring environment for the children while bolstering all aspects of their development. I also believe in building a healthy relationship with parents, so you feel like your child is growing in a safe and happy environment. When you combine this with Safari Kid’s holistic mindset to early childhood development and their belief that every child is unique and has their own learning style and pace, I truly believe that all children will be better off having graduated from either center!

In terms of formal education and experience I am skilled across teaching, customer service and project management. Along with my education in child development, I hold a diploma in HR Management from UCSC and a Bachelor’s in Commerce from University of Mumbai.

Look forward to meeting you!

Hello, my name is Cristina, and I have had the joy of teaching preschool for the past 10 years. Teaching
has always been my passion, and I am thrilled to be part of the Safari Kid team.
I studied early childhood education at Foothill College in Los Altos, CA, and I currently live locally with my
husband and our two sons. As a family, we love spending time together, especially when watching
football. Beyond teaching, I love to travel, explore new places, hike, bake, and seek out new adventures.
I look forward to getting to know all of you and working together to support your children's growth and
learning.

Hi, I’m Leah, a passionate preschool teacher with over 5 years of experience in the childcare field. One of
the most rewarding aspects of my job is watching children grow and witnessing those special “lightbulb
moments” when something finally clicks for them.

In my free time, I love taking my son, Elijah, outdoors to the park, spending quality time with my family,
and playing with our two cats, Sargent and Major.

Hello, my name is Ylna Estevez, and I am a third-generation teacher. I firmly believe in lifelong learning
and view early childhood education as the catalyst for creating strong, independent leaders and thinkers
who will shape our future.

I hold a B.A. in Psychology from San Francisco State University with an emphasis in Early Childhood
Education and Developmental Psychology. With over 20 years of experience, I am passionate about
teaching pre-K and toddlers.

My name is Rebeca, but the kids call me Becca. I am one of the teachers in the toddler classroom. When
I was little, I used to dream about becoming a teacher, and looking back, I’m proud to say that I have
achieved that goal. Working with toddlers is such a unique and rewarding experience, and it truly is the
most fulfilling part of my day and life.