For the past few years, our small home-based preschool in Oakland has provided a warm, nurturing place where young children can explore, learn, and build the foundations for lifelong curiosity. What began in a family home has grown into a vibrant community of families who value play-based learning, creativity, and inclusive early childhood education.

At Nido, our philosophy is rooted in RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) and Reggio Emilia. We see children as capable individuals, approach caregiving routines as opportunities for connection and learning, and create environments that support self-directed play. Our emergent curriculum is guided by children’s interests, fostering curiosity, wonder, and a strong sense of agency. From the very beginning, we nurture empathy, belonging, and a respect for the world around us through anti-bias and sustainability-focused learning.

Today, demand for our program far exceeds the space we have. Families are on waitlists, and we are turning away children simply because we don’t have enough room. Which is why we are taking a bold next step and have purchased a new property in Oakland that will allow us to expand into a larger preschool center—one that can serve more children, offer enriched learning environments, and create a welcoming space for families and educators.

This expansion is about more than growing our enrollment. It’s about building the kind of early childhood program our community truly needs. Here is our mission:

1. Local Need & Access for Families

The Temescal, Longfellow, and Bushrod neighborhoods of North Oakland currently have very few center-based preschool options. By transforming this property into a dedicated early childhood center, we will create a much-needed resource for local families and contribute to the vitality of the neighborhood.

Childcare costs in the Bay Area place high-quality preschool out of reach for many families. Our goal is to grow into a school with a more economically diverse community by offering tuition assistance so that families from a wide range of backgrounds can participate. With philanthropic support, we can ensure that financial barriers do not prevent children from accessing a nurturing early learning environment.

2. A Model for What Early Learning Can Be

We aim to be part of a broader shift—from a traditional daycare model to an “educare” approach that respects children as capable, curious learners from the very beginning of life. Every moment of their day is filled with exploration and meaning-making, and we feel privileged to be there as attentive guides and collaborative partners in that process. Inspired by Reggio Emilia principles, we see families as children’s first teachers and work closely alongside them during these important foundational years. Through responsive caregiving and strong, trusting relationships, we intentionally support each child’s social-emotional development, helping them build confidence, empathy, and a sense of belonging. We aim to be a model for other educators and schools in reimagining how young children are understood, respected, and supported in educational settings.

3. The Environment as the Third Teacher

This project is also an opportunity to restore the property and reimagine it as a school rooted in beauty, nature, and sustainability. In the Reggio Emilia approach, the environment is considered the “third teacher,” and we intentionally design idyllic spaces that are both inviting and inspiring—places where children feel drawn to explore, create, and engage deeply in their learning. Because so much of our day is spent outdoors, we are especially excited to thoughtfully re-landscape the grounds. Our plans focus on regenerating the site, reducing environmental impact, and creating a vibrant, welcoming space for children, families, and neighbors alike.

4. Supporting the People Who Care for Our Children

Early childhood educators do some of the most important work in our society, yet they are often among the most underpaid. As we grow, we are committed to building a program where teachers earn a living wage and receive meaningful benefits. Supporting this expansion means investing in the stability, professionalism, and wellbeing of the educators who shape children’s earliest experiences.

Build out and re-green our property into a sustainable environment
Renovate classrooms and learning spaces
Create safe, idyllic outdoor play areas
Purchase child-sized furniture and learning materials
Upgrade safety, accessibility, and licensing requirements

Every contribution—large or small—helps us build a place where children feel safe, curious, and deeply supported during their most important early years. By investing in this project, you are investing in the future of Oakland’s children, families, and community. We invite you to join us in bringing this new preschool home to life.

Together, we can create a space where more children can learn, grow, and thrive. Thank you for helping Nido grow.

The NIDO Team

Meg Balicki (she/her), FOUNDER, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, TEACHER
With degrees in social work and early childhood education, Meg has worked for years with infants, toddlers & their families in classrooms, therapy settings, & birth work. When she took a job founding a RIE & Reggio inspired infant program back in 2017, she knew she had found her professional home. She realized that caring for infants and toddlers using this pedagogy plays a big part in how infants come to see and know themselves, as individuals and as members of a community, and can’t think of anything more important! Meg takes this work seriously without taking herself too seriously, the first to crack a joke, break into song, and befriend a parent.

Caitie Gibbs (they/them), CO-FOUNDER, DIRECTOR OF INFANT -TODDLER PEDAGOGY, TEACHER
Caitie has been teaching Infants & toddlers using a RIE & Reggio approach for several years, in New York City, Bangkok Thailand & Berkeley, CA before co-founding Nido with Meg in 2023. They infuse all interactions with authentic joy, respect, curiosity and in turn have a history of deep meaningful connections with children, colleagues, and families. They bring with them to Nido a quiet, calm warmth (and the slowest sweetest diaper changes you’ll ever see) as well as a love of plants, woodworking, & a seemingly unshakable positivity & generosity of spirit.

Natalie Connor (she/they), DIRECTOR OF PRESCHOOL PEDAGOGY, TEACHER
Natalie has been teaching for 10 years in Reggio-inspired schools in Brooklyn, NY, Oakland, CA, and internationally in Bangkok, Thailand. She discovered the power and joy that comes from building an emergent curriculum that follows the interests and needs of the children. In her previous roles Natalie functioned in a dual-role as both a classroom teacher and in part-time leadership roles where she collaborated on curriculum development, provided mentoring and facilitative support for teachers and led professional development workshops. Additionally Natalie is on a continuous learning journey to strengthen her practices as an Anti-Racist, Anti-Bias educator, striving to provide culturally responsive education that will support all children and respect diverse perspectives.

Erna Cuenco-Brewer (she/her), TEACHER
Erna has spent the past 10 years teaching preschool and school-aged children in various learning environments, from Reggio-inspired classrooms to therapeutic settings and university lab schools. Her degrees in Early Childhood Education and Social Welfare give her a heart-centered approach, where curiosity, kindness, and connection are always at the core. Erna has worn many hats—educator, counselor, and mentor. She has guided college students on their paths to becoming teachers, supported families through big feelings and early milestones, and helped young children grow into confident, curious learners. Erna brings her Filipino cultural values of kapwa (shared identity), hospitality, joyful celebration, and community into everything she does. She creates a space where every child is seen, every story matters, and each day is filled with wonder (and probably a ukulele song).

Cheney Munson (he/him), TEACHER + JACK OF ALL TRADES
When Cheney isn't busy helping teachers across the country integrate climate and sustainability into their curriculum, he's helping out at Nido. Building fences & climbing platforms, baking sourdough bread for our snacks, popping in to play a song with his guitar, and helping out in the classrooms. Cheney wears all kinds of hats here. Long time educator, musician, and foodie Cheney gets excited about bringing these passions to life with his youngest students here at Nido. His gentle, easy-going spirit and deep respect for young humans has made him a beloved teacher to all the children at Nido.

Help Us Build a Bigger Nest for Oakland Families

Building a Warm, Joyful School for Children and Community