Director / Staff
Michelle Zoila-Shaffer
Founder
Michelle Zoila-Shaffer, our founder, has been a mother for over 20 years. Children have always been, and continue to be her true passion. She believes that with the right environment and care, a child will be happy and thrive.
Michelle founded this program with the belief that young children thrive when structure and imaginative play are thoughtfully balanced. She sees daily routines and clear expectations as essential for creating a sense of safety and security, while free and guided play allow children’s imaginations to flourish and their individuality to shine. Inspired by respected philosophies such as Reggio Emilia, Waldorf, and Montessori, she has drawn on the most meaningful aspects of each. While none fully captured the blend she envisioned, her approach is built with deep respect for these traditions. At the heart of her vision is the creation of a small, nurturing community where children feel supported, valued, and empowered to grow—socially, emotionally, and creatively—through a rich combination of consistent structure, purposeful play, and meaningful connection.
Michelle holds a bachelors degree from Emerson College in Boston, MA., has done some graduate work at UCLA, and in her chosen field of Early Childhood Education, she has completed her undergraduate studies, and is currently pursuing a masters degree. She uses her education and extensive experience with children to bring a high level of professionalism to Ross Cottage Nursery School, as well as a love of learning, lots of fun and joy, and exceptional care to the children who attend.
Mimi Zoila
Lead Teacher
Mimi Zoila is lead teacher at RCNS. She has followed in her mother’s footsteps as s teacher and has earned a bachelors degree in Psychology and an associates degree in Child Development from UC Davis. Mimi is also an artist and uses her love of children and art to add a special quality to the RCNS staff! She also loves creating and planning our monthly thematic curriculum.
Jeanine Schock
Director
Jeanine Schock, our director, comes to Ross Cottage Nursery School with an extensive career in teaching as well as School Administration.
Jeanine is also a mother who has a true love of children and watching them learn and grow.
Jeanine has a deep level of knowledge in child development, school operations & procedure, workforce solutions, budgets and policy. Her wealth of experience brings valuable insight to our school.
Siomara (“Abby”) Rivas
Teachers Assistant
Abby lives in Marin County with her husband and their two elementary school-aged daughters. Her love for working with children started early and naturally led her to pursue an Early Childhood Education certification. As a Teacher’s Assistant at Ross Cottage, Abby supports all of our classrooms and takes a special role leading circle time with our Toddler Group. She is dedicated to creating a nurturing, engaging environment where every child feels seen and supported during these important early years. Outside of school, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, her church community, and being an active part of the broader community around her.
Danielle Livengood
Teacher’s Assistant
Danielle graduated from UC Santa Barbara and is now continuing her child development studies. She is a proud mother of two teenagers and has lived in Kentfield with her husband for the past 19 years. Danielle loves spending time outdoors and especially enjoys hiking, which reflects her appreciation for nature and active learning.
Eileen Gamble
Teacher’s Aide
Eileen Gamble is a local Marin resident and mother who brings warmth and dedication to her role at Ross Cottage. She is passionate about giving back to her community and finds joy in being an active part of children’s growth and development. Eileen is committed to supporting our teaching team in every way she can.
Leslie Chapman
Wilderness Cubs Lead
Lesley Chapman comes to RCNS and Wilderness Cubs after spending over ten years teaching kindergarten in Bay Area independent schools. She earned a BA from Wesleyan University and an MA in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, as well as a certificate in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education, from Antioch University New England. Lesley is passionate about nature-based education, mindfulness, and social-emotional learning. She lives in Marin County with her partner and two young children.