Leadership

Susan Gilmore, a graduate in Child Development, has dedicated over 40 years to advancing early childhood education. At just 28 years old, she co-founded the North Bay Children’s Center (NBCC), a nonprofit organization based in Marin County, California. For 36 years, Susan has been at the helm of NBCC, driving its mission to provide affordable, high-quality childcare and early learning opportunities for the community’s most vulnerable children.

Under her visionary leadership, NBCC has tackled pressing issues including the education achievement gap and childhood obesity, serving over 10,000 children and partnering with six school districts across Marin and Sonoma counties.

A recognized innovator in early care and education, Susan developed groundbreaking initiatives such as the “Garden of Eatin’ Living Curriculum,” which weaves nutrition and environmental education into NBCC’s daily programming.

Beyond the classroom, Susan has demonstrated exceptional leadership during times of crisis. During the 2017 Sonoma County wildfires, she led efforts to support families and teachers displaced from seven of NBCC’s locations in evacuation areas. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and schools closed, she worked closely with county emergency services to provide critical childcare for medical first responders and essential workers, ensuring NBCC adapted to meet the community’s urgent needs.

Susan’s commitment to addressing emerging challenges led her to present to the Early Care Climate Task Force, where her contributions and NBCC’s innovative practices were featured in the Early Years Climate Action Plan. This plan highlights strategies to help children from birth to age eight thrive despite the growing impacts of climate-related events.

With a passion for collaboration and system change, Susan’s entrepreneurial spirit has inspired transformative progress in early childhood education, creating brighter futures for children across all income levels. A proud third-generation San Franciscan, Susan is married and the mother of two adult children.

Kristina works closely with NBCC’s Site Supervisors on all aspects of program operations, which include: processing enrollment, state reporting, curriculum development, program evaluations, staff development, and parent engagement. She also works closely with NBCC’s elementary school partners and program enhancement specialists on curriculum alignment and implementing school readiness strategies.

Kristina received her Master of Arts in Education with a focus in Leadership in Early Childhood Education from Chapman University and a Bachelors of Art in Family and Consumer Science with a focus in Child Development and Family Studies from California State University, Long Beach. She holds a Program Directors permit from the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing and has been in the field of Early Childhood Education for the past 12 years.

Teresa brings over 17 years of experience and education developing and teaching nutrition, garden, and literacy programs for children and communities in Sonoma and Marin counties. Her work in education includes non-profit organizations, libraries, early childhood and elementary schools. She holds a California multiple subjects teaching credential and reading certification. She earned her Master’s degrees in Education and Reading & Literacy in order to further her commitment to provide enhanced and equitable learning experiences to children and families.  She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education at UC Davis.