Ms. Claudia has been my 6-year old’s teacher for the past 4 years; I enrolled my 1-year-old with her last year. I trust Ms. Claudia with my kids’ safety, development, and care 200%. Ms. Claudia truly loves the kids in her care. She sees each child’s unique gifts and cultivates an individualized approach with each child to meet each child’s unique needs. Ms. Claudia is an artist as well as an educator, so she engages the kids in an incredible array of arts activities that achieve broader lessons and developmental goals through creative expression.

Claudia is connected with her heritage and brings that wisdom to her teaching. For example, in addition to painting and drawing, they learned to weave in the indigenous tradition. Some examples of the impact of her teaching: my kids love nature. They have a true respect and reverence for the environment and the natural world. My daughter picks up bugs in her hands, loves playing in the earth, and has respect for all beings, down to the tiniest bugs. Ms. Claudia’s enthusiasm for nature is contagious in the best way. She is genuinely excited when she spots this or that species of bird, or finds mushrooms growing under a tree. I am so grateful my kids have absorbed this enthusiasm and regard for nature from her. Another example: the other day my little one, now about 2, was starting to get upset about something, a tantrum was arriving, and she looked at me and started taking deep breaths to calm herself – something she learned at this school. It was incredible seeing a child not even two doing a better job regulating her emotions in a mindful way than most adults can.

Language: my kids can communicate in English and Spanish. Their language and communication are benefitting so much from the skillful bilingual educational setting Ms. Claudia creates. Most importantly for me are the values that Ms. Claudia helps to teach and instill in our kids. She is someone whose moral compass I trust wholeheartedly. My kids are engaged in the world in a developmentally appropriate way and are encouraged to think critically about the world around them, and to approach it with compassion, kindness, and understanding. I have learned so much about skillful parenting from watching how Ms. Claudia supports kids to work through conflict between them. She teaches them to recognize and name their emotions, acknowledge and name harm, and to articulate what they need to heal. I have seen how the kids learn how to engage and resolve conflict between them in a way that is compassionate and kind. These are invaluable skills I am so grateful they are learning early in life.

I believe that this is a calling for Ms. Claudia, not a job or a business. She is deeply invested in developing our kids because this is the change, the unique gift, she gives to the world. I am so grateful to have Ms. Claudia and this school in our lives.

Sheena Wadhawan

I enrolled my child in Matilija for summer camp in 2021 and they’ve been with Claudia and the Matilija family ever since. To say that the program has had a positive effect on the little one’s development would be an understatement of the effect it’s had on our family. I trust Claudia and the crew with my child’s safety, development, and care. It’s clear to anyone who spends a bit of time with the group that Claudia truly loves the little ones and has a gift for being able to tap into and hone in on each persons gifts. All of this is set to the tune of land based education /a very Los Angeles version of forest school which is no easy feat. The care that Claudia puts into the recognition of honoring ancestral land and recognizing plant/animal/spirit life is like no other. I can tell you by being at the site each morning and afternoon and of course most visibly through my child that it’s become a central part of how they view the world and themselves in the world ie not a person in the land but a person in relationship to land bodies etc. I have worked in the intersections of arts and culture, education and social justice for a little over 20 years. Over the last few years, I’ve taken my role or rather my need to reconsider how I learn and practice nonviolent and/or decolonial forms of communication and parenting as something more central to my everyday. These practices and my coursework came before meeting Claudia and I could not have hoped for a better fit. I can see in the way that Claudia speaks to the children as whole people, not in need of instruction but attune to guidance. For example, some of the little ones will have different experiences at drop off. She is always sure to give them extra attention while making sure that their attention might be drawn to something in the environment or something that another participant is doing. Some other examples of the impact of the program I’d love to share: my little one always seems to impress someone we know with an observation they’ve made. Recently, they shared a story that Claudia had shared with them about being attune to the creatures in times of need. It was at that moment I realized they could tell the time of day a certain flock of birds flew by, which really blew my mind, pun intended! The relationships the group has built are amazing to behold-so caring and genuine. It’s especially unique to see the range of ages from Tita on staff, who is my little ones favorite to paint with. The littles also range in age 2-5 each working in nonlinear and organic ways of caretaking one another. I’ve grown accustomed to seeing them looking out for one another and encouraging each other that I don’t think takes place in many “learning settings or institutions .” If you are looking for a way to frame how nature, land and community is a classroom, then look no further… I don’t know what we’d do with them!

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Irina Contreras

Lindsey BeumerMy kids were students of Claudia Vera-Rosa's for about four years, as the two of them went from preschool into elementary school. The first word that comes to mind when I think of their time under her care is "magical." Claudia is so incredibly sensitive and respectful of children at this age - she gives them dignity, respects their interests and curiosity, keeps them safe and secure, and provides a stable, loving and playful environment for their exploration. She is never afraid to follow their interests and let the day unfold at their pace. I think the best example of this I can think of is that there were days when the plan was to go for a longer hike, and not 200 yards down the trail, the kids spied an attractive little hideout under the low branches of a Coast Live Oak and wanted to play there instead of walking on. Claudia gracefully adapted the day's plan to allow their play to run its natural course under the tree, where they might spend hours lost in their magical (there's that word!) little world, playing make believe, looking at insects and birds and plants and trees, and experiencing life as it should be for kids this age - learning through play! My children ADORED her, and so do I. I will always be grateful that we found each other and they had this beautiful chapter of childhood under her care.

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Amy Miller

After two years at Matilija , our child has come away with a love of learning, and a deep fascination, care and respect for nature. The many benefits of land based education present in our kid as a cheerful, wholehearted, and confident approach to obstacles and challenges- be they an unfamiliar climbing terrain, a sudden downpour of rain, or a conflict with a friend. He is prepared, and has practice being his curious playful self in a wide variety of settings and circumstances. This knowing gives him courage and adaptability. He can identify plants that are safe to eat and ones to avoid, and can talk compassionately about the cycles of life. At Matilija he honed language around restorative justice and conflict resolution that the whole family uses both in our household, and out in the world. We are forever grateful to the Matilija community, the lasting friendships we have forged continue to buoy and enrich our lives.

Alexa Coblentz

Ms. Claudia is an amazing, dedicated, passionate, and loving educator. I am so grateful that my child has had the opportunity to benefit from having Ms. Claudia as a teacher. Ms. Claudia has taught my child to love nature, birding, and just being outdoors and active. I have seen my child's physical confidence grow as she has had the opportunity to spend so much time playing outside during her time at Matilija. Ms. Claudia's joy for educating and creating a nurturing environment for children is such a gift. Our family is so fortunate to be on the receiving end of all Ms. Claudia and Matilija has to offer.

Amy Goldman