About Segray
Segray is a developmental preschool program of child-led curriculum, for ages one to six years, comprising its two locations, Segray Eagle Rock and Segray at The Oaks. Through interaction with the world around us, mindfulness, and development in each child’s style, and at each child’s pace, our mission is to establish in our children a love for learning, and a foundation for happy, healthy, global citizens.
About Our Founders…
Annette Gladstone
Annette Gladstone has been a part of early childhood education in Los Angeles since 1986. Annette has worked her way up from a preschool teacher to first founding Segray Preschool in Atwater Village and now co-founding Segray in Eagle Rock and Thousand Oaks. Segray is named after her two sons, that were a big part of her inspiration to create a loving environment for young children. Annette is a prized mentor for many students from various schools around the Eastside, such as LACC, Evans Adult School, Franklin, and Marshall High Schools as well as UCLA and Santa Monica College.
Establishing a developmentally appropriate environment for students of all ages comes naturally to her, and Annette strives to create a love for learning in each and every child. Additionally, Annette works to form strong and long-lasting relationships with parents and the community, critical components to high-quality early childhood education.
Steve Heller
While, professionally, Steve has over 30 years of successful leadership in entrepreneurial and high-growth businesses in a variety of executive capacities, his life has provided him experiences and opportunities that shape who he is. Having lived and worked on three continents influences his broad view of the world and education; his experience as a collegiate athlete and high school football coach influences his view of teamwork and commitment; most importantly, his love of fatherhood influences his view on life’s priorities and pleasures.
In seeking out the right schools for his son, Steve learned how difficult it was to find an environment that would accommodate every type of learning style. He always knew one day he would step into the education field to create that setting he was not able to find for his son. Steve is passionate about creating a school that builds a strong foundation that will last throughout a child’s educational career and beyond.
“Why blend the classroom curriculum with the outdoor play space? Children learn best by doing. The outdoors, weather permitting, offers children as much opportunity for active learning as they have indoors. The outdoor environment can offer rich learning experiences not found indoors. The play yard is full of wonderful things for children to experiment, discover, and explore. In a well-planned outdoor environment, children do much more than run, climb, and ride bikes. They notice the weather, insects, plants, and everything going on around them. Their curiosity is stimulated as they seek answers to their questions about new discoveries.”