Ruth Gilstrap Director I am Ruth-Ann Gilstrap. I have 17 years of experience in working with children and their families in a culturally diverse education and child care setting. I have an AA in Child Development, a BA in Communication and an MA Candidacy in Educational Administration. I have a Child Development Site Supervisor Permit from the State of CAlifornia, Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Petaluma is my home with my husband, Michael, our daughter Hannah, who is in the Adventure Program, and our cat, Dusty. I love playing, both indoors and outdoors, sing, dance, read stories in English, Filipino, Spanish and Japanese to support children's interests in languages. Together with a strong teaching team at Happy Day, I am honored to be a part of your child's growth and share with you in nurturing their enthusiasm for learning.
Our Teachers
Discovery Room
April Mollison - Discovery Room Coordinator &Teacher Building Blocks Teacher Day Presbyterian School as a Teacher/Program Coordinator, and has 15 years of teaching experience ranging from pre-school through second grade. Mrs. Mollison has her multiple subjects teaching credential and is CLAD certified. She is looking forward to working with the three year olds this year.
Explorer Room
Mrs. Brumbaugh - Explorer Program Coordinator & Teacher
She is the founder and curriclum coordinator/head teacher for our Explorer program. Mrs. Brumbaugh has a multiple subject teaching credential and has been actively involved in the development and revisions of this program for many years.
Adventure Room
Mrs. Yektaparast - Adventure Room Coordinator & Teacher She has been a Happy Day teacher for 6 years and is looking forward to her first year as the Adventure Room Coordinator. She has developed amazing circle curriculum and enjoys encouraging creativity within the classroom curriculum. Not only does she serve as an teacher here at Happy Day, but she is deeply involved in the physical and psychological well being of her family and regularly attends both of her children's extracurricular events.
Mrs. Wynkoop - Associate Teacher She has worked at Happy Day for five years. She has been busy taking Early Childhood Classes and has just received her Associate Teacher certificate from SRJC. She has five children of her own--a daughter in college, three boys in high school and a daughter in elementary school.
Discovery Room
Mrs. Mason - Teacher Aide
She has been with Happy Day for several years and contributes joy and creative ideas to the curriculum. She has two elementary aged children.
Resource Teachers
Mrs. Haugen - Curriculum and Nutrition Coordinator
Mrs. Lee - Music Resource
Office Staff
Karyl Crook - Office Manager
Mrs. Crook has been our Office Manager for the past 12 years. She has a Bachelor's degree in Education, many units of Business classes and her Early Cchildhood Education Associate Teacher Certificate. You will see her helping in the classroom and on the playground in addition to her office duties. She has two grown children and 4 grandchildren. When not at work she likes to garden, hike, read, sew and scrapbook.
Mrs. Wynkoop - Associate Teacher 
