Maya Massamiri

Hi! My name is Maya Massamiri and I am your new Master Teacher! I’ve been at the Children’s Center since the Fall of 2018. I started here as an intern with Ms. Melinda when she was in the Koala classroom and then applied to work part-time the following semester and I have been working with Ms. Isabel ever since she was in the Chicks! At the same time, I also spent a semester volunteering with Ms. Ashley when she was a Seal. I wouldn’t be here today as your new Master Teacher without the guidance and support of my mentors and teachers at the children’s center who I will continue to learn from, as I grow in this new role! 

Before I began working at the Children's Center, I was a lifeguard and swim instructor at the YMCA. This was probably one of the first experiences I had that truly made my passion for teaching shine. Throughout my time as an undergraduate I was able to get myself out there, volunteering in schools, interning at different children centers, and volunteering in different organizations to really solidify what my subconscious might have already known but I wasn’t totally confident in. Then, last semester when I was working everyday at the Children's Center, a little something inside of me just clicked and from then on I knew teaching the youngest group of kids out there is really where my heart belonged, not in an elementary school and definitely not in a middle school. About a month before I graduated I finally had some clarity on what age group I was meant to be teaching, and really where I was supposed to be in life right now and in this midst of all this chaos and uncertainty I have never felt more certain. Before covid I had a plan, a plan that might have resulted in me doing something that I wasn’t fully committed to or didn’t love doing. I can’t help but be thankful that my plans changed and now I'm here doing what I love and was meant to do.  In December of 2020, I graduated from SDSU with a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Development with an emphasis in Family Development, and I plan on going back to school in the next couple of years to continue furthering my education. 

I am a San Diego local through and through! I come from a family of five and I am the second oldest, with one older brother, a younger sister, and my younger twin brothers. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends (now with covid not as much), being active, spending time at the beach, and really just soaking up life. 

I am eager and excited to meet all of you! I look forward to growing and learning alongside your children and I ask for your support and patience as I step into this new role. I hope to spend the next couple of years collaborating with you all, so that together we can ensure  the best for each and every one of your children in my class. I will do my absolute best to support and guide your children every step of the way, while also building relationships and amazing memories as we go! Thank you in advance for reading my letter and I look forward to meeting you soon!