About Me

My name is Jessica Valencia, and I am an early childhood educator and lifelong learner with a deep passion for creating meaningful learning experiences for young children. My journey in early childhood education began more than 27 years ago and has grown into a calling rooted in nurturing children, supporting families, and building strong community connections through early care and education.

I earned my Associate of Arts Degree in Early Childhood Education from College of the Desert and am currently continuing my educational journey toward earning my Bachelor’s degree in the same field. I strongly believe that high-quality early childhood education requires continuous growth, reflection, and learning. Because of this, I remain committed to staying informed on current research, best practices, child development, and licensing requirements in order to provide the highest quality care and education possible at Lil’ Ones Early Care & Education.

My philosophy is greatly inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach and the belief that children are capable, curious, competent, and full of potential. I believe children learn best through relationships, exploration, creativity, play, and hands-on experiences that encourage them to think critically, problem-solve, collaborate, and make meaningful connections with the world around them. As educators, our role is to thoughtfully guide, observe, encourage, and create environments that inspire curiosity, independence, and a lifelong love for learning.

At Lil’ Ones Early Care & Education, we strive to create a warm, welcoming, and community-centered environment where children feel safe, respected, and valued. Every aspect of the environment and curriculum is intentionally designed to support social-emotional development, open-ended exploration, creativity, communication, and meaningful learning opportunities. We believe strong relationships with children and families are the foundation of a successful early learning experience and work to foster a true sense of belonging within our school family.

As an early childhood educator, my goal is to provide children with the foundational skills needed to thrive in today’s ever-changing world while honoring the beauty and importance of childhood. Through nurturing relationships, intentional teaching, and rich learning experiences, I hope to inspire confident, compassionate, and capable learners who feel empowered to grow, explore, and succeed.