About us...

Cherice Kelso and Kathy Foster pride themselves in supporting and creating meaningful experiences for children. They met when they both began teaching at Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School off San Luis Bay Dr. in Avila Valley, CA.  And although they had their own assignments...Cherice was hired at the hands-on science teacher, while Kathy took on the kindergarten teaching position...they also team-taught the middle school class.  They quickly learned that they not only worked well together, but had a similar philosophy - that education can also be fun and engaging.  They both still teach at BSFCS, which has just recently received a California Distinguished School honor.  This summer they are offering camps for elementary school children. 

Kathy Foster has been working with kids for over 30 years. As a teenager in Orange County, she started with Parks and Recreation programs running playgrounds, summer camps, and enrichment classes. She has degrees in Recreation, Home Economics and Early Childhood.  Kathy taught preschool when her own children were little, then licensed and directed a community school.  As her kids moved into elementary school, so did she, continuing her education, and receiving a BA Degree in Human Development and a California multiple subject teaching credential at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena.  Kathy has taught in both public and private schools, and plans and supports a personalized curriculum.  This includes a district home school program, where she also home schooled her own kids.  She's coached middle school teams, as well as elementary sports leagues, was both a Boy and Girl Scout leader, and she's been a private school principal for preschool through 6th grade.  Kathy now holds a Master’s Degree in Developmental Education and enjoys writing, home design and spending time with her husband now that their children are grown.

Cherice Kelso also began working with children as a young adult in day camps around Los Angeles. She went to college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo studying animal sciences, then got her Vet Tech license at UCSD.  With her love for science, she began creating programs for kids and teens, focusing on discovery and invention.  She directed camps for Campfire Boys and Girls, and was a founding instructor for the MadScience enrichment program.  Realizing her calling was education instead of veterinary medicine, Cherice taught science at a private school for grades K through eight, and in 1999, was awarded Science Teacher of the Year in San Diego. Then, after a trip around the country, she settled back in on California's Central Coast, where she taught at Rancho El Chorro Outdoor School and earned her California multiple subject teaching credential.  For almost 10 years now, Cherice has been teaching science around SLO County in local schools, camps, and community service programs, and is now also known as "Professor Pizzazz."   Cherice spends much of her spare time with her son and husband exploring nature, traveling, and taking care of her 47 pets.