About Us About Us
Stephanie Agnew, 
A former elementary school teacher, I worked in publishing before the birth of my son in 2004. I opened Happy Baby in early 2005 for many reasons: I love kids and am glad to be working with them again, especially in early childhood. I'm thrilled to bring a quality service to my community.
A student in Child Development, I began graduate school for a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education at fall 2007, at Sonoma State University, which emphasizes play-based, constructivist learning. I am especially interested in the role of nature in children's lives, and how modern children are often disconnected from natural environments. I have a B.A. in English from Mills College, as well. Currently I am implementing Reggio Emilia inspired practices with toddlers, working with their interests to develop our "messy" activities and focusing on our relationship and the relationships they build with each other, as well as studying the effects of documentation and conflict managment. I appreciate and study the work of Bev Bos, Magda Gerber, Alfie Kohn, Howard Gardner, and especially the Reggio Emilia approach. Recently I was appointed to the Berkeley Early Childhood Education Commissioner, allowing me to bring my passion for education to a public forum.
Personally, I enjoy hiking and camping with my family, gardening, reading, yoga, and getting to know the children I work with and their families.
Mali Burgess
Mali loves being with kids, especially toddlers. She is an artist, healing arts practitioner (CMT), and faculty member at Energy Medicine University. As a 4-6 year old she had the lifelong inspirational experience of creating with Susanna Guevera Mueller who held art classes for kids in her home. She loves bringing the creativity, freedom, sensitivity, and support she experienced with Susanna to her work with kids. She did graduate work in psychology and counseling at CIIS, and is now a CIIS Doctoral Committee member in Transformative Studies. She received her PhD from Union Institute and University in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. She approaches learning as a living process, and as a life enthusiast she especially loves nature, yoga, visionary ideas, laughter, and the creative spirit in all things.
Gina Mori
In 2001, I received my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley. After working as a Manufacturing Engineer for several years, I felt I really wasn’t making a positive difference in people’s lives. Since 2006, I’ve been taking classes in Child Development at Merritt College, and working with school-age children at an after-school program in Berkeley. I find working with children extremely rewarding and enjoyable. Some of my other interests include cooking, arts and crafts, traveling, and hiking.
Tracie Vittore
From the time I was 9 years told, I knew I wanted to work in child care. I started babysitting when I was 12 years old and built the skills I need to receive a Certificate in Child Care Occupations. While working as an aid at Bermuda Dunes Learning Center in the Coachella Valley, I completed 8 ECE (early childhood education) units from the University of California, Riverside. Currently, I am a co-teacher at Happy Baby in Berkeley, California and a part-time babysitter/nanny. (For more information about Tracie's babysitting and nanny services, please refer to her website.) I love to sing, dance, and teach children. It is my true passion and purpose and where I feel most in my element. When I'm not working with kids I knit, sew, scrapbook, bake, and do photography.
"My daughter Charlotte is thriving at Happy Baby, she gets really dirty, which means(to me anyway) that she allowed to explore at her own pace, to her interests.”
—Shauna Fithian