"When I bring my child to the Center each day, he arrives eager to play with his friends, and moves from teacher to teacher, giving and receiving hugs. As I head to my work, I leave him knowing that he’s in an environment that offers opportunities to learn about friendship and sharing through all kinds of activities and play. SFPCC offers my child more stimulation than I could provide for him on my own, and offers abundant comfort and love until I come to pick him up again."

Leadership Profiles

Vaughan Cate

Vaughan Cate, Center Director
Vaughan has been Director at SFPCC since 1987. She received her B.S. in education from Wheelock College in Boston, with a concentration in early childhood education. Before coming to SFPCC, Vaughan taught 3rd grade at an elementary school in California. After relocating to Boston, she was an assistant director and director at two other Boston area childcare centers before joining SFPCC.

Melissa Chieppo

Melissa Chieppo, Center Assistant Director
Melissa has been Assistant Director at SFPCC since 1981. She received her B.A. in elementary education from Elmira College in New York and an M.S. in education from Lesley College (now Lesley University). She was a pre-Kindergarten teacher at a Boston private school before joining SFPCC as a Preschool 2 teacher. She taught in Preschool 2 for two years before becoming Assistant Director of the Center. Melissa also received a certificate in business management from the evening program at Radcliffe College while working at SFPCC.