Regional Manager ~ Jennifer Peterson

Angie has been at Aspirations since we opened our doors in April of 2008. As the Executive Director at Aspirations, she shares administrative duties with Mare Williams.

Angie has a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona and spent the majority of her career as a biotech and then pharmaceutical sales representative.

In 2005, she had her third child and decided to forego her career to be a stay-at-home mom. She will always cherish the three years spent at home with her children where she was "technically" not working. She never envisioned a career as a school administrator, but when the opportunity arose to become a member of the Aspirations family, she jumped at the chance and loves every minute of her time at school.

Angie enjoys working with each family at Aspirations and getting to know the children as they journey through our programs. Angie has completed her Child Development course work at a local college to enhance her knowledge of children and Early Childhood Education and attends various child development workshops. She has been married to her husband, Franz since 1991 and they have three amazing children; two sons, CJ, who is currently in graduate school in Montreal and Tanner, who attends Queens University of Charlotte in North Carolina.  Nicole is a high school sophomore and experienced preschool, kindergarten prep and kindergarten at Aspirations before attending local elementary, middle, and high school.  

Angie enjoys reading, snow skiiing, wakeboarding, gardening, camping and traveling with her family ... in her spare time.

Angie's advice to parents:  Our children grow up and out far too quickly - it's really a blink of an eye.  Cherish and enjoy every single moment you have with them, even when you're tired after a long day at work or they are not having "their best moment".  Laugh with them, set boundaries for them and create lasting moments in time.

Director ~ Mare Williams

Mare comes to Aspirations School of Learning with twenty years of teaching experience in the field of Early Childhood. During her last ten years as an educator at The Children's School in La Jolla, Mare became a Mentor Teacher with the State of California, earning a Specialization in the Reggio Approach and became a member of the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance. Mare has been a participant in the North American Study Tours held in Reggio Emilia, Italy on two separate occasions professionally. Her love of Italy has taken her there personally as a guide for other teachers as well as a photographer several additional times.

Mare and her husband Duncan are both native San Diegans. An opportunity to follow their love of wine while working in the industry provided them a home and vineyard property in which to raise their four children in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Lake Tahoe. It was here that her professional journey began as she worked as a Paraprofessional in the field of education. Her husband continues his professional career in the wine industry as a winemaker and vineyard developer. This allows for great conversation among family and friends around the dinner table!

A published writer and passionate photographer, Mare has added to her teaching experience through continuous professional development and has earned degrees including a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Development with a focus on Child Development, as well as a Master of Arts degree in Human Development with a Specialization in Leadership in Education from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California.

One of her greatest joys as an educator has been participating in the development of an art program for the children and faculty of Aspirations called, "The Collected Works: A Retrospective Look at the Art of a Reggio Inspired Childhood."