Our Teachers

Holly Higgins

is very excited to begin year 5 as the Director/Head Preschool Teacher at Michael Lane Preschool.  She is an alumni parent of the school, where her youngest attended for 3 delightful years.  Holly comes to Michael Lane Preschool with 15 years of classroom experience, teaching kindergarten through 4th grade, and was awarded the Herbst Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence in 2011.  She earned her Master's Degree in Education at the University of Oregon, and has taught in Oregon, New York City and California.  A native Californian, Holly loves being outdoors with her family, reading in the hammock, going to the ballet, and trying new things!

Trina Audley

has had the special experience of teaching at Michael Lane from 2004-2011, and now has returned to us since 2023! After graduating from UCSB with a major in French Literature, Trina worked in education, administration and the law while raising her two children (who are now in their 20’s). Apart from her passion for early childhood education, Trina enjoys time with family, walks on the trail, traveling and a good craft project. Trina will teach on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.

Reshma Faiq

is delighted to be back for year 3 at Michael Lane Preschool where she taught from 2006 until 2015 before she moved to Boston, Massachusetts. After returning in 2021, she decided to be a part of the MLP family again. Reshma moved from India to the United States in 1990 and has lived in Boston and the Bay Area with her husband and two daughters. Reshma has a graduate degree in Economics from India and later finished her training in Early Childhood Education to become a teacher for children ages 3-5 years old. She has been a teacher for the last 20 years. Aside from teaching, Reshma loves spending time with her family, gardening in her ever-growing yard, and being outdoors. Reshma will be teaching on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Katie Stein

is thrilled to be returning for her second year of teaching at Michael Lane Preschool. Katie’s background in teaching includes a Masters in Education, 10 years of Elementary School classroom teaching (2nd - 4th grade), 3 years as a Kindergarten LPIE art teacher for the Lafayette School District, and 3 years of teaching in various preschools while raising her own children. Katie lives in Lafayette with her husbad, 3 kids, and big red dog, Oaks. Her passion for early childhood Education continues to grow with each magical day spent at Michael Lane! One of her greatest joys is helping and guiding young children through their earliest days of schooling. Katie will be teaching Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Molly Nelsen

is ecstatic to return to Michael Lane as a teacher 2 days a week! In the past, she has taught summer school, and been a substitute teacher here since 2019. Molly has experience being a counselor or Adventure Day Camp starting in 2017 and was promoted to a Director position from 2020-2023. She loves to outdoors, spending time with her family (especially her nephews), and her animals. Molly will be teaching on Wednesdays and Fridays.

We are licensed for 17 children in the classroom at one time and our teacher/child ratio is 1:6.