Our Philosophy

Our mission at Kids inc. is to allow children to explore by providing a child-centered experience, with real-world exploration in an environment that supports children's social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.  

Our philosophy is based on the Reggio Emilia approach. The Reggio Emilia Approach is an innovative and inspiring approach to early childhood education, which values the child as strong, capable and resilient; rich with wonder and knowledge. Every child brings with them deep curiosity, potential, and this innate curiosity drives their interest to understand their world and their place within it. 
What children learn does not follow as an automatic result from what is taught, rather, it is in large part due to the children's own doing, as a consequence of their activities and our resources.​

-Loris Malaguzzi, The Hundred Languages of Children

Meet Our Team

Ms. Kelli​

CEO & Founder
More about kelli
Kelli Vaccaro is the CEO and Founder of Kids Inc Preschool and Discovery Center, bringing over 25 years of dedicated experience in the child care industry. As a proud mother of five—including a set of triplets—Kelli combines her professional expertise
with her personal passion for nurturing young minds.

Her philosophy is simple yet powerful: children are the future of our country, and they deserve a strong foundation to thrive. Guided by this belief, she has built Kids Inc Preschool and Discovery Center into a place that prioritizes safety, play, social development, and a family-like atmosphere where children can learn and grow.

Kelli’s leadership style reflects her heart for community. Living and working in Folsom, she takes pride in serving local families and creating meaningful connections. Under
her guidance, the staff operates not just as a team but as a family, united in their commitment to support children during their most formative years.
Beyond her role as CEO, Kelli finds joy in watching children blossom, celebrating milestones with families, and shaping an environment that fosters curiosity, confidence, and compassion. Her lifelong mission is to help children grow into the best version of themselves while supporting parents every step of the way.

Ms. Alex

Executive Director
More about Alex
My name is Alex Gray and I am very excited to be a part of the amazing Kids inc. team! Growing up, I always knew that I wanted to work with children. I'm very grateful that I have been able to grow up in a big family and have had many cousins and friends around. I have always been around children and love seeing the little ones grow. I love watching the children experience new things. I graduated from Sonoma State University with a B.A. in Human Development. I have been working with children ever since I was in high school in different environments, from at-risk youth centers, in-home preschools, to private schools. I have enjoyed working with all ages in my career. I believe that every child is unique and deserves the chance to succeed in life. They need to be in a safe, nurturing environment that will help them grow. My favorite part about working at the school is seeing the excitement on a child's face when they discover a new activity that they love or just having fun playing with their friends and teachers. Children learn a lot through play and watching their imaginations grow is incredible. I am constantly learning something new from the students every day. I am very excited to be with this wonderful group and meet all the incredible families! ​

Ms. Kim

Senior Director
More about Kim
Hello! My name is Kim Leonard and I am one of the Directors at Kids inc Prairie City. I am very excited to be a part of the Kids inc. team. I was drawn to this field at a very young age with the hope of helping children. I have a very large family and lots of cousins. Having a large family helped me to learn how to care for children. Being around my cousins and helping them with their homework helped foster my love of teaching and is what eventually lead me to study Child Development. I have over 14 years of experience as a Preschool Teacher and have worked in different age groups from infants to TK. I have the most experience working with the Pre-K age group and I love teaching early language development and phonics to my students. I loved bonding with my students and getting to watch them mature and grow. I have my B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development from San Jose State University. I also have training in programs like Program for Infant and Toddler Care, Handwriting without Tears, Zoo-phonics, and I have utilized assessment tools such as Desired Results Developmental Profile.  My husband and I relocated from the Bay Area in 2014. My husband and I have coached girls’ basketball, volleyball and youth soccer. We have one daughter named Kami Lynn. In my spare time I love reading, adventuring, and spending time with my husband and daughter Kami. My goal as a team member of Kids inc. is to help build and foster relationships with the families and to create a nurturing supportive environment for the children and staff.

Ms. Alyssa

Director - ​Palladio
MORE ABOUT ALYSSA
​Hello, my name is Miss Alyssa, and I've had the pleasure of being with Kids Inc. since 2022. In 2024, I
took on the role of Assistant Director at the Palladio location. My journey in working with children began
at the age of 13, when I started babysitting and volunteering at an after-school program at an
elementary school. After graduating high school, I worked as a party host and coordinator at Chuck E.
Cheese, which sparked my passion for engaging with kids in a fun, structured setting.

In 2022, I joined Kids Inc. as an assistant teacher in the infant and toddler rooms while pursuing my Early
Childhood Education qualifications. I later became the lead teacher in the toddler room and eventually
took on the role of lead teacher for the younger 3s class. In 2024, I applied for the Assistant Director
position, and it's been such a rewarding experience connecting with families and children—from their
initial tours to their ongoing journeys at our center.
​
I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have a career that inspires me daily, surrounded by
students who motivate me to grow and do my best. It’s truly an honor to be part of such a wonderful
community.

Ms. Meenakshi

Director - Natoma Station
MORE ABOUT Meenakshi
My name is Meenakshi Roy. I am from India. I have a Master’s Degree in Literature from my country and I am pursuing an Early Childhood Education Degree from Folsom Lake College. I started my career as a teacher in my country and I have extensive experience of teaching children from Kindergarten to High school for seven years.. From my childhood, I had the passion to become a teacher. I feel privileged enough that I have met some great educators in my life who have inspired me and made me feel how much impact a good teacher can have in shaping the personality of young children. I believe a teacher is  like a gardener in the lives of children.  Just like a gardener nourishes and nurtures the seeds by taking care of it and help it to blossom into a fruitful tree, I want to take care of children, nurture them, by providing them a safe, healthy, exciting environment to learn, give them the freedom to express themselves, bring out the inborn qualities and channelize them in a positive way, motivate and encourage them to accomplish amazing things.

​Ms. Amanda

Director - Prairie City
MORE ABOUT AMANDA
​Hello! I'm Amanda Samson, the Director at our Prairie City location. With over a decade of experience working with children, I’ve had the privilege of watching them grow and thrive in every area of learning. I’m deeply passionate about early childhood education, and I’ve earned over 30 college credits in this field. In addition to my professional experience, I’m also a proud mom to two wonderful boys. As a family, we love exploring the outdoors—whether it’s camping, paddle-boarding, or kayaking, we’re always up for an adventure!

Ms. Karla

Assistant Director
​Palladio
MORE ABOUT KARLA
Hello!
I'm Karla, the Assistant Director at the Palladio location. I've been working in early childhood education
and care since 2018, and I can honestly say it's my passion. My favorite part of this work is getting to
know each child and their family - those connections make every day rewarding and meaningful. 

I earned my bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education, and I'm always learning new ways to help
little ones grow, explore, and feel confident in themselves. In 2023, my family and I made the move to
Folsom, and we've loved settling into this beautiful community. You can usually find us paddleboarding
on the lake, biking the local trails, or searching for the next great place to eat!
​
I'm so excited to be part of your child's early learning journey and to help make their time here full of
joy, discovery, and support. :)

​Ms. Parker

Assistant Director
​Prairie City
MORE ABOUT PARKER
Hello! I’m Parker, the Assistant Director at the Prairie City Location. Having years of both professional and personal experience working with children, I have always had a deep passion for early childhood development and find joy in supporting and watching children grow through each stage of their development. I studied at the University of Nevada, Reno, where I earned several college credits in Child Development and Early Childhood Education. 
​
Outside of my professional role, I am a proud mother to a baby girl. I am very family-oriented and value spending quality time with my loved ones. In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors, exploring nature, relaxing by the water, and making lasting memories with my family and friends.

Ms. Shanna

Assistant Director
​Natoma Station
MORE ABOUT SHANNA
​My name is Shanna and I have been working with children professionally since 2015. I have been
working with Kids Inc. since 2020 and have my Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education. I love
working with little ones and my favorite thing is getting to see them evolve throughout the years. I love
seeing what they can do with new materials and environments and love to see them interacting with
their peers.

Safety • Growth • Connection

At Kids Inc., we believe a great team makes all the difference. We want you to know three things about our staff:
CPR & Safety Ready
Staff are certified in CPR, so that your child is always in safe, capable hands.
Team Bonding & Continuous Growth
​We invest in professional development for every team member—training, workshops, and skill-building opportunities so our care and education only keep getting better. We also host regular staff bonding / team building days. These aren’t just fun—they strengthen collaboration and ensure we bring joy, consistency, and connection to everything we do.

Enrichment Beyond the Classroom​

We’re proud to offer extracurricular activities for our preschool classes right at our schools, giving children opportunities to explore their passions and discover new interests.

Next Generation Dance
Inspiring creativity, confidence, and self-expression through movement.
Soccer Shots
Building teamwork, coordination, and a love of the game in a fun and active setting.
Music Mike
Sparking joy and imagination with engaging, hands-on music experiences.

Now in 3 locations! Select your preferred location and register today!
QUICKLINKS
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Effective January 1, 2026
Kids Inc. of Folsom respects your privacy. When you visit our website, fill out a form, or contact us, we may collect personal information like your name, phone number, email address, and your child’s care needs. We use this information to respond to inquiries, manage waitlist or enrollment requests, and provide updates via email or text. By providing your phone number, you agree to receive SMS messages from us about enrollment, scheduling, or center updates. Message and data rates may apply. You can opt out at any time by replying STOP. We don’t sell your information. We only share it with trusted service providers (like Twilio) to deliver services. We use security measures to protect your data. No mobile information will be shared with third parties. You can contact us to access, update, or delete your information at [email protected], 916 353-0300.

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