Staff

Administrative Staff 

Dora Jacildo
Executive Director

Dora Jacildo has over 17 years of experience in the field of early care and education. Her career began as a preschool teacher, and after leaving the classroom Dora worked with child care providers while improving the quality of early childhood education in the South Bay. In this capacity, she mentored over 300 providers and assisted with the start of hundreds of family child care businesses.

Dora’s experience earned her a position as Manager of the Resource and Referral Department at Connections for Children in Santa Monica. She served as Vice President of the California Child Care Resource and Referral Network; as a member of LA County’s Service Planning Area 8 Steering Committee; was crucial in the development of the pilot for KCET’s A Place of Their Own and Los Niños En Su Casa; and helped develop the quality standards for what is now Los Angeles County’s Universal Preschool.

Since 2004, Dora has served as Executive Director of Children Today. She volunteers on many local committees and commissions, including the Long Beach Area Coalition for the Homeless, the Multi Service Center Advisory Board and is a member of the Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership.

In 2006, Dora received the Local Hero of the Year Award from Union Bank of California and KCET. In 2007, she was featured on the KVEA Channel 52 Local Hero segment, and in 2008 was recognized by the Press Telegram for her work in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Dora holds a master’s degree in Human Development and Social Change from Pacific Oaks College.


Elia Rocha
Grants and Contracts Manager

Elia Rocha is Children Today’s Grants & Contracts Manager. She is responsible for soliciting funding for the organization through foundations, corporate sponsorships, and local, state and federal contracts. Elia also develops and oversees data tracking and evaluation systems to ensure Children Today is meeting all grant & contract requirements.

Elia has worked in the non-profit field for over ten years. In that time she has been instrumental in securing millions of dollars in funding and has helped to design and implement new programs for low-income and high-need populations. Elia is proud to be a member of Children Today and is committed to doing all she can to ensure the organization’s long-term success


Janice Toppen
Fiscal and Office Manager

Janice Toppen came to Children Today in July 2008 as the new Fiscal and Office Manager. Her role is to manage bookkeeping, streamline accounting and human resources practices and ensure the organization meets compliance with private and government funding policies. Janice has a strong accounting background, having served for ten years as the Senior Bookkeeper of Bancap Property Management and previously as the Assistant Controller for US Marketing and Promotions.

When not working, Janice is a wife and mother of two boys. Her interests include reading, listening to rock music and spending time with all her boys – her husband, Jason and sons, Luc and Blake. Janice was born and raised in Renton, WA and currently lives in Torrance with her family.

Amber Sheikh
Development Manager

Amber Sheikh joined Children Today in 2010 as the Development Manager. She works with the Board of Directors in cultivating community relations to ensure that Children Today has the resources to thrive as an organization and effectively serve our families. Amber is responsible for all functions within development including communications, special events, membership/direct mail, and corporate relations.

Previously Amber served as part of the Development Team at the Downtown Women’s Center, and has years of non-profit experience domestically and abroad. When not at work, Amber teaches Yoga and Cycling in the South Bay and serves on the Board of Directors at the Heart Touch Project.  Amber is thrilled to be a part of Children Today’s family.

Play House West Staff
Marisela Villalobos
Program Director

Laura Reyna
Lead Infant/Toddler Teacher

Antionette Ecevedo
Substitute

Rachel Gutierrez
Floater

Angelica Moreno
Toddler Teacher

Annastacia Patton
Infant Teacher

Angelica Ramirez
Toddler Teacher

Araceli Salcido
Infant Teacher

Margaret Valentine
Preschool Teacher

Alexis Vazquez
Lead Preschool Teacher


Play House North Staff

Gina Guffy
Program Director

Martha Alonso
Substitute

Melissa Dockery-Jansen
Toddler Teacher

Portia Edmonson
Substitute

Melissa Noel
Floater

Alison Pico
Preschool Teacher

Daniela Troya
Preschool Teacher


Additional Staff

Celia Asensio
Cook

Lisa B Taub, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker