Zaca Center Preschool
Meet our Board of Directors
Take the time to meet the dedicated individuals who guide our preschool with their expertise and vision. Each member brings a wealth of experience and a commitment to our mission. We are proud to have such a talented team steering our preschool.
Leslie Franklin
President
Leslie Franklin is a Speech/Language Pathologist who retired after 37 years serving students throughout Santa Barbara County. It was during the last 32 years with the Santa Barbara County Education Office however that she specialized in the preschool population and fell in love with that delightful age group. Leslie had the privilege of witnessing the transformation of Zaca Center Preschool into the cutting edge model program that it is today and helped in the transition to a non profit entity after the County Schools decided to discontinue its operation. Leslie graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Psychology and Speech/Language Pathology. She received her Master’s degree and credential from UCSB. Leslie and her husband Tom have lived in the Valley for 40 years, raised their talented adult son and have extended family close by. Leslie enjoys hiking, traveling, acting in community theatre comedies and giving tours of two spectacular Santa Barbara mansions. Her affiliation with Zaca Center Preschool however is one of the most fulfilling of her retirement pursuits as she has seen first hand how crucial a nurturing, developmentally appropriate preschool experience is in a child’s life, preparing them to thrive socially, emotionally and academically in kindergarten and well beyond.
Heather Gauld
Treasurer
Heather Gauld is a tax director with H&B, LLP in Santa Barbara and has worked in the accounting field since January 2006. She grew up in the Santa Ynez Valley attending Solvang Elementary School and the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. Heather attended Cal Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo where she earned her BS in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Finance and a minor in Economics. Heather is married to her husband Brett and has four sons, two of which have attended Zaca Center Preschool. She enjoys reading, baking and spending time outdoors with her family.
Alison Lindsay
Secretary
Alison's picture and bio are coming soon!
Kathy Fayram
Board Member
Kathy Fayram is a retired teacher and school administrator who served Buellton families at Jonata School for over 33 years. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, a Master’s Degree in Education and two teaching credentials from UCSB. She has resided in the Santa Ynez Valley for 38 years. Kathy and her husband Tom have two wonderful adult children, an awesome daughter-in-law, and two amazing grandchildren. Kathy loves spending time with family, bumping into former students and reminiscing, walking with friends, and traveling.
Alison Brooks
Board Member
Alison Brooks is a longtime valley resident who graduated from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. She went on to receive a B.A. in English, elementary and secondary teaching credentials, and a Masters in Education from U.C.S.B. After thirty-two years of teaching, she retired from the Buellton Union School District. Alison lives in Santa Ynez with her husband and three dogs in the house where she raised her two daughters. In her spare time, she enjoys walking with friends, reading, and traveling. She loves spending time with her three grandsons: two of whom have attended Zaca Center Preschool. As an experienced educator, she believes preschool is an important step for a child’s growth as a learner and future academic success.