Meet the Studio Grow Berkeley family: Tom and Tim (owners and brothers-in-law), Monica, Mariela, Michal, Alexa, Evelina, and Anna!

Tom Limbert has taught in university-based laboratory preschools in the Bay Area for fifteen years, including the San Francisco State University Child Study Center, the Children’s School at Mills College, and Stanford University’s renowned Bing Nursery School, where he was Head Teacher in both 2 year-old and 3-5 year-old classrooms. Tom has Master’s degrees in Literature and Education with an emphasis on Early Childhood Development. Tom is also a versatile musician and plays, composes, and records music for children in both English and Spanish. Tom, his wife Eve, and their son Leo live in El Cerrito.

Tim Alley, a Berkeley native, is the creator and Director of City Camp, an award-winning day camp for children ages 6-12. Tim has Master’s Degrees in Education and Landscape Architecture, and more than twenty years experience working with children and developing hands-on education programs. Tim lives in Berkeley with his daughter Sasha and his girlfriend Didi.

Monica Newcomb grew up in Southeast Alaska and moved to California to study literature at UC Santa Cruz. Monica writes, bakes tiered cakes, and - of course - plays with children, especially babies and toddlers. Monica leads the always-popular Parachute Time at Studio Grow.

Mariela Mena often leads Story Time and Music Time at Studio Grow in Spanish. She studied traditional Chilean culture at the Catholic University of Chile and Theater at the University of Chile. Mariela has traveled around the world performing with Chilean music and dance groups, and lives in Berkeley with her sister, uncle and aunt.

Michal Karmi plays her ukelele for Story Time, Music Time, and Parachute Time and sings in English, Hebrew, and Spanish. She was born and raised in Israel and moved to California to save the earth, do yoga, dance lindy-hop, practice photography, play with children, and bake yummy vegan cupcakes.

Other Studio Grow Berkeley staff for you to meet:
Alexa
Evelina
Anna