Meet Our TEAM

My name is Laurie Canavan, and I'm thrilled to be the preschool teacher in Room 224. I have worked with children for several years within a variety of age groups. I have a strong background in behavior modification and love teaching children through play. Preschoolers are by far my favorite age group to work with! I love their excitement for all things new. I also may be biased toward preschoolers because I have a house full of teenagers. I am a mom of three - Matt (20 at SDSU), Chris (19 at SDSU), and Macy (17 at Mira Costa High School). All three of my kids attended Hermosa View School. I feel so fortunate to be working at View and teaching our preschoolers.

My name is Kristin Flannery, and I’m excited to be the preschool teacher in Room 223. I grew up in Rhode Island and attended college in Boston. I have lived in the South Bay for over 23 years. I love this community!

I began my career in Entertainment Marketing, but when I became a mom, my priorities shifted, and I wanted to be more present for my children. This led me to pursue a career in Early Childhood Education. Over the past 15 years, I have taught at St. James Preschool in various roles, developing a passion for working with young children and their families.

I’ve also volunteered in Redondo Beach schools through the PTA and RBEF. With two daughters in college and graduate school, I believe the South Bay schools are the best in the nation. I feel so fortunate to teach at Hermosa Beach Preschool.

My name is Lisa Arvan, and I’m truly honored and thrilled to be part of the Hermosa Beach Preschool team. I am a preschool and infant-toddler teacher with over a decade of experience in teaching and working with young children in early childhood education programs. I have worked with a wide range of students including infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and TK/K-level children with unique backgrounds, abilities and learning styles. 

I am originally from Tokyo, Japan, but having lived in Hermosa Beach for years, I’m proud to say that I have built my life and family in this wonderful community. I am a mom of two, and both of my children are currently enrolled in Hermosa schools; my daughter is in 5th grade at Valley, and my son, who graduated from Hermosa Beach Preschool in June, is now thriving in TK at View. 

I joined Hermosa Beach Preschool as a substitute teacher in spring 2024, and my experience has been tremendously rewarding. I am beyond excited to be working with Ms. Laurie and Ms. Daryn in Room 224 this year!

Hello, I'm Kiara M. Ortiz, and I am honored to be working as an instructional aide at the Hermosa Beach Preschool. With 13 years dedicated to early childhood education, I've taken on various positions throughout my career. I have a Bachelor's degree in Child Development, and I'm in the process of acquiring my teaching credentials for Pre-K through 3rd grade. My excitement for interacting with young learners stems from my passion for fostering their educational and personal growth. It's truly remarkable to witness the diverse skills they acquire in such a brief period, and I am thankful to be a part of their journey.

Hi, I'm Daryn Rubenstein, and I’m passionate about my work at Hermosa Beach Preschool. I was born and raised in the South Bay, and later graduated from Michigan State University. I have over ten years of experience working with children, including two years supporting children with learning disabilities. I've been working in Hermosa School District now for three years. I started as a Paraeducator and am currently an Instructional Assistant. Watching kids grow and thrive is truly rewarding, and I’m grateful to be part of their journey. 

My name is Briana Harvey and I am excited to be supporting students at Hermosa Beach Preschool and Hermosa View as the Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) teacher. I provide support in both Preschool and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) classrooms to help students work toward their individualized goals.

A little about me: I grew up in Long Beach, CA in a family of educators. My mother and grandmother were both teachers who later became administrators, so I knew early on that teaching was in my heart. I earned my bachelor’s degree and ECSE credential from California State University, Dominguez Hills and worked at Redondo Beach Unified School District for 11 years in the special education field. I have a strong background in applied behavior analysis, with a passion for supporting emotional regulation and early intervention. I am also a proud mom of two boys; my youngest attends school in RBUSD and my oldest attends CSULA.