After Care
Mayra Perez
Director of After Care
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Mayra is a San Francisco native who studied Early Childhood Development and Sociology at Cañada College in Redwood City. With over 13 years of experience in early childhood education and leadership roles in several of San Francisco’s most respected early learning programs, she brings a strong foundation in multiple pedagogical approaches. She earned her Director Certification in 2021 and holds a Montessori Teaching Certification, both of which inform her commitment to supporting children’s independence, curiosity, and emotional well-being.
Mayra has been part of the Playgroup community in various capacities since 2018 and officially joined the team in 2020. She is passionate about cultivating a generation of children who lead with empathy, kindness, and a deep respect for the world around them.
Outside of Playgroup, Mayra enjoys hiking, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family. As a mom, she brings a deeply personal understanding of child development, connection, and community to her work.
Has been with Playgroup since 2020
Mon-Fri | 3pm-6pm
After Care is where the magic happens. Surrounded by dunes, trees and a hint of Baker Beach in the air, children play outside carefree. Painting, digging, climbing, running and dancing are all part of the After Care program. Time spent inside is a return to the cozy home-like environment where children are free to choose activities and spend time in the library, while parents finish their busy day. After Care takes place primarily outdoors and in a large classroom surrounded by windows and trees that illuminate the children's afternoon experience. We hope to support families raising young children by providing a full-day experience that nurtures mind and body. Children know they are loved and supported, and parents know their children are in great hands.
Parent Testimonials
"There is only one indicator that counts when it comes to recognizing how amazing Mayra's aftercare program is. Our daughters simply don't want to come home. Our 4-year-old recently asked if she could extend her stay from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. every night just so she could spend longer doing the amazing activities that Mayra and her team have created. There are many reasons why aftercare is sold out so quickly every year, but the main one is the incredible thoughtfulness, care and attention that Mayra and her team put into every afternoon with the kids. It's an absolute joy to see them in that environment when we pick them up. Do yourself a favor and sign up now!"
-Browne Family
Mayra and the rest of the After Care team have done such an extraordinary and thoughtful job creating an environment where the fun and excitement seem to have no end. The assortment of activities the children get to enjoy makes After Care feel like both a continuation and a celebration of all the enrichment they experienced at Playgroup throughout the day. Some of our daughter's After Care highlights, which she loves telling us about at home, have included the legendary Friday alfresco dance parties, special art projects, and collaborative culinary sessions in which the kids prepare baked goods and other seasonal treats. The other day our daughter brought home apple tarts she helped make, and it was a double joy for us to see how thrilled she was and to personally get to try them (because they were delicious!). What makes everything even more special is that the After Care community is essentially a mini family within Playgroup where kids across all ages and classes mix and socialize together, a feature that has been so valuable for our daughter's enrichment as well as her enjoyment. She truly loves her time in After Care, and the evidence for this could not be clearer: When we pick her up, instead of wanting to leave, she invites us to come in and mingle so she can proudly show us what she has been up to that day!
-Bansak Family
"We LOVE the Aftercare program at Playgroup. It’s a wonderful and natural extension to Playgroup’s approach to a Montessori education that balances independence and nurturing care. But the aspect that stands out most is the absolute joy that our daughters experience in Aftercare every single day. Whether it’s learning Spanish, working diligently on a fuse bead, having a dance party, or making fresh corn tortillas, it’s a loving environment where they continue to learn, explore and connect with their friends and everyone in the Playgroup community. As working parents, we feel immense peace of mind knowing they’re thriving and cared for in a place that feels like an extension of our home."
-Hallquist Family
In our four years (and counting!) at Playgroup, Aftercare has been one of the highlights of our experience. Both of our kids absolutely love Aftercare – it’s the perfect “landing spot” for them towards the end of the day with fun activities and time spent with kids from other classes. Mayra and her team do such a good job making Aftercare special – from Friday afternoon dance parties to riveting storytimes to endless art projects. Most days when I pick them up, they are so engrossed in their activity that they don’t want to leave. We love Mayra and our Aftercare family!
-Griffin Family