Every Child Oaks Preschool in El Dorado Hills

Where Inclusive Early Learning Meets Evidence-Based Autism Support

Early childhood is one of the most important periods in a child's development. During these formative years, children build the communication, social, emotional, and cognitive skills that lay the foundation for lifelong learning. For children with autism, learning alongside peers in a thoughtfully designed environment can provide meaningful opportunities for growth.

That's why Early Days Autism Center (EDAC) proudly partners with Every Child Oaks (ECO), an innovative demonstration preschool located in El Dorado Hills. Founded by Dr. Cynthia Zierhut Ursu, Every Child Oaks combines the principles of the Reggio Emilia philosophy with nature-based learning and evidence-based developmental practices to create an inclusive environment where every child is supported and valued.

Jenna has been in the field of early intervention for over a decade and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in 2020. She graduated with her bachelors degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of North Texas and obtained her master's degree from the University of South Wales. Most recently, she moved back to the Sacramento area after helping support the launch of a clinic in Bavaria, Germany.

She brings experience in Project ImPACT, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). Jenna is passionate about providing hands-on support to parents, helping them feel confident and empowered in their child’s growth. With experience across home-based care, clinics, and school settings, she brings a well-rounded perspective to her work.

At the core of Jenna’s values as a clinician are compassion, connection, and curiosity. She is dedicated to building meaningful relationships with families and tailoring support to meet the unique needs of each child.

Susana Razumovsky is a mother of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder and before her time working with EDAC, she participated in parent coaching/play group with her child. Susana has had years of experience with working with children with ASD. Susana has experience in classroom inclusion, in-home 1:1 support, and has received Group-ESDM training. She is a Lead in the area of Instructional Assistant Training for EDAC and GESDM Trainer, Apprentice in the Sacramento sites and joined the company in the Fall of 2017.

Matthais Zierhut

Inclusive Specialist/Group ESDM Trainer (Apprentice)

Matthais is an experienced Instructional Assistant with nearly a decade of service at the Early Days Autism Center (EDAC). His professional practice is grounded in evidence-based intervention and developmental science, with a particular focus on fostering inclusive learning environments for young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Since beginning his career in 2016, Matthais has worked across a range of educational and therapeutic contexts, including Every Child Bay, where his approach was shaped by the Reggio Emilia philosophy of collaborative, child-centered learning. Over time, his scope of practice has expanded to emphasize individualized developmental supports, emotional attunement, and the systematic promotion of social participation and belonging.

Matthais is actively engaged in Early Days Autism Center’s intensive professional training pathway in the Group Early Start Denver Model (G-ESDM), an empirically supported, play-based intervention demonstrated to advance social communication, cognitive development, and adaptive functioning in young children with ASD. In this role, he contributes both to the direct implementation of the model and to the training of new practitioners, supporting fidelity development and ensuring alignment with research-based standards of care.

His clinical competencies include behavior support planning, co-regulation strategies, and activity design within naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention frameworks. These skills are consistently applied to promote generalization, functional engagement, and measurable developmental gains.

Respected for his calm presence, precision in implementation, and responsiveness to each child’s learning profile, Matthais exemplifies EDAC’s commitment to growth, reciprocity, and community belonging. His longstanding contributions and clinical versatility have established him as a valued member of the EDAC community and a reliable resource for colleagues, families, and interdisciplinary partners.

Sydney Manning
Instructional Assistant

Sydney is a compassionate early childhood educator whose professional path reflects a longstanding commitment to nurturing the growth, autonomy, and joy of young children. Her journey into the field of autism support began during adolescence, when she first encountered the profound impact of attuned relationships and inclusive practices while working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This formative experience laid the foundation for her relational and strengths-based approach to care.

As a camp counselor, Sydney led a wide range of group activities designed to foster social connection, self-expression, and belonging. She honed her skills in behavior support, activity planning, and responsive communication—tools that continue to shape her presence within the learning environments at Early Days Autism Center (EDAC). Her subsequent role as a full-time nanny deepened her understanding of individualized developmental support and the power of attunement in building trust and promoting co-regulation.

Sydney brings to EDAC a thoughtful, hands-on approach rooted in patience, adaptability, and a belief in each child’s capacity for growth. Her work reflects EDAC’s guiding values of inclusion, reciprocity, and relationship-based teaching. Whether supporting group engagement or offering one-on-one care, Sydney is devoted to co-creating environments where children feel seen, supported, and celebrated.

Raya Liebscher
Instructional Assistant

Raya recently graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in psychological sciences, where she gained knowledge of behavioral change and child development. This has provided a strong foundation for creating an environment with behavioral support and emotional regulation. She has a passion to create a space for children to feel heard, seen and valued within their learning environment. Raya gained experience through working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder for six years. Starting from a young age, Raya, learned a new approach to working with children, rooted in patience and respect.

Deeply inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, Raya believes in the power of play, curiosity, and child-led exploration. She is committed to fostering meaningful relationships, encouraging self-expression, and supporting children in becoming confident, capable learners. Guided by the belief that every child holds immense potential, Raya brings warmth, experience, and intention to the classroom each day—creating a space where wonder and discovery thrive.

An Inclusive Preschool Designed for Every Learner

Every Child Oaks was created with a simple but powerful vision: every child deserves to learn, grow, and belong.

Unlike traditional preschool programs, Every Child Oaks intentionally brings together children with diverse developmental abilities in a nurturing mixed-age classroom. Through meaningful interactions, collaborative play, and individualized support, children learn from one another while developing empathy, confidence, and lasting relationships.

The preschool serves children from infancy through age six and is grounded in the belief that children thrive through exploration, connection, and supportive relationships.

A Natural Extension of Early Days Autism Center

Families receiving services through Early Days Autism Center often benefit from the complementary learning opportunities available at Every Child Oaks.

While Early Days Autism Center specializes in evidence-based autism intervention using the Group Early Start Denver Model (GESDM) and parent coaching, Every Child Oaks provides an authentic preschool environment where children can practice many of those same developmental skills throughout the day.

Children have opportunities to:

Develop communication through everyday interactions
Build friendships with peers
Practice turn-taking and cooperative play
Strengthen independence during daily routines
Improve emotional regulation
Explore creative learning through art, music, science, and nature
Build confidence in inclusive classroom settings

This continuity between therapeutic support and natural learning environments helps children apply newly developed skills in meaningful, real-world situations.

Reggio Emilia Meets Nature-Based Learning

Every Child Oaks embraces the internationally respected Reggio Emilia approach, which recognizes children as capable, curious learners.

Instead of relying on rigid lesson plans, teachers observe each child's interests and create engaging experiences that encourage exploration, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Indoor and outdoor learning environments are intentionally designed to inspire curiosity while promoting social interaction and communication. Nature becomes an extension of the classroom, allowing children to investigate, discover, and learn through hands-on experiences every day.

Small Class Sizes, Individualized Attention

One of the defining characteristics of Every Child Oaks is its small learning community.

With approximately 12 to 14 children in a mixed-age classroom supported by a Head of School, Lead Teacher, and several additional educators, every child receives individualized attention while participating in a collaborative group environment.

This low student-to-teacher ratio allows educators to:

Recognize each child's strengths
Support individualized developmental goals
Foster meaningful relationships
Encourage positive peer interactions
Adapt learning experiences to each child's needs

Evidence-Based Developmental Practices

Both Early Days Autism Center and Every Child Oaks share a commitment to research-backed, child-centered care.

Founded by developmental psychologist Dr. Cynthia Zierhut Ursu, the programs reflect decades of experience in autism research, early intervention, and professional training through institutions including the UC Davis MIND Institute and international Group Early Start Denver Model initiatives.

Rather than focusing solely on academic readiness, Every Child Oaks emphasizes whole-child development by nurturing:

Communication
Social-emotional growth
Problem-solving
Executive functioning
Self-help skills
Creativity
Confidence
Independence

Supporting Families Beyond the Classroom

Successful early intervention extends well beyond therapy sessions and classroom walls.

Both Early Days Autism Center and Every Child Oaks believe families are essential partners in every child's developmental journey. Parents receive guidance, collaboration, and ongoing communication to help reinforce learning and developmental progress at home.

This partnership creates consistency across home, school, and therapy, helping children build skills that transfer into everyday life.

Why Families Choose Early Days Autism Center and Every Child Oaks

Families throughout El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Granite Bay, Sacramento, and surrounding communities choose Early Days Autism Center because of its innovative approach to early intervention and its strong connection to Every Child Oaks.

Together, these programs provide children with opportunities to:

Learn in inclusive environments
Participate in evidence-based intervention
Build meaningful peer relationships
Develop communication and social skills
Grow through play-based learning
Prepare for future educational success

Every child deserves an environment where they are encouraged, supported, and celebrated for who they are.

Schedule a Tour

If you're looking for an inclusive preschool experience that values every child's unique strengths while supporting healthy development, we'd love to introduce you to Every Child Oaks and Early Days Autism Center.

Contact our team today to learn more about our programs, schedule a tour, and discover how our collaborative approach helps children play, relate, communicate, and thrive.