About Us

Gabriella Judd

Owner / Executive Director

My husband Franco and I started Primeros Pasos in 2013 in Glen Park. After 12 very successful years there, we moved and expanded to two new locations, Silver Park in 2019, and Noe Valley in 2023.

We love being around children and find great fulfillment in serving our community, especially in an area with a critical need for quality child care. Our belief in our program is deeply personal: Both of our children graduated from our program and continue to be fully bilingual in elementary and high school. The confidence our families have in us is evident through their valued referrals and the fact that each year we care for multiple sets of siblings!

  • I am a native Spanish speaker with family roots in El Salvador, and my journey in education was inspired early on by my mother, who served as a bilingual teacher aide for many years. I've incorporated many of her projects and resources into my teaching practice! Beyond my academic endeavors, I am a trained singer, and sharing music with the children is one of my greatest joys—especially when they spontaneously sing a song we've learned together.

    I hold a Bachelor of Arts with High Honors in Art History from Smith College and completed a three-year Masters in Architecture program at UC Berkeley, experiences that have honed my attention to the quality design of children's learning environments.

    I completed  a Master's in Early Childhood Education at San Francisco State University.  I combined my previous studies in architecture with my ECE thesis on Environments for Children.  I put these design principles into practice at both of our Centers. My educational background is further complemented by 35 units of Early Childhood Education coursework from City College of San Francisco and participation in multiple years of the Stanford University Bing Summer Educator Session. I have been granted a Program Director Permit by the State of California, and I possess four City College Certificates of Achievement in Administration; Professional Development and Advocacy; Infant Toddler Specialist; and Early Childhood Practitioner.

    It is our privilege at Primeros Pasos to provide care and educational enrichment. We deeply appreciate your interest in our program and consider it a tremendous honor to contribute to the development and learning of the children in our care. Thank you for considering Primeros Pasos!

Franco Cirelli

Owner / CFO

Primeros Pasos represents a culmination of Gabriella’s extensive experience and vision of providing the highest quality Spanish immersion education to young children in an environment that focuses unwaveringly on them. When Gabriella and I decided to collaborate on the founding of Primeros Pasos, we agreed that she would focus on the children, their parents and the staff whereas I would ensure that the business side of the school received the necessary attention. I have over 25 years of professional experience in organizations ranging from startups to large enterprises.

  • A CFP® professional, I earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, a BS from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and a CPA license upon completion of the required experience with Deloitte & Touche. Earlier in my professional career, I held positions at noteworthy organizations including Microsoft and the NBA. I worked as an adjunct faculty member at City College of San Francisco where I taught business and real estate courses and developed new curriculum.

    I am very active in the community and have served on nonprofit boards and advisory councils including the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club Foundation Board and the Silicon Valley Italian Executive Council Board. In the past, I chaired San Francisco’s Quality Teacher and Education Act Oversight Committee which helps monitor how over $35 million annually are invested in the operations of San Francisco’s public schools.

Tom Limbert

Education Director

¡Hola! I am pleased to be joining the excellent team at Primeros Pasos in a part-time capacity as the Education Director. I began working in preschools here in San Francisco at SFSU’s Child Study Center in 1992. I got my Master’s in Education with an emphasis in Early Childhood Development from Mills College in 1995 and then worked for ten years with families from all over the world at Stanford’s Bing Nursery School. 

I went on to be the Director of Woodside Preschool and have also spent three years as a kindergarten teacher, Director of Student Life and Educational Consultant at Helios School in Sunnyvale– a K-8 school for gifted children. I have always enjoyed singing and playing guitar with children. I am also a parent coach, author, and proud father!

Michelle Palacios

Assistant Director

¡Hola Primeros Pasos Community!

I'm a San Francisco native with roots in Guatemala and El Salvador. My passion for early childhood education ignited at age ten during a visit to my mother's preschool. From that moment, I knew this was my path.

I've dedicated years to exploring the field, from volunteering at childcare centers to leading programs for young learners. My experiences with both Montessori and play-based approaches, coupled with my BA in Child and Adolescent Development and MA in Education, have shaped my belief in creating meaningful, joyful learning experiences.

At Primeros Pasos, our philosophies align perfectly. We believe in fostering a safe, welcoming environment where each child feels empowered to express their unique self. Alongside academic growth, we're deeply committed to promoting social and emotional development.

I'm excited to collaborate with all of you and the wonderful children here. Primeros Pasos isn't just a workplace; it's a place where I can continue to grow as an educator and feel truly at home.

Our Educators

Empowering Our Teachers, Empowering Your Child

We are proud of our exceptionally low turnover rate—a rarity in early childhood education. We believe this is due to our unwavering dedication to creating a supportive and fulfilling workplace where our teachers feel valued and empowered to grow. We offer competitive benefits, including paid leave and a 401k with employer match, as well as ongoing opportunities for professional development. Through quarterly training days with guest speakers and access to enriching programs like the Stanford University educator series, our teachers continuously expand their knowledge and skills. We foster a culture of reflection and shared learning, creating an environment where our teachers are not only supported, but also inspired to be their best.

Experienced and Caring
Bilingual Educators

Our passionate and fully bilingual (Spanish/English) teachers are the heart of our dynamic learning environment, focused on full Spanish immersion. With up-to-date certifications in pediatric CPR, Health and Safety, and First Aid, as well as cleared background checks by the State of California, you can trust their expertise and commitment to your child's well-being.

Administration

Gabriella Judd Cirelli, Executive Director | Franco Cirelli, CFO | Tom Limbert, Education Director | Michelle Palacios, Assistant Director | Michelle Chamorro, Administrator

Silver Park

Infant
Maestra Deris, Maestra Regina, Maestra Mayra, Maestra Karina

Young Preschool
Maestra Karina, Maestra Ana, Maestra Jaquelin, Maestra Jeni

Preschool
Maestra Claudia, Maestra Merly

PreK
Maestro Gerardo, Maestra Kathy

Noe Valley

Salon Dos
Maestra Astrid, Maestra Arely

Salon Tres
Maestra Gaby, Maestro Jesus

Salon Cuatro
Maestra Olga, Maestra Nancy