Meet the Team
Dedicated & Certified
Kreative Beginnings
2007 to Present
Kreative Beginnings opened in 2007 in Paradise, Ca. We cared for children ages 6 weeks through 12 years at our Paradise facility for almost 12 years, and were in operation the day of the Camp Fire in Nov 2018. We unfortunately lost our center to the fire, but were able to get everyone out safely. We re-opened here in Chico in November 2019 with the majority of our Paradise staff. We are so very happy to be able to work together again as we care for your children.
Kathy Best
Director/Preschool Teacher
Kathy has 39 years in the field of Early Childhood education. She holds her BA in Child Development from Chico State and a Masters Degree in Human Development, specializing in Early Childhood from Pacific Oaks college. She has worked in the capacity of Teacher's assistant, Teacher, Center Director, and Owner. She has worked for corporate, private and non-profit centers. Kathy has worked in many dffferent centers throughout her career experiencing many different philosophys and Kreative Beginnings is the program she feels is best for young children and had always dreamt of owning!
Dawn Jones
Assistant Director/Preschool Teacher
Dawn has 35 years of experience working with children. She took her courses through Butte College and has completed numerous trainings in a variety of subjects; such as curriculum planning, health and safety, and special needs. She has been a family daycare provider and worked in the capacity of Infant/Toddler Teacher, Preschool Teacher, Assistant Director, and owner.
Sarah Khalil
Office Manager/Teacher
Sarah has been with Kreative Beginnings since 2008. She has her core Child Development units as well as a BA in Psychology with a minor in Family Relations from CSU, Chico. She is primarily our Office Manager and handle the books, enrollments, and children's files; but can also be found in the classroom with the Infants/Toddlers and Preschoolers. She is also our food program coordinator and makes all of the meals for our children. Sarah has prior experience as a the School Age Teacher and Infant/Toddler Aid.
Joey Best
Music Teacher/Preschool Teacher
Joey has been with Kreative Beginnings since opening in 2007. Prior to our opening he was an Assistant and then Teacher for the School Age program at St. Thomas More Child Development Center. Joey's education in Child Development is through Butte College. He was our School Age Teacher and Transportation person while in Paradise as well as Teacher in Pre-School program. He now spends his day as maintenance person and Teacher in Pre-School classroom. Joey is very passionate about music and loves to play his guitar for the children whenever possible!
Megan Best
Infant/Toddler Teacher
Megan joined our staff in 2010 as a school age teacher. She completed her core units in Early Childhood development at Butte College. She spent time in all the classrooms during her first few years and discovered her passion was with the Infants. She met Joey while working at the center and a relationship soon developed. We were very happy when they married in 2018.