When kindergarten teacher Wendy Fehr first set foot on the Riviera Ridge School’s (RRS) 11-acre campus in 2018, it was not to interview for a job, but to find a school for her daughter Minnie.
Fehr’s family had just been through the devastation of the fires and debris flows, and she was looking for a school that would care for her daughter, socially, emotionally and academically as she prepared to transition to a large public high school.
“Riviera Ridge’s mission and vision immediately resonated with me,” Fehr said. “A commitment to academic excellence and a joyful, nurturing community reminded me so much of the private grade school I attended growing up — one that valued community, character and curiosity. I wanted that same kind of environment for my daughter.”
It’s the same environment she creates for her students now. When Minnie entered seventh-grade at RRS, Fehr said she felt reignited with a desire to get back into the classroom.
Upon gaining her teaching credential and master’s degree at the University of San Diego, Fehr taught for 11 years, six of which were at the Gillispie School in La Jolla, California.
After moving to Santa Barbara and spending 12 years raising her own children, in 2018, she felt ready to get back into the joy of helping raise the children of others as well.
“Returning to the classroom felt like a natural continuation of my journey, especially because I had seen firsthand the impact of a strong early education on my own children, who are now thriving at great universities,” Fehr said.
In her current position, Fehr said she is especially interested in the science of reading and how evidence-based practices can transform early learning.
She is now Orton Gillingham trained, which has empowered her to make a strong impact in her role as both kindergarten teacher and literacy coach. The Orton Gillingham method is a structured and effective multi-sensory approach to teaching reading, she said.
“Understanding how the brain learns to read has deepened my commitment to teaching foundational skills intentionally and systematically,” Fehr said.
“My training was especially impactful as a kindergarten teacher because it gave me the foundational tools and knowledge to teach reading in a way that aligns with how young children’s brains actually work,” she said.
“It is magical to see reading come alive and those joyful moments as they become confident and excited readers,” she said.
“I love creating a warm, predictable environment where children can express themselves, collaborate, and build friendships,” Fehr said. “Daily routines, classroom meetings, and guided play experiences help children develop self-regulation, perseverance, and respect for others.”
The kindergarten curriculum is designed to integrate academic and experiential learning through hands-on exploration, project-based learning, and play, children develop early literacy, numeracy, and scientific thinking, the school said.
Fehr also noted the close partnerships with families, working as a team to support children.
“It’s that collaboration between home and school, and the genuine care throughout the community, that makes teaching here so meaningful for me,” Fehr said.
Fehr hopes her students feel that same sense of family that she did when her daughter attended RRS. “Most importantly, I hope they know they are deeply cared for and loved every step of the way,” she said.
For more about Riviera Ridge, email info@rivieraridge.org or call 805-569-1811 ext. 131.