Meet Cris Lozon of Growing Place

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cris Lozon.

Hi Cris, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I have spent more than three decades in education, working with learners from infancy through the university level. Across those years and classrooms, one truth became unmistakably clear: the earliest experiences matter most. I came to understand that the youngest learners deserve an education rooted in play, wonder, and joy—one that honors how children naturally make meaning of the world. Guided by more than a century of research in child development and learning, my work has been shaped by a deep respect for how children grow, explore, and thrive.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As a kindergarten teacher, I intuitively knew that giving children time to play was the right thing to do. Yet there was pressure from families and administrators for learning to look more “traditional”. Math, reading and writing were expected to show up as worksheets and children sitting at tables, rather than as hands-on, messy, learning experiences.
The path was not always smooth. At times, play had to be limited, or at least kept out of sight, while I navigated these expectations. It became clear that a great deal of education was needed, not just for teachers, but for parents and administrators as well, before play was truly recognized as high-quality learning.
My journey from classroom teacher to director, and now executive director of three campuses, has been driven by the desire to make the shifts I once wished for in my classroom. The schools I choose to work with are those that genuinely honor the natural ways young children learn and Growing Place does just that!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Growing Place is an infant to preschool aged children organization where the mission is “Creating a better future by helping children develop into confident, compassionate, and creative problem solvers. Our unique program unifies children, parents, and teachers into a community that learns together.” I am proud that I am a part of this organization because what I was looking for in a school has been here all along. Growing Place has infants, toddlers, and preschool children truly learning with a vigorous and research based curriculum that centers around children and their curiosities. The school takes the approach of the Reggio Emilia schools in Italy and is deeply grounded in research from Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, known for their theories on children’s cognitive development. Growing Place honors children’s learning through intentional practices, documentation, embedded in children’s play and curiosity. We see the image of the child as strong, capable, and full of potential. The teachers are seen as co-researchers with the children, and the environment is seen as the third teacher. The environment is reflective of the school’s values, intentional, respectful, and collaborative. Our work is so unique and is based on a hundred years of research on child development!

Our families refer to the school as the best hidden secret on the west side. Families come to our school, word of mouth, sharing the extraordinary things our children do from working with art quality materials, to going on walks to visit local markets, community members, and college students. We are one school with three campuses and each campus is unique in its environment and culture but we all share the same values and philosophy. That’s the great part, we get to do us! How great that children get to be themselves right from the very beginning, they are already naturally so curious about the world they live in and we are privileged to honor their learning!

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Growing Place imagines a future where every child, especially the youngest, has access to an education that honors who they are, where learning unfolds through play in or outside the classroom, where curiosity is trusted, and children are met with deep respect. Knowing the importance of early education, Growing Place’s work extends beyond our classrooms. Across our three campuses, we invite educators to experience learning in action through our Educator Tours on the three campuses. We partner with college lab schools, share this vision nationally through conferences, through articles, and with leaders and educators across the country. At its core, our philosophy is simple and steadfast, children deserve an education rooted in research, shaped by respect, and filled with joy! Our hope is to share what we have to all educators and families because all children deserve high quality early childhood education through play.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.growingplace.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growingplacesantamonica/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gpsantamonica
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growingplace
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/growing-place-ocean-park-santa-monica?osq=growing+place

Image Credits
Headshot of Cris from Kat Ruiz Moore at https://www.katinthehatfoto.com/

School photos courtesy of Alexander Alexandro & Katherine Fox