Jen Shpall
Leading with compassion and Vision: Inside the World of Piper Preschool Santa Monica’s Director
by Sarah Brooks
In a beautifully unassuming historical building on the edge of downtown Santa Monica, Piper Preschool hums with the happy chaos of discovery - paintbrushes swishing around in tiny hands, giggles spilling over the fence from the playground, and playful learning enveloping the sunlit classrooms. It’s truly like no other you’ve seen. This isn’t preschool. This is an experience for the entire family. The campus blends the creative energy of its beachside neighborhood with Piper’s signature approach: a thoughtful mix of Montessori-inspired independence and Reggio Emilia’s emphasis on exploration, collaboration, and child interests. Here, learning feels as natural as a walk to the pier, and every corner is designed to spark curiosity, creativity, and connection. Before your first step through the front door, you can sense a warmth that transcends schooling. It feels like home.
Just inside and to the right is Jen Shpall, the Director of Piper’s very first campus. I’m greeted with what I will come to realize is a smile that stays with you long beyond your steps at Piper. Even as I write this, I can still feel it. Her adorable puppy, Tallulah, sits by her side waiting for scratches. I oblige. Little did I know those scratches would lead to me holding her for not as long as I would have liked.
Jen is a seasoned presence in the local early childhood education world. With 14 years of experience, she has shaped countless young minds while guiding families through the formative preschool years and onto the elementary craze. Her knowledge is quick, genuine, and reflective; her thoughtful pauses before answering speak to a deep well of intention and care in everything she does. Over the years, Jen has opened schools, led schools, and climbed the preschool ladder with both grit and grace - ultimately becoming the Director of Piper’s Santa Monica, their flagship campus. An LA native through and through, Jen carries not only a keen understanding of Piper’s local community and area elementary schools but also an unshakable knowledge of the most important neighborhood intel - like where to find the best scoop of mint chip ice cream in town.
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Your career in early education spans 14 years, encompassing both traditional and progressive approaches. Can you walk us through your journey, from your roots to your current role as Director here at Piper?
I was born and raised in Los Angeles. A true unicorn around these parts. I attended the Center for Early Education and later, Beverly Hills High School. I have a Master’s Degree in Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh, one of the best preparatory schools for education in the country. After graduating there, I chose to return home to LA to begin my teaching career. And just a few short years later, I made the jump into administration.
After a few years here, I was approached to open new preschools in New York. I was excited for the challenge of creating a school from the ground up so I packed up my life and moved to Brooklyn. We opened our doors in September of 2019 and then, the world changed...
During the pandemic, I felt a strong pull to return home to LA with my friends and family. From my background in traditional education and then my move to more progressive schools with an emergent approach, I have really seen it all when it comes to philosophies. That’s why, when I learned about Piper’s approach to a blended philosophy, I knew I was home. The balance of emergent to traditional kindergarten prep makes for the perfect progression to ensure we are meeting every child’s needs.
Community involvement seems to be central in your approach here. Tell us more about the role of parent committees and the process of placing kids in kindergarten beyond their years at Piper?
Community is the heartbeat of our preschool. That path was laid many years before I ever got here, but it was one of the biggest things that drew me to Piper. We have an entire room dedicated to parents just hanging out. Some work, some play, some read, and some even Zoom. Parent committees are actively engaged in shaping our environment, our events, and our school. I can’t express how important that is to our vibe here. That said, one of the things I’m most proud of is our kindergarten placements. The kindergarten process in Los Angeles can be at best hard to navigate and at worst extremely overwhelming. My goal is to partner with the parents for the entire journey - from choosing schools that are the right fit for the child, to the big moment of decision day, and everything in between. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. And we’re here for every step.
I’ve heard about Tuesday Teacher Lunches. How do you maintain that idea of honoring the staff here?
Our teachers are the soul of our school. Parents bring lunch every Tuesday, but they also have been known to go further. Parents have donated masseurs, coffee carts, and we even brought in a surprise Margarita bar one time… not during school hours of course (she flashes that infectious smile). All of these are a celebration of their dedication to Piper. We want to create a space here where appreciation goes beyond words. There are literally no words that encompass their impact on our students and families.
Can you speak about the outdoor space? I’ve seen many preschools and nothing really compares. It’s truly something special. How did that come about? What’s the thought behind everything?
You’d have to know about this building to really get how special our playground is. It was a parking lot before. Our founders, Crystal and Jesse, really maximized the space by building a creek in the middle of everything. They somehow turned an urban setting into a magical oasis. And it’s more than a playground - it's a canvas for curiosity. They really wanted every corner to inspire exploration, whether it's digging in the wet sand box, nurturing plants in the garden, painting in the art studio, or building in the wood shop. You’re right. Nothing that I’ve seen really compares and I love making sure we carry out that vision.
Looking ahead, you mentioned community and kindergarten placements. Can you share your vision for the future and how the emergent philosophy plays a role?
Our future is woven with threads of community engagement and placing kids on the path to kindergarten. That will always be the heart of what we do here. That said, I’m always looking for ways to share Piper in new ways. I’ve been wanting to start a teacher intern program - like a teaching hospital. I want new teachers here so they can experience Piper as their first school. It’ll be hard to work anywhere else for them, but seeing how much we’ve thought about this space is important to me, and ultimately very important for them. We are here to help them meet their potential as teachers, so they can help the children realize their potential as learners. The process of educating a child is not just about preparing kids academically, but it is truly about nurturing that love for learning that they will carry with them long after they leave Piper. And that is the focus of our emergent philosophy. Creating exciting and vibrant learning opportunities that play off the children’s intrinsic interests. It’s a beautiful thing. Everyday and every year is different.
Beyond the classroom, Piper extends the learning journey with collaborations, summer camp programs, and enrichment classes. How do these initiatives contribute to the educational experience at Piper?
The beauty of Piper is its appetite for innovation. Collaborations with outside people and organizations have been a great addition to our summer camps and enrichment classes, ensuring that this little flame of curiosity keeps burning through diverse avenues. The goal is never to be stagnant, as the world of education continues to evolve, Piper is always at the forefront of implementing the best and brightest ideas. That’s what makes it so exciting to work here and ultimately, send your child here.
In a city where education is paramount, you seem to be orchestrating a symphony of learning, laughter, a little chaos, and limitless potential. How do you see the role of a Preschool Director in shaping the dreams and possibilities for young minds?
Oh wow. Great question (takes one of her extended pauses and looks just past me deep in thought). My role is quite complex and truly multifaceted. But luckily, multi-tasking is my jam. This role is about embracing challenges as opportunities and always being flexible along the way. It's about creating an environment where curiosity is celebrated, dreams take root, and each child's unique potential is nurtured. A Preschool Director should be a guide, a curator of possibilities, and a champion of lifelong learning - for the children and all the staff around me. We can’t stop growing. I won’t.
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As I make the rounds at the Piper campuses, one thing has remained increasingly evident - all the Directors have this seemingly innate dedication to Piper, early education, and the community that surrounds them. They all have the same love and care, just filtered through difference lenses of experience and life. Their drive to be malleable in the most important ways is ever evident and equally impressive. All this seems to only be matched by their love for life's simple pleasures and staying true to their journey. Jen is no different. Beyond the vibrant world of education, Jen tells us she unwinds by painting, reading, and/or treating herself with a few sips from her “epic” whiskey collection. She savors the moments of laughter during dinners with friends, or maybe volunteering for the Greyhound Rescue on the weekends. Her family is in town and holds a special place in her heart, grounding her in the midst of all the westside craziness. In this balance of passion, community, and the embrace of life's joys, Jen continues to shape not only the little minds of tomorrow, but also the memories made at Piper. As our conversation was winding down, the phone rang. We were the last two in the building, so she was now on phone duty. “Piper Preschool,” she answered with a smile. Looking at me, she mouthed, “Sorry.” For that brief moment, I got to see her charm in action with a new family calling about enrollment. As I packed up my things, I reached down for a last Tallulah scratch while Jen stayed focused on the task at hand. Apparently, they were sold. I waved as I was walking out. She smiled that smile and waved. As I turned, I heard, “Oh, hey.” She held her hand over the phone and said, “I make a bad ass charcuterie board, too. Put that in there.”