Staff Report
Bethania Preschool and After School in Solvang announced that Lola Gonzalez has been selected as the new director. She recently started in her position at the nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the highest quality services for children and working families.
Photo contributed
Lola Gonzalez has been selected as the new director for Bethania Preschool and After School in Solvang.
“I’m very happy to be serving as the new director,” said Gonzalez. “I am excited to see how I grow in this new role, and how I can help children and families in my community. I love Bethania — it’s like my second home.”
Gonzales worked at Orfalea Early Learning Center and Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara before coming to Bethania in 2018 as lead teacher of the afterschool program. During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, she created and implemented Bethania’s distance learning program to help parents who had to work away from home. She supervised over 20 children everyday as they engaged in the unprecedented virtual learning the pandemic necessitated, while creating spaces to keep the kids safe.
“The people of Bethania are confident and overjoyed with Lola Gonzalez in this position and the children are very excited,” said Pastor Chris Brown.
Gonzalez takes the helm from Eileen Knotts, who had been the programs director for most of the preschool’s 34-year history.
Bethania Preschool and After School began in 1987 at Bethania Lutheran Church. The state-licensed educational programs are for preschool and extended day as well as before and after school for grades TK-6. Bethania is located at 611 Atterdag Road in Solvang.
