Preschool & Infant Daycare in San Francisco SoMa (685 Natoma), CA | L’Academy
Now Enrolling –
L’Academy Language Immersion Infant Daycare, Toddler, Preschool, and Pre-K Programs in SoMa, San Francisco, CA
About L’Academy San Francisco SoMa 685 Natoma
At L’Academy on Natoma Street in SoMa, we nurture every child with compassion, curiosity, and a language-rich bilingual learning environment. We provide full-time, year-round preschool and daycare for children ages 4 months to 6 years. Our bilingual curriculum includes both Mandarin immersion along with English language readiness. L’Academy’s approach blends Montessori, Reggio Emilia, and play-based learning to support each child’s development and love of learning. Our SoMa Natoma location also serves families in South Beach, Mission Bay, and surrounding San Francisco neighborhoods.
Program Details
- Mandarin Immersion with English language readiness
- Infant, toddler, preschool, and TK / Pre-K programs
- Enrichment programs coming soon!
- Kid-friendly, nutritious meals and snacks served every day
- No potty training required to enroll
- Fewer than 20 school closure days per year, offering dependable, full-time, year-round care for working families
- Low student-teacher ratio
- L’Academy waives all fees for San Francisco Early Learning For All (ELFA) families enrolling at our ELFA-approved locations.
- We are currently taking CalWORKS and other government subsidies.
Openings available now. Contact us to book a tour and reserve your child’s spot.
Location Details
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday | 8:00am – 5:30pm
Contact: 628.688.2166 (text message enabled)
Location: 685 Natoma Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
Opened Date: September 2025
Ages: 4 months – 6 years, Mandarin Immersion Enrichment Program
License Number: 384004972
Programs Offered at L’Academy SoMa (Natoma)
Meet Our Staff
Jennifer Knappick
Director
Ms. Jennifer was born and raised in San Francisco, Ca. She attended City College of SF majoring in Child Development. She has been working in the Childcare field since she graduated from High School. Ms. Jennifer started off as a Resource Teacher, moving up to a Teacher, Lead Teacher, Education Coordinator, Business Manager, and now Director. She is very excited to be joining the L’Academy team. Ms. Jennifer is passionate about making each child feel supported, excited, and safe each day. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her 16-year-old son, her family, and friends. She is a big sports fan and also enjoys exploring the bay area finding new fun activities.
Shanice Chien
Assistant Director
Ms. Shanice was born and raised in Taiwan and holds a Master’s degree in Multicultural Education and Potential Development. Before transitioning into early childhood education, she worked as an overseas footwear development team leader, working in Cambodia and Vietnam.
Seeking a pause from the fast-paced industry, she moved to San Francisco to study International Business at CCSF. In 2023, she joined L’Academy as a preschool assistant teacher. Inspired by her experience, she completed ECE coursework and earned her Child Care Program Director Permit.
What touches Ms. Shanice most is working with young children, where she finds fulfillment in exploring the endless possibilities of learning alongside them. She creates an inclusive environment where each child’s potential is nurtured, fostering curiosity, confidence, and growth.
Outside work, she enjoys cooking, exploring cuisines, and visiting the ocean for calm reflection.
Ms. Belinda
Lead Preschool Teacher
Ms. Belinda is originally from Guangdong, China, and is fluent in both Mandarin and Cantonese. She joined L’Academy Language Preschool in February 2023, where she has worked with children across infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms. Through these experiences, she developed a strong foundation and gained valuable hands-on knowledge in early childhood education.
Ms. Belinda is passionate about working with young children and finds great joy and a sense of accomplishment in supporting their growth and development each day. Her work at L’Academy has been both personally fulfilling and professionally rewarding.
She is currently enrolled in the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program at City College of San Francisco, where she is committed to continuing her studies and earning early childhood education certificates to further enhance her skills and knowledge.
Ms. Rebecca
Lead Toddler Teacher
Ms. Rebecca is a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher with a strong passion for early childhood education. After immigrating to the United States, her own children’s school experiences inspired her, deepening her understanding of the importance of support and guidance during the early years. This led her to return to school at City College of San Francisco, where she earned an Associate of Arts (AA) in Child Development.
Ms. Rebecca truly enjoys working with young children and feels honored to be part of their learning journey. She strives to create a safe, warm, and nurturing environment where every child feels valued and supported. She is patient and caring and believes the early years are a crucial time for building confidence, emotional security, and a lifelong love of learning.
Ms. Karina
Lead Infant Teacher
Ms. Karina is originally from China, where she earned a degree in graphic design. After moving to the United States with her family, she found inspiration in her passion for the arts and developed a desire to help children explore and understand the world through a creative lens.
Motivated to support young learners more effectively, Karina pursued early childhood education at City College of San Francisco (CCSF), earning her Associate of Arts degree in Child Development. She greatly enjoys her daily interactions with children at L’Academy Language Preschool and values the meaningful connections she builds with them.
To better support the diverse backgrounds and needs of her students, Karina continues to expand her professional knowledge through ongoing education. She is committed to growing alongside the children in her care and strives to enrich their lives—and her own—through creativity, learning, and shared experiences.
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Why Parents Love L’Academy
We’re 100% satisfied with L’Academy! Our child is engaged in fun and educational activities, and we love receiving daily updates through the app, allowing us to connect with our child’s learning.
We’d give L’Academy 10 stars if we could! Our son has been attending for six months, and the experience has been stellar. The teachers are wonderful, and the space is clean and full of engaging activities. Our son is picking up English, Spanish, and Chinese! We love receiving multiple updates and photos throughout the day, showing just how happy the kids are.
The staff at L’Academy is incredibly communicative and caring. Our toddler is thriving in their play-based education program and having a ton of fun in a safe and nurturing environment.