A person holding a handful of soap bubbles floating above their hands outdoors.

About Phoenix House

Centrally located in the heart of San Diego’s Barrio Logan (92113), Phoenix House is a private residence that has been transformed into a Reggio-inspired urban playschool and outdoor play space for your little one(s) to blossom in and through early childhood. Our unique indoor-outdoor space invites children to explore, create, and connect in a setting that blends the comfort of a home environment with the richness of a thoughtfully prepared early childhood classroom.

Our program is designed to provide children with play and inquiry-based enrichment opportunities that foster growth, curiosity, and resilience in an organic, intentional environment staffed with loving and warm adults who provide every child with guidance, connection, and secure attachment.

Meet the Team

  • Ellie Coburn, M.Ed

    FOUNDER & PROGRAM DIRECTOR

  • Maddie Salle Coburn

    INFANT TEACHER & SITE SUPERVISOR

  • Danielle Durhum, M.S

    CONSULTING CURRICULUM & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

  • Maddy Chiba Thorliefson

    CONSULTING DEVELOPMENTAL SPECIALIST

  • Mariia Sineokova

    INTEGRATED ARTS & ENRICHMENT SPECIALIST

  • Allie Marcone, BSW

    TODDLER/PRESCHOOL TEACHER

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, glasses, and a light green button-up shirt standing outdoors with greenery in the background.

Welcome to Phoenix House! I'm Ellie Coburn, a born and raised San Diegan with a deep passion for nurturing the early childhood experiences of both my own children and those in our community.

With over a decade of experience as an award-winning children’s photographer, a credentialed substitute teacher, an infant nanny, a foster parent to 16 incredible children, and a postpartum doula — caring for children is one of the great joys of my life. These diverse experiences have provided me with more than 50,000 hours of hands-on experience working with children of all ages.

Academically, I hold a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education from American College of Education; a Bachelor of Science in Biocultural Anthropology with a minor in History and a certificate in Medical Humanities from Oregon State University; and Associate of Arts degrees in Psychology, Anthropology, and Political Science from San Diego Mesa College.

Furthermore, I am a certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator and hold 475+ extension training hours on topics related to early childhood development, trauma-informed care, and early literacy. My diverse academic portfolio has shaped my understanding of the intricate interplay between biological and cultural factors affecting the human experience and ignited a passion in me to protect and advocate for the preservation of early childhood.

Phoenix House is a heart project born at the intersection of my lived, professional, and academic experiences. After years of experiencing firsthand the shortage of quality childcare programs available to families in San Diego and across the country, I felt a deep disheartenment. I have long since imagined a program that strives to nurture the biological rhythms of early childhood for children in their first months and years earthside. A program that integrates best practice across multiple pedagogies with the most current research in early childhood development. It is therefore one of the great honors of my life to have set Phoenix House in motion and serve as our program’s founder and oversight director.

I look forward to welcoming you and your child into our loving community. Together, I hope to create magical early childhood experiences that will lay the foundation for a lifetime of curiosity, confidence, and joy.

With Love,

A note from our Owner & Program Director…

Empty black chalkboard with blank surface.

A Community for All Families

Phoenix House is a community deeply rooted in our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe children grow best in environments that center connection, shared responsibility, and a deep respect for one another. Our days are shaped by curiosity, collaboration, and a reverence for the natural world. In partnership with our incredible families, we co-create a nurturing space where children learn to care for themselves, each other, and their communities. Together, we are planting the seeds of a more compassionate, connected, and just world—one childhood at a time.