In the sun-kissed coastal city of San Diego, where perfect weather meets endless family-friendly activities, one woman’s vision transformed the landscape of childcare services forever. When Dara G. Yates (formerly Dara B. Green) founded Seaside Nannies Inc. in 2004, she had no idea that her small Pacific Beach cottage would become the headquarters of what would grow into one of the most trusted domestic staffing companies on the West Coast.
The Foundation: From New York to California Dreaming
Dara’s journey began far from the California coast. In 1998, she came out to California as a nanny from New York, bringing with her a passion for early childhood development and education that would shape her entire career. Recognizing the importance of formal credentials in her chosen field, she worked hard at obtaining her BA to include her Early Childhood Education units so that she could teach and nanny at the same time, while finishing her education.
Her commitment to excellence was evident from the start. Spending the first part of her professional career as a nanny and preschool teacher (and earning two degrees in Early Childhood Education and English Literature), Dara built a solid foundation of knowledge and experience that would later become the cornerstone of her business philosophy.
Building Expertise in San Diego’s Elite Circles
Within the span of 6 years of arriving to San Diego, she had a few unique opportunities to work for some of San Diego’s most influential families while working at two different preschools. This dual role gave her invaluable insights into both institutional childcare and the personalized attention that high-profile families required.
The demand for her services quickly grew beyond her capacity as an individual caregiver. She was always asked by parents if she could babysit, pick up date nights, travel and overnight weekends at their house, and she recognized these requests as signals of a larger market opportunity. She happily took advantage of the offers as it was good money and the work between both nannying and teaching brought a sense of balance to her weekly routine.
The Entrepreneurial Leap: Starting Seaside Nannies Inc.
By 2004, Dara had developed a clear vision for what quality childcare should look like. Dara began to suspect that there was a caveat to her life’s greatest lesson: If home is sacred, then it needed to be fiercely protected and never, ever taken for granted. This philosophy would become the driving force behind her business model.
So, she googled, read, researched excessively and in 2004 she opened Seaside Nannies. The early days required tremendous dedication and sacrifice. For the first two years of opening my business, she worked 45 hours a week taking care of a newborn in Rancho Santa Fe, essentially working full-time as a nanny while simultaneously building her agency.
The turning point came in 2006 when she secured the placement a private chef in a large estate in La Jolla, which she took as a sign for her to say goodbye to the family she had been with for 2 years and work for herself full time. This moment marked her complete transition from hands-on caregiver to full-time business owner.
What Makes San Diego Perfect for Nannies and Families
San Diego’s unique environment provides the perfect backdrop for quality childcare services. For San Diego nannies, the city offers an abundance of enriching activities that support child development. The world-famous San Diego Zoo tops my list of things to do in San Diego with kids, where it’s home to over 3700 rare and endangered animals and over 700,000 exotic plants across 100 acres.
Beyond the zoo, San Diego nannies can take advantage of Balboa Park, home to an array of family-friendly attractions including 18 museums, numerous beautiful gardens, the Balboa Park Miniature Train, Spanish Village Art Center, and countless outdoor spaces. The city’s beaches provide endless opportunities for outdoor learning, from the rocky shores of Cabrillo National Monument that become a tidepool wonderland at low tide to the educational opportunities at places like the Maritime Museum and the New Children’s Museum.
The year-round perfect weather means that San Diego nannies can provide children with consistent outdoor experiences that support physical development, nature education, and creative play. Whether it’s exploring La Jolla Cove for outdoor activities, coming at low tide to look for marine life in tide pools along the Pacific Ocean, or visiting one of the many family-friendly attractions like Legoland or SeaWorld, the options are truly limitless.
The Seaside Difference: Why They’re San Diego’s Most Trusted Resource
What sets Seaside apart in the competitive landscape of San Diego nannies is Dara’s extensive background and unwavering commitment to excellence. With over 30 + years in the field, we’ve honed our skills in matching families with the ideal nannies. This experience isn’t just about time served; it represents a deep understanding of child development, family dynamics, and the unique needs of San Diego households.
The work we do here at Seaside Staffing Company is never automated, and it’s never one-size-fits-all. We take the time to truly know our clients and our candidates, and we make uncommonly good matches because we tailor-fit every step of our process. This personalized approach stems directly from Dara’s educational background and hands-on experience in early childhood development.
The agency’s commitment to safety and quality is unmatched in the industry. For all California candidates working inside a household with children, we’re the only agency in California that requires our candidates to be fingerprinted through the Trustline Registry prior to being introduced to our clients. This additional layer of screening reflects Dara’s understanding that when it comes to childcare, there can be no compromises on safety.
Industry Leadership and Recognition
After 20 years of building Seaside from a small cottage operation to a major player in domestic staffing, Dara has achieved recognition as an industry leader. Our CEO Dara Yates, proudly sit on the board of the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies (APNA), a prestigious organization known for its rigorous vetting process and high membership standards.
Dara has been an APNA Member since 2013, and her appointment to the board represents her standing among the most respected professionals in the nanny placement industry. APNA is a professional membership organization for serious business owners who establish and enforce standards of professional industry practices, and only the most professional Nanny Placement Agencies in the country belong to the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies.
The company has also received consistent recognition from the local community. We are most proud of being voted “Best Of” San Diego by Ranch and Coast Magazine for the last 17 years in a row, a testament to their consistent excellence in serving San Diego families.
Expansion Beyond San Diego
What started as a local San Diego operation has grown into a multi-city enterprise. When we started our boutique household staffing agency in San Diego California in 2004, we started as Seaside Nannies, serving all of San Diego and Los Angeles. Today, the company has expanded far beyond its Southern California roots.
Two decades later, now Seaside Nannies serves all of California where her sister company, Seaside Staffing Company, a national household staffing company, serving ten cities across the country, Seaside Staffing Company has grown to serve families in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and beyond. Despite this growth, we still believe in that idea of personal, relationship-based matchmaking that Dara established from the very beginning.
The expansion represents not just business growth, but the replication of Dara’s core values and commitment to excellence across multiple markets. Today, Dara stands out as one of the most trusted leaders in household staffing, and her relationship-first commitment has made her a first-choice partner for sophisticated households throughout Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Chicago, Austin, Miami, New York, Nashville.
The Support System That Made It Possible
Throughout her journey, Dara has consistently acknowledged the importance of the families and community that supported her growth. When asked about what she’s most proud of in her business, she reflects: “I think I’m mostly proud of how far this has actually come. Humbly starting in a 500 ft2 shack in Pacific Beach, I never thought in a million years we would be the number one San Diego Nanny and Domestic Staffing Agency for over a decade and a half!”
There have been so many people who have helped make it happen, as she has had the wonderful opportunity to connect with so many people over the course of the last 20 years of living in San Diego. The testimonials from clients and nannies alike speak to the lasting relationships she’s built throughout her career.
One nanny shared: “Dara has always fought for my rights as an employee and gotten me where I want to be before a contract is signed. Even during the brief times I wasn’t working with Seaside, she always checked in to see how I was doing and really showed she cared”. This level of personal investment in both nannies and families has been a constant throughout Dara’s 40 years in the childcare field.
A Legacy of Excellence in San Diego and Beyond
Today, Seaside Staffing Company stands as a testament to what’s possible when passion meets expertise and dedication. Dara’s business philosophy centers on surrounding yourself with strong empowered women that have a drive and passion like your own, it is sure to amount to something bigger and better than you ever thought. Collaboration and having the right support are keys to success.
For families seeking San Diego nannies, Seaside represents more than just a placement service. It’s the culmination of Dara’s 40-year journey in childcare, from her early days as a nanny and preschool teacher to her current role as an industry leader and APNA board member. Every placement reflects her deep understanding of child development, family dynamics, and the unique opportunities that San Diego offers for enriching children’s lives.
Whether it’s connecting families with nannies who can take full advantage of San Diego’s incredible array of children’s activities, from the world-renowned zoo to the pristine beaches and cultural attractions, or ensuring that every caregiver meets the highest standards of safety and professionalism, Seaside continues to set the standard for excellence in domestic staffing.
From a small cottage in Pacific Beach to a national company serving families coast to coast, Dara G. Yates has built something truly remarkable. But perhaps most importantly, she’s never forgotten the core principle that started it all: that home is sacred, and the people we trust to care for our children deserve nothing less than the very best.
