Renata was born in Odessa, Ukraine. She came to New York when she was six years old. She attended Hunter college and earned a dual Masters in Education and Special Education before entering the field as a teacher and a child therapist. After growing as an educator, Renata decided to open her own Childcare center that offers each child an individual approach to grow and succeed academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. Renata was always inspired by the philosophies of Dr. Maria Montessori and values the importance of a creative curriculum that focuses on developmentally and academically appropriate goals and objectives.

As a mother of three young children, Renata understands first hand that children learn at their own pace and believes in the importance of creating a loving, nurturing, and safe environment built around children’s limitless curiosity and natural desire to learn.

My name is Victoria Wallak and I have been working in childcare for more than ten years with children from the ages of 3 months to 5 years old while also going to school to continue my education in Elementary and Early Childhood Education with a minor in Psychology. From an early age I knew I wanted to work with children as I am the oldest of 8 siblings and have always found joy in teaching and helping them grow. Being the Director here at Kinder Prep gives me the opportunity to bring all the knowledge I have in the classrooms to the center I have been with for almost three years. I was fascinated by Kinder Prep from the first day I came in for my interview because of the amount of care they truly put into their centers. The owners Renata and Irina always listened to my ideas and allowed me to grow as a teacher while exploring my teaching abilities. When I was promoted to assistant director I found a different love I had not experienced in child care. Being a part of a team that truly puts the kids first and offers them the best education and resources available to them while also putting the families and their needs first was inspiring.

I give my all to the children here at Kinder Prep and truly do consider my parents, children, and staff our family. I will always put them first and offer the best care I can while also being as supportive and communicative through the children’s early education journey.

‍

My name is Ashlie Labarriere. I have been working in Early Childhood Education Since 2016. I found my passion for teaching younger children as a camp counselor. I am pursuing my master's in both general and special education. My experiences as a teacher in all the different classrooms over the years have made being an Educational Director even more special. I love being able to provide teachers support and become someone they can lean on for guidance. For the 6 months, I have been a part of the Kinder Prep admin team I have had a chance to build unbreakable connections with staff, children, and families. I am so honored to be a part of the Kinder Prep Family.

I am overjoyed to be joining the Kinder Prep Montessori team! I have been dedicated to early childhood education for fourteen years, with a Masters degree in Childhood Education, and NYS professional certification. Dearest to my heart is the Montessori method, as I also hold 3-6 Early Childhood AMS certifcation from West Side Montessori. Everything about how Montessori honours children and growing learners is what I respect and aim for in this field. On my personal time I love traveling with my family and visiting them across the globe. I speak spanish and portuguese and enjoy a multicultural world, especially languages and cusine. During my career I have also lived in Asia where I joined a dynamic administrative team and have been in management for the past five years. Overall, child centered learning is my passion, as learning through play is the magical model for young learners. I look forward to this next stage of my journey at Kinder Prep Montessori.

‍

My name is Lourdes Juarez and I am from the country of Argentina. I am a passionate individual who believes in supporting development and achievement through love, attention, and understanding.

Since I was young, I have been drawn towards Early Childhood Education, having developed a genuine passion for working with young learners and witnessing their growth. I find joy in helping them develop their language, academic, creative art, social and motor skills on a daily basis. I also enjoy the privilege of challenging them to be curious and inquisitive.

When I am not thinking about my kiddos, I love to dance, listen to music, cooking Argentian food, reading, and sharing quality time with my family and friends. I am grateful to team up with you in this journey during your child's growth and development.

‍

Hello everyone! My name is Hanna, and I'm from Ukraine. I have a master's degree in psychology, and every day I learn to understand how the mind and soul work. The magic of Montessori has always inspired me, as it helps children develop harmoniously. But the most amazing part of all this work is to watch how little hearts and minds begin to blossom after I impart knowledge and skills to them.
‍

My hobbies include books, outdoor walks, and exciting travels that always fill my life with new knowledge. I feel a special joy knowing that I help children take their first steps.

I deeply value the opportunity to be a part of the Kinder Prep Montessori team, where I can help children grow and develop. Observing them become creative and happy is a true inspiration for me.

‍

My name is Daria Zhezhu, and it is with immense enthusiasm that I introduce myself as the lead teacher of the "Cardinals class" at Kinder Prep Montessori. Hailing from the picturesque country of Ukraine, I bring a diverse range of experiences and a passion for nurturing young minds.

With a strong foundation in political science, I embarked on a journey into the world of education, and I've been privileged to be a part of the Kinder Prep Montessori team since February 2022. Before joining this wonderful community, I spent five enriching years working in I’m daycare, honing my skills in creating nurturing and inspiring learning environments for children.

As a devoted Montessori teacher, I am deeply committed to fostering child-centered learning that empowers and respects each individual. I believe in the transformative power of the Montessori approach, and it's my goal to create an environment where curiosity is nurtured, creativity is celebrated, and each child's unique potential is recognized and cultivated.

It's a privilege for me to be a part of your child's educational journey, and I'm excited to create meaningful connections with both you and your young learners. Together, we'll embark on a year of growth, exploration, and discovery, where every child's progress is celebrated and cherished.

I look forward to an exciting and transformative year ahead!

Hello, my name is Rita Bendeliani and I am from the Republic of Georgia. I have been working in childcare for over 6 years in the U.S and I have a true passion for taking care of children. I, myself have a daughter and twin sons that I have raised that has taught me what giving undivided attention and care to children really endures. It brings me pure happiness to be doing exactly what I have been wanting to do my whole life. Being the Lead infant teacher here at Kinder Prep has allowed me to grow in my educational endeavors while also allowing me to pursue what makes me truly happy.

My name is Anabel Quezada-Rodriguez.

I am currently the co-director  and on track to finishing my Bachelors in Psychology and Childhood Education. I have always been passionate about assisting children in discovering, and accomplishing developments and milestones through love, compassion, and empathy. I owe this interest and drive to my big Dominican family who always put the needs of the developing youngins' first and was the first insight to the term "It takes a village".  

This passion for working in childcare grew stronger when I myself became a mother to a now 6 year old boy. Experiencing the sense of pride that it was to be a part of helping my son develop language and communication skills, explore being creative and independent, as well as being social and curious only amplified my peaked interest in educating young children. Being able to be a part of the community of people that lay the foundation for the future presidents, lawyers, artists, creators, teachers, doctors, astronauts and so much more brings me such a sense of joy.

I am grateful for the Kinderprep team for allowing me to gain knowledge, experience and grow within the walls of the school as I began as an assistant teacher 3 years ago, and quickly became the lead teacher for our Two year old children. Now whilst being in the office I get to enjoy working hand in hand with teachers and assisting them in any way I can, as well as continuing to work with the children.

Hello, my name is Ashley Rosario and I am the lead teacher of our older two-year-old program at Kinder prep. I have been working and facilitating as a preschool teacher for over five years. I am currently pursuing my bachelor's degree in early childhood education while also being a mother to an almost 3-year-old boy named Lucas. I want to welcome you all with a warm heart and ready for an exciting year. I am looking forward to working with our future leaders to enrich our children's minds.

I have been a caregiver and educator for twenty-one years ranging from infant care to fifth grade. I am a mother and grandmother and have always had a passion for teaching and nurturing very young children. I am certified and have a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education.

It is most rewarding to see the progress as each child emerges as a different child from one’s classroom than when they first began. My goal is to help children discover and explore their own potential for learning and gain the confidence to apply what they learn to their own world.

‍

My name is Lorena Barragán, I’m from the country of Colombia. I love New York City and being a part of this community. I am a Psychologist graduated from El Bosque University, with an additional specialty in Educational Psychology from the University of La Sabana. Being an early childhood Teacher to me means putting myself at the service of the community, especially of small minds with big hearts.

I’ve had the opportunity to participate in the International Seminar on Early Childhood Education at Florida International University, and I’ve studied Conscious Discipline in Orlando Florida with Dr. Becky Baileys.  These experiences and knowledge acquired during these years have also been thanks to work experience, in different Public and Private Educational Institutions. I have developed the special educational needs of Functional Diversity program in educational institutions I have worked for Inclusion in the Regular Classroom.

I’m passionate about education, creative arts, and ethics as I am committed to everything I set out to do. I am happy to be a part of the Kinder Prep team!

‍

Hello! My name is Mariіa. I have been working in education since 2015. During this time, I worked with children from the ages 2 to 10 years. I have work experience in inclusive education. I am constantly improving my professional skills and looking for new approaches in teaching, because I am convinced that every child is special and unique.

In my free time I enjoy reading, traveling, cooking and I am interested in psychology.

I am happy to be a part of the Kinder Prep team.

Hello everyone, My name is Josephine Rodriguez. I have been working with tiny humans for 8 years now and have been apart of the Kinder Prep Family since 2020. I’m a proud mother to a handsome boy who keeps me on my toes. Family is extremely important to me which is why I am passionate about keeping children safe and cared for, and Incorporating the children’s personality and diverse backgrounds into the classroom. Education is not just what I do, it is who I am. At a young age, I knew I wanted to be an educator. Since that moment, I have dedicated my life to learning new strategies and methods to engage learners. The past 8 years of my life have been devoted to teaching our future Doctors, Teachers, Artists and etc. Helping children accomplish their goals and become self-sufficient brings me joy. I look forward to learning about my students as much as I hope they look forward to learning from me.

My name is Ashley Reyes, I was born and raised in Williamsburg Brooklyn with my family being from Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. I found my passion for teaching children when I was 16 years old working in an after-school program with younger students. I obtained my associate degree in early childhood education this year and plan to continue pursuing my bachelor's degree. I love working with children of all ages because it allows me to be creative. Being dependable, trustworthy, and responsible are some of the key foundations I provide in our toddler classroom. In my free time I enjoy traveling, shopping, dancing, cooking, and watching movies. I feel privileged to work with such a devoted and kind team here at Kinder Prep. It brings me such joy being a part of this great environment!

Hello, my name is Rochelle Northe. I am 27 years old majoring in childhood education at city college. I have been working in childcare for 6 years with children ages from 3 months to 5th grade. I began my journey as an assistant teacher and now the Lead teacher of the 2-year-old classroom. It has always been a dream of mine to teach children of all ages as children are our future and allowing myself to shape and share my knowledge that other great teachers have taught me unto them, is my true passion. It brings me great joy working with children, their laughter warms my heart and watching them grow every day brings me true happiness. They keep the inner child in my alive as well as allow me to appreciate the little things in life, to laugh and love selflessly. My long-term goal is to become a guidance counselor as I want to help shape the future generations. I feel strongly about listening and understanding their feelings. Being a part of the Kinder Prep team, has allowed me to grow in my passion.

Hello everyone my name is Rahman! I'm a certified Teacher Assistant and a professional Child Care Provider for the last ten years. This fall I'll be continuing my education in Early Childhood Education at Brooklyn College. I have three amazing daughters, eighteen outstanding nieces and nephews. I enjoy spending time with my Family & friends. I love to read, dance, watch tennis and travel. Being around kids has taught me patience and at times you have to put yourself in their little shoes. One of the things that makes me smile with kids is that you know they may not be paying attention but they're definitely listening. That lets me know I'm doing something right. I plan on continuing to share my unique experiences with Kinder Prep Brooklyn Heights.What I hope for all the kids is, when they transition into chapters of their life's that it's ok to fly a kite, jump in puddles, pretend, build a fort, play in the rain, pick your nose, run around barefoot & imagine. Dream big & whatever they decide to be in life make sure it makes them happy.

‍

My name is Claudia Amador and I am from the country of Venezuela.  Working with babies and children brings me lots of joy, as I get to creatively express myself with our little learners. Being trustworthy, reliable, and responsible are amongst my top pillars of this incredible field. Next being creative and passionately seeking the creative arts in my free time to paint and dance are also important to me.

In addition to working in early childhood, I also work with  for teen-aged young adults in my church and also I had the experience of being a camp guide. My studies have been focused on Speech Therapy, so I like teaching and working with children on how to develop their language skills. In addition to the fun day ahead, children also learn Spanish with me!

I am currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Borough of Manhattan Community College. I have over three years of experience working with children ranging from the ages of 1 to 3 years old. I chose to work with children because ever since I was a little girl, I always wanted to be a teacher. I find my inspiration everyday through working with little children and knowing I am a part of their first school experience. I feel that it is a gift to me to help them explore the world around them. 

I was born in Ecuador and moved to the US in 2006. In my free time I enjoy Zumba, shopping, working out, traveling, hanging out with friends, watching movies and cooking.

Joining the Kinder Prep team has made me grow in so little time and I feel lucky to be teaching in a loving environment where children can learn and experience new challenges that will help built their confidence. Kinder Prep is a place where children can grow socially and emotionally. We strive every day to provide a lasting love for education in each child that comes to the center. The most exciting moment is seeing one of your students apply the skills that you have thought them, working with little children is patience, flexibility and love. Kinder Prep is a special place, and I feel very fortunate to work alongside such dedicated and warm-hearted teachers.

‍