Ellen, Ed.D., Director
Ellen is the Director and Owner of the program. She holds an educational doctorate from Teachers College Columbia University and a Masters degree from New York University. She also completed an Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Leadership at Bank Street. For more than 15 years she was an Associate Professor of Education at Touro College’s Graduate School of Education, teaching classes in early childhood education and early childhood special education. In addition, she has worked with children from birth through young adult in various formal and informal education settings for more than 15 years. Ellen is a professionally certified teacher in early childhood general and special education, music and theater and holds a professional school building leader certificate. She has presented at several national and state conferences on topics in early childhood and has been published several times in peer-reviewed journals. She lives in Brooklyn with her 3 children.
Jessica, M.S.Ed., Assistant Director
Jessica has been in the educational field for almost 20 years. She has been with Giocare since 2014, where she began teaching 3 and 4 year olds while also acting as the first Program Coordinator for the school. At the time, Giocare was growing from a small home-spun program, with only 6 teaching staff. Jessica is an Assistant Educational Director supporting our growing community of families and teachers. She has a background in creative writing and a BFA in Theatre Arts. She has always had a passion and interest in working with children alongside the importance of imaginative play. Jessica’s early years involved teaching in theatre camps and enrichment programs with this value of play at heart. Jessica earned her M.S in Childhood Education from Hunter College while teaching in public and private settings in NYC and New Jersey. After her first years of classroom experience, Jessica found her niche in Early Childhood, working with preschoolers and pre-kindergarteners. Jessica has earned additional Masters level certifications in Early Childhood Education as well as Early Childhood Students with Disabilities from Touro College. Jessica has been living in Brooklyn since 2016 and is currently calling Windsor Terrace her home with her husband Stephen and their son, Daniel who they affectionately call Danny.
Dinelle, M.S.Ed., Assistant Director
Dinelle has worked at Giocare since 2012 (the first employee!) and has worked with all age groups. She is currently one of the assistant directors and the Program Coordinator/Curriculum Developer. She has her Bachelors from City College in Early Childhood Education and holds a Masters Degree in Early Childhood General and Special Education from Touro College. She holds her professional teaching certification in Early Childhood. She also has served as a summer camp co-director for many years. Dinelle likes to go on vacations with her family, hiking, eating out, painting, decorating for parties and doing events for her church. Dinelle is mother to one daughter, Jadelle (also working at the school) and a son Daniel.
Kate, M.F.A., Arts & Culture Coordinator
Kate, M.F.A., Arts & Culture Coordinator Kate has been with Giocare for 10 years as our Art teacher, also a few summers as a Camp Co-Director, and for 2 years she was with our Pre-K groups. She is excited to continue providing a weekly art special for each class and help coordinate school-wide cultural events and activities. In addition, she heads up our weekly music and movement program. Kate has a background in Theater Design with a MFA from Yale University and a BS from Eastern Kentucky University. She is a parent of 2 boys, and lives nearby in the neighborhood. Her husband is co-owner of Mama Tried, a bar in Sunset Park.
Stephanie, M.S.Ed., Lead Teacher
Hello! My name is Stephanie Baichu, I have earned my Bachelors at CUNY York College in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a minor in Sociology. I also hold my Masters In Early Childhood Education/ Special Education at CUNY Brooklyn College. In the past, As an educator I have worked with children from 2- 6 years old. I have spent the last six years here at Giocare, where I worked with the pre-k for about 2 years, and this is my fifth year working with the toddler 2’s! I absolutely love it! I love watching them grow from the time they enter in September until June! The outcomes are always amazing! At home, I live with my 3 year old old boy, Ethan and infant Evan who bring much joy to my life!. My family are my life and I love working with the little ones! I look forward to working with you and your child this year!
Mona, B.A., Assistant teacher
Mona is thrilled to being her first full year with Giocare after joining in February. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Sociology and prior to starting with Giocare was a substitute paraprofessional with the DOE where she learned of her love for working with the littlest children. Previous to this she worked as an afterschool counselor with YMCA.
Tayyaba, A.S., Assistant Teacher
Hello Mimmo Families! My name is Tayyaba (pronounced Tai-bah). I hold an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education and have been a early childhood educator for around 5 years now. Teaching has been my childhood dream and I grew up admiring the stories of my late grandmother who inspired me to be a dedicated teacher like her. My goal is to help students achieve their social-emotional, cognitive, physical, and language milestones. I would like for children to feel welcomed and loved while growing developmentally appropriate. I look forward to being a part of your child’s journey and meeting all of the wonderful families!
Dorjana (Dory), M.S.Ed., Lead teacher
Dory is entering her fifth year of teaching at Giocare. She holds a Bachelors of Arts from Brooklyn College in Childhood Education, grades 1-6 and a Masters in Special Education, Birth to Second grade also at Brooklyn College. She holds teaching certificates in Grades 1-6 and Children with Disabilities Birth-Grade 2. She has worked in all age groups and is thrilled to be in Bambini this year! She also has three cats, Falafel, Lucy and Milo!
Dallandyshe (Ada), CDA, Assistant Teacher
Ada has been with Giocare since 2015 and has worked with our youngest group of children. She holds a Child Development Associate credential from CUNY and previously worked as a provider in a local group family daycare for a number of years before joining us. Ada also previously ran our now closed Play Spot programming. Ada has lived in Albania and Greece but has made Brooklyn her home now for many years.
Shanna, B.A., Associate Teacher
Hello all 🙂 My name is Ms.Shanna, and I am an associate teacher this year in the Amici classroom. I am 26 years old and a first generation Guyanese-American and the first in my family to graduate from college. I recently graduated with my Bachelors Degree in childhood education! Early childhood is an interest for me because in the future I hope to open up my own facility. So I am just taking it in and learning from those with years of experience as they will help guide me in the long run. Two fun facts about me are, I love listening to music and I love to travel. Teaching has always been a calling of mine and I am excited to see all the progress we will accomplish together!
Cassie, A.S., Assistant Teacher
Cassie is excited to start her role with the bambini class this year. She holds an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education and has worked with children for two years. Previous to this she worked with an elementary aged afterschool program. She resides in Brooklyn.
Magda, M.S.Ed., Lead teacher
My Giocare Families, this is my third year with Giocare Playschool and a second year as a Crescente Lead Teacher. I am a NYS Certified Teacher, and I hold a master’s degree in early childhood education from Brooklyn College. My journey as an educator began a decade ago and I have been fortunate to have experience in a variety of play based and public schools among diverse communities. The main principle of my teaching philosophy is the social emotional development of the child, which is a foundation for all the other learning areas. When our children have secure relationships and feel free to explore the world around them, they feel loved and important, therefore they can learn and grow in other parts of their development. My favorite word in the classroom? Yes! Yes, let’s try and see what happens! I am also a Reggio Emilia inspired educator where the environment is a third teacher. I had the pleasure of attending the Reggio Emilia International Study Group in Reggio Emilia, Italy in April, which was a wonderful experience. My goal is to create an environment that feels like home, where children feel comfortable using their creativity, imagination, being kind to each other, and grow in confidence.
Ann, B.A., Assistant Teacher
Ann has been at Giocare for a little over a year, and this will be her second year in Crescente. Prior to Giocare, she completed her Bachelor’s in Child Studies with an emphasis on Early Childhood Education from Santa Clara University. At Santa Clara she worked part time at the preschool on campus in 3’s and 4’s classrooms. While completing her degree she conducted research in Social Emotional Learning at the same preschool. When she is not teaching, Ann enjoys watching football, traveling and reading! She is looking forward to another fantastic year full of laughter, adventures and lots of books
Leomaris, B.A., Assistant Teacher
Hi. My name is Ms. Leomaris Mendez, and I am so excited to teach the 2 year olds again this year at Giocare Playschool. More importantly, I am thrilled to be your child’s teacher. It’s going to be a fun year full of lots of learning and new adventures! I have been with Giocare since 2017 as an extended day teacher, floater teacher and most recently, assistant classroom teacher. I hold an Associates in Early Childhood Education from BMCC and a Bachelors degree in Psychology at Brooklyn College. I am bilingual and fluent in Spanish.
Melanie, A.S., Assistant Teacher
I’m Melanie. After taking a break from being at of Giocare (Assistant teacher 7 years from 2013-2020), I’m thrilled to be back! I hold an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education from BMCC. I believe in creating a nurturing and loving classroom where children can feel safe, seen, & thrive. Witnessing their growth and development is truly rewarding. I look forward to celebrating milestones with each child and building strong connections with their family. I have a fur baby, Viola. Some of my hobbies & interests include making treats for parties/events, roller blading, nature walks, and health & wellbeing. I’m looking forward to a fun & exciting school year
Deseree, M.S.Ed., Lead teacher
Deseree has been with Giocare since 2013 teaching both 2 and 3 year old children. She holds a Bachelors degree from Brooklyn College in Children and Family Studies and a Masters in Early Childhood General and Special Education from Touro College. She holds a professional teaching certification in Birth-Grade 2. Deseree is mother to her daughter, Kimora, her son, Khalil and a cat named Harmony.
Lauren, B.S., Associate Teacher
Lauren has been a teacher at Giocare since 2017. Prior to joining us, she was a lead preschool teacher for 5 years in San Francisco, where she was born and raised. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from San Francisco State University and went back to school to complete her Associate’s degree in Child Development and Family Studies at City College of San Francisco. Lauren lives in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens with her husband and her dog, Otto. In her spare time she enjoys baking and cooking, reading, trying new restaurants, going on adventures with her dog, and attending music shows. Lauren is looking forward to a fun year of building relationships with the children and families as we all learn and grow together!
Jadelle, Assistant Teacher
Jadelle is excited to enter into her 4th year at Giocare as an Assistant teacher. Jadelle started to work with Giocare in the summer of 2019 as a sub and then went on to work for the full summer in 2020 and 2021. During the 2020 school year, she worked as a permanent sub and really enjoyed the experience in being in multiple classrooms and learning the different ages and stages. She had a home in the mezzo classroom last year, and she is excited to be again working with the Piccolo 2s class!
Elyse, M.S.Ed, Lead Teacher
Hello. My name is Ms. Elyse. I am so happy to be one of your child’s first teachers and begin their educational experience with fun, positivity and encouragement. I would like to share some information about myself. I have a Master of Science in Childhood Education from the College of Staten Island. I have been a certified teacher for 20 years, with approximately the last 14 years spent concentrating on Early Childhood Education. I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a teacher. It is my life’s goal. Formerly I taught elementary grades, but I quickly realized that my heart is really in Early Childhood Education. I really enjoy being with the little ones and seeing the world through their eyes. Early Childhood Education is play based, and I am here to guide the children as they learn. I encourage exploration through play. Play is their “job” at this age. It is how young children learn and grow. I believe in using only positive reinforcement in the classroom and I am very dedicated to your children. I want to build a close relationship with each child and family in our class. I will do whatever I have to for your child to feel comfortable and have a positive learning experience. I am very excited to join the staff at Giocare Playschool. I hope this will be the start to a lifelong love of learning for your child. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns that you may have throughout the year. I am here to help.
Andrea, B.A., Assistant Teacher
My name is Andrea. I’m from Colombia which means I am a Spanish speaker. I’ve been working with kids for the last 10 years; I came to the United States 3 years ago as an Au pair in a cultural care exchange program. I lived two years in Colorado and moved to New York a year ago. Before I came to the U.S. I was a pre-k lead teacher and English teacher in Colombia. I have a Bachelor’s degree of Arts in Early Childhood Education. In my experience I’ve learned that every child is a different world and that every child learns in a different way. I am passionate about curriculum design and crafting engaging lesson plans that incorporate playful activities to foster children’s development. Observing the growth and progress of students is immensely rewarding to me. My personal interests are personal development reading, weightlifting and traveling.
Danielle, B.A., Associate Teacher
My name is Danielle McQueen. I currently hold a duel degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Medgar Evers College and am certified as an Early childhood and Special Education teacher. My mission is to continue my career in Education therefore I am starting my second year in a Masters program. For the past 13 years I have been working with children and have 5 years of experience in a school setting. As an Early Childhood Educator I always look forward to children having fun while learning. I love to see the excitement on my students faces and listen to the thousands of questions they ask! That is how you know you have their interest. I look forward to this school year and know my students will not only grow developmentally but enjoy the learning experience.
Michelle, B.A., Lead Teacher
Hello Families! I am Ms. Michelle and I will be the lead teacher this year for the piccolo class! I graduated from Borough of Manhattan Community College in the Spring of 2022. I then went over to Brooklyn College and got my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in psychology in Spring of 2024. I am currently enrolled in the master’s program at Brooklyn College to continue and further grow in Early Childhood Education/Special Education. This is my third year at Giocare Playschool, and I’m looking forward to transitioning into the Lead Teacher role this year. I’m excited to work with the 2’s and get to know my students and their families. I was born and raised in Brooklyn around the Greenwood area. Outside of work, I like to go explore new places outdoors, and spend time with friends and family.
Vari, M.S.Ed, Lead Teacher
Hello, Amici families! I am an experienced early childhood teacher of many years, having taught pre-k at Giocare since 2015. A major part of my teaching career was also spent as a kindergarten teacher in a district 15 public school. My majors were in elementary and early education (for Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees) at Hunter College. 30 credits above my Master’s were taken abroad in different parts of the world. I was also a participant in the Reading and Writing Initiative Program at Teacher’s College. My hobbies include writing stories, poems and songs for young children (I have happily shared them with the children that I have taught over the years). Gardening and studies about Nature is also a love of mine that I bring into my classes every year!
Cori, M.S.Ed., Lead Teacher
Hi Medio families! I am Ms. Cori. I’ve worked at Giocare for seven summers and just finished my third full school year this past June. I am so excited to be starting my 2nd year as a Lead teacher this year!! Before Giocare, I worked as a head start teacher and home visitor while finishing up my degree seeking education. I have an undergrad degree in psychology and a masters in school counseling, both from St. Bonaventure University in Western New York. Because of my educational background I love to focus on social emotional growth in the classroom, which can be linked to all aspects of learning, even academics! Personally, I love animals, nature and the outdoors.
Clarice, B.A., Assistant Teacher
Clarice is thrilled to begin her second year at Giocare working with the Prek classes this year. Clarice graduated in 2022 with her Bachelors Degree in Psychology with more than 15 credits in early childhood from College of St. Rose in Albany. Previously she worked as an afterschool teacher and a private caregiver. She is looking forward to continuing her education soon. She resides in Brooklyn with her husband.
Makayla, B.A., Assistant Teacher
Hello! My name is Makayla, and I’m thrilled to join the Giocare team! With four years of experience working in preschools, I’ve developed a deep love for nurturing young minds and hearts. As a Brooklyn native, I bring a vibrant energy and creativity to the classroom. In my free time, I enjoy expressing myself through drawing and digital art. I have my Bachelors in Psychology and plan to get my Masters in School Counseling. My goal is to make children feel safe and loved while helping them learn and grow!
Carina, B.A., Assistant Teacher
Hello my name is Carina and I am excited to continue at Giocare for the 2024-2025 school year. I have an Associates in Early childhood education and a Bachelors in children and youth studies. I was born in the Bronx and raised in Brooklyn. I love to travel and go on walks around my neighborhood. I am very excited to learn from my coworkers and all the children. I am also happy to bring my experiences and knowledge Into the classroom.
Michael Gierlach, B.S., Assistant Teacher
Hello all! My name is Michael and I have been working as an assistant teacher for PreK at Giocare for a year now. I am also Pursuing my masters in Early Childhood Education at Brooklyn College. I believe kids having fun while they learn will help them absorb the most out of an activity while motivating them to learn more! It was always fun to see their reactions when they learn something new and when they ask lots of questions! I can’t wait to make new friends and memories with the PreK class this year!