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Our Full-Time Faculty Executive Director Since 1992, our director has been working to grow and improve the Friendship Children’s Center. Originally as a parent with two children enrolled in the program, she was a member of the Board of Directors. In 1996, she became the full-time executive director. She has enjoyed putting her degree in Child Psychology and her background in management and administration to work at the Children’s Center. In 2007, she received a Wish List Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Field of Early Childhood Education from the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education for her efforts to expand the school and continue providing high-quality early learning experiences to families in Washington, DC. When she’s not juggling the demands of running two schools, she is busy with her two sons, volunteering at their middle and high schools, cheering for them at sports events, and shuttling them up and down the East Coast as they compete in Soap Box Derby racing.
In February 2002, this energetic member of our teaching team started as a part-time student aide while completing her studies at George Washington University. In the Fall of 2004, after completing her Bachelor of Arts in English, she became our pre-kindergarten teacher. Her fun style, meticulous attention to detail, and her desire to promote a print-rich, literacy-based program, have contributed greatly to her success as Communications Director. With her nose always in a book, our Communications Director also enjoys doing cross-word puzzles and knitting, and visiting her family in New Jersey. One of her favorite books: The Dictionary. Now our Education Director, this integral member of our teaching team began working at our school in 2002 as a part-time aide while studying at George Washington University. In early, 2005, after completing her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication, with a minor in Psychology, she joined our full-time faculty as a preschool teacher. With our school’s expansion, she became the Education Director in August, 2007. Prior to working at the Friendship Children’s Center, she spent five years as a part-time nanny for a family with three small children. She also has experience in the fields of customer service and administration. She likes sailing and entertaining. Coming from a family of teachers, our Education Director knows what it takes to succeed in the classroom and is an excellent resource for our faculty. Seahorse (Infant) Teacher Our Seahorse lead teacher has been working with children since she was 15. She worked for three years in the child development center at her local high school and then came to the Friendship Children’s Center as a part time aide. She joined the full-time teaching staff as an assistant teacher in 2005 and has been the lead infant teacher since early 2007. She is currently pursuing her degree in Early Childhood Education at Montgomery College. A little known fact about this teacher is that she used to Irish Step Dance competitively when she was younger. Now, she loves kick boxing, listening to music, and driving her VW bug around DC. Seahorse (Infant) Assistant Teacher Our Seahorse assistant teacher currently attends UDC and is studying Elementary Education with plans of teaching second grade. Following in her grandmother’s footsteps as a teacher in Washington, DC, she too has the gift for working with children. Before joining our team, she worked at the summer child care program at her church. In her spare time, she loves traveling. She has journeyed to Starfish (Infant) Teacher Leading the Starfish classroom is a teacher who has worked with children for ten years. She has worked in all areas of early childhood education, from preschool to infants. She is currently attending
Starfish (Infant) Assistant Teacher Starfish (Infant) Assistant Teacher This Starfish assistant teacher also sings her way through the day, entertaining the class with her melodic voice. She is currently attending Our Jellyfish lead teacher initially worked at the Friendship Children's Center as a preschool assistant teacher during 2005 and 2006. Prior to leading the toddler program at Friendship Children’s Center, she gained experience working with toddlers at a museum-based child development program located in DC. This energetic teacher is currently pursuing her CDA in Early Childhood Development and has completed the 90 hour certification course in Infant and Toddler Childhood Development. She is an avid reader and also volunteers at her local church. This Jellyfish assistant teacher has worked with children of all ages. She spent three years working with infants and toddlers and has also spent a number of years in a preschool classroom. She enjoys observing the different stages of child development and finds working with toddlers to be both entertaining and rewarding. She earned her CDA in 2000 and actually spent two years in a very challenging EMT training program before settling in the classroom as a teacher. Apart from teaching, she enjoys shopping and styling hair, but above all she loves spending time with her young son, who she says has made the greatest difference in her life. Guppy (Junior Preschool) Assistant Teacher
Our Guppy assistant teacher brings her warmth and humor into the classroom everyday. She loves to act silly and make her students laugh. Beginning in 2003, as a part-time aide during high school, this Guppy assistant teacher accepted the toddler assistant teacher position in 2006. She hopes to go back to school in the near future to study early childhood education. Currently, she is learning sign language, which she is very excited about. She also likes to read and listen to music. A little known fact about this teacher is that she went to the World Series of Softball in 2006 as a pitcher and was voted Gatorade Player of the Year. Guppy (Junior Preschool) Assistant Teacher
This Guppy assistant teacher brings her cheery disposition into the classroom each day. She draws on her experience of being a nanny for the past six years to nurture and teach the junior preschoolers. In addition to being a nanny, she volunteers at her church’s Sunday school and has done so for many years. She is in the process of completing her degree in Family Studies from the Dolphin (Preschool) Teacher
A recent graduate of The American University, the Dolphin assistant teacher is pursuing her Masters degree in Justice, Law, and Society with a concentration in Justice and Public Policy. Her experience with children ranges from working as a nanny during the summers to working with children of all ages as a camp counselor. She also worked during her undergraduate studies at a local children’s center as an aide in the 3-5 year old classrooms. In her spare time, she can’t get enough of playing ice hockey, rollerblading, and watching curling. Her life long dream is to become a professional curling champion. Whale (Pre-Kindergarten) Teacher Graduating from
Whale (Pre-Kindergarten) Assistant Teacher Our assistant in the Whale classroom has plans to be a teacher and has been pursuing a degree in Education at Prince George’s Community College. Her love of children blossomed when she began babysitting at the age of 11. She worked at two different summer camps while she was in high school and continued babysitting until joining our faculty in May of 2007. When she isn’t spreading her warmth throughout the classroom, she is reading, writing, and listening to music. Like her pre-kindergarten class, she loves learning new things.
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