Faculty
At The Learning Community, teaching is an art.
We are passionate about working with young children and helping to guide their growth and development through play-based investigation and discovery. As adults, we model the life-long learning we strive to inspire in our students. We open our minds to new ideas and share our classroom experiences with each other. Through regular staff meetings and workshops, we continually hone our skills, reflect on best practices, and collaborate with one another in order to best meet the needs of the children and their families.
Our teachers come with many years of teaching experience, some having been with LCDS for 25+ years. Whether veteran educators or new to the field of early childhood, we support our teachers in their continued professional development and personal growth.
Admin
Kerryn Griffin
Executive Director
Over the past decade, it has been a tremendous honor to be a part of this vibrant community, where a love of learning is fostered and celebrated every day.
Andrea Berkley
Assistant Director
Watching young children make discoveries, follow their interests, and develop new skills is the most rewarding way to spend each day. It is a privilege to work alongside such a dedicated, thoughtful team of educators.
Aimee Russo
Office Manager
It is a true gift to be able to work among such wonderful families and bear witness to the foundation that is being built here at the Learning Community.
Kathy Sabitsky
Finance Manager
I have been the Finance Manager at LCDS for 30 years. The LCDS staff are a caring and supportive community that have celebrated with me and held me up during challenging times. I truly appreciate these amazing colleagues.
Twos
Jeanne Colonna
Twos Coordinator & Fours Assistant (M/T)
Three Day Twos
I’m honored to be a teacher at The Learning Community! Teachers are respected and we are provided the flexibility and support to plan and implement curriculum utilizing our unique skill set. I am surrounded by an amazing group of educators and humans.
Dara Mechanic
Lead Teacher
Two Day Twos
I love teaching young children because their curiosity, energy, and joy for learning makes every day meaningful and full of discovery.
Silvia Dohme
Assistant Teacher
Two Day & Three Day Twos
Working with Twos is so rewarding because you’re a part of their rapid growth and discovery. They see the world with pure wonder and their excitement for simple things is contagious. It’s fulfilling to help them build a foundation for life skills like sharing and communicating.
Irene Krut
Assistant Teacher
Two Day & Three Day Twos
I love being a part of the LCDS family. Teaching the Twos is one of my favorite age groups because they are experiencing many new things for the first time. I truly enjoy watching their natural discovery and creativity while exploring paint, building with blocks or chasing bubbles.
Suzanne Gautier
Lead Teacher
Five Day Twos
Teaching preschool age children is truly where my heart is. I love watching two year olds explore the world with curiosity and wonder—there’s something magical about seeing life through their eyes.
Mary Benway
Assistant Teacher
Five Day Twos
I love teaching because I find joy in shaping young minds, witnessing their growth and making a positive impact on their lives. LCDS is a very special place where children can feel confident and comfortable in their own skin.
Vishaka H. Mudiyanselage
Assistant Teacher
Five Day Twos
I am truly blessed to work with young children as they bring so much joy and excitement. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing the happiness on their faces when they master a new skill.
Threes
Amanda Beck
Lead Teacher
Working at LCDS reminds me of the quote, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” It doesn’t feel like work when the people you work with feel like family.
Alexandra Gonzalez
Lead Teacher in Training
I genuinely enjoy the thoughtful moments and the bustle of daily classroom life. I aspire to help the children be confident, kind and curious when navigating our routines and challenges. It's truly rewarding to witness their individual growth and to be their comfort while they are in my care.
Olivia Mechanic
Assistant Teacher
I love working at LCDS because it embodies the Einstein quote, “Play is the highest form of research” which emphasizes how play fosters creativity, problem solving, and curiosity. The children don’t even realize how much they are growing through play and it is an amazing thing to witness.
Rachel Dargenio
Lead Teacher
I love teaching at The Learning Community because it’s a place where children’s curiosity is celebrated and their unique voices are valued. Each day brings new opportunities to explore, create, and connect, making our classroom a joyful space for both learning and growth.
Jennifer Dennison
Assistant Teacher
Teaching 3-year olds at LCDS is truly rewarding. Their endless curiosity and enthusiasm turn each day into a new adventure and their joyful discoveries are a constant reminder to appreciate the wonder in life’s small moments.
Lisa Glennon
Assistant Teacher Threes (M/T) & Fours (W)
I love working with young children because of their sense of wonder. Witnessing their excitement as they learn and explore concepts is inspiring to me as a teacher.
Meryl Gold
Assistant Teacher (W/Th/F)
Teaching at LCDS allows me to support young children's growth through creativity, curiosity, and social-emotional learning in a nurturing environment. I find joy in helping each child express themself through music, build meaningful connections, and gain confidence through play.
Gay Fitzgerald
Branches Support Teacher
I love teaching preschool children and being a part of their early learning experiences. I enjoy observing and helping children build meaningful relationships with their friends and develop the ability to be creative and invent their own fun.
Fours
Sarah Devine
Lead Teacher
I love working with the Fours at LCDS because it is an age when so much is happening. It is incredibly rewarding being able to take part in children’s growth and development at such an amazing time in their lives.
Kelly Kocher
Assistant Teacher
Teaching has always been super rewarding, witnessing your children grow in confidence throughout the year is amazing. I absolutely love teaching at LCDS because we are truly a family who love and adore your child each and every day!”
Suzy Bessett
Assistant Teacher
The joy, energy and curiosity of our Fours class warms my heart daily. Seeing the children’s growth makes teaching incredibly rewarding.
Kelly Gipson
Lead Teacher
I love teaching because no two days are ever the same, and every day brings new smiles, challenges, and moments of wonder. LCDS isn’t just a school—it’s a family where we support, encourage, and celebrate each child and each other. It’s truly my home away from home.
Allyson Katz
Assistant Teacher
I love working with young children because of their sense of wonder. Witnessing their excitement as they learn and explore concepts is inspiring to me as a teacher.
Kindergarten
Valerie Greenberg
Lead Teacher
In my classroom, I strive to create a developmentally appropriate environment in which children feel respected, where their opinions, ideas and feelings are heard and valued. It is a playful environment powered by curiosity, creativity, and love of learning.
Penny Miller
Assistant Teacher
Working in kindergarten at LCDS is such a special experience because creativity is encouraged and celebrated every day. I love watching the students imagine and learn with so much joy and curiosity. I feel lucky to be part of a school where teachers and families are so supportive and welcoming.
Brooke Petrosino
Lead Teacher
The community created at LCDS for children and parents is magical. Teaching kindergarteners to love learning, each other, and themselves brings me so much joy.
Maria J Colman
Assistant Teacher
Teaching is a passion for instilling the love of learning in every child, igniting curiosity to fulfill their wonderment about their world. I love providing a platform for every child to find their sense of self, expand their knowledge and develop skills and competencies which will last a lifetime.
Ali Stanley
Kindergarten Support Teacher
I love working at LCDS with colleagues who value the uniqueness of each child and provide experiences that support their social, emotional and academic development. I am honored to work with teachers who encourage curiosity and hands-on learning opportunities.