Teaching Staff

Our teachers bring care, creativity, and deep expertise to every classroom.

Meet our educators

Our teachers bring expertise in early childhood education together with a deep understanding of how young children learn through play, exploration, and relationships.

Working closely across classrooms and specialist programs, they create nurturing environments where children feel known, supported, and confident to follow their curiosity.

Leadership team

Our leadership team guides CHP’s educational approach, school operations, and partnership with families, working closely with teachers to support a thoughtful and connected school experience.

Kelsey Nathaniel

  • Kelsey obtained her undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology from Loyola University Maryland.  Upon graduation, she moved to Bangkok, Thailand where she taught English to students aged 3-10. In 2013, Kelsey moved to Savannah, Georgia to complete her graduate work in speech-language pathology at Armstrong State University.  Settling in New York, Kelsey began work as a speech-language pathologist in the early childhood setting. Kelsey first came to CHP to provide speech therapy services to a few of our children. In 2018, she joined our faculty as a classroom teacher and was instrumental in launching CHP’s DEI initiative. In 2021, Kelsey moved into the Education Director role after returning from parental leave following the birth of her son, Mack. In the Fall of 2023, Kelsey became the Executive Director for the School.

Stacy Foote

  • Stacy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism/English Literature from Baruch College in New York City.  She spent the early days of her career working as a corporate event planner on Wall Street. For seven years she worked in this fast paced environment planning conferences, closing dinners, golf outings and seminars.  Although the hours were long, the position brought her to exciting places such as Europe, Asia, and beyond.

    After the birth of her first child, Stacy took a hiatus from the workforce to stay home with her children.  She was very involved in the PTA at her children’s school at the time, PS 58 The Carroll School.  In 2011, she returned to the paid workforce and joined the team at CHP. Born and raised in Brooklyn Heights, Stacy has very fond memories of attending Grace Church Nursery School and The Packer Collegiate Institute from K-12th grades.

    Outside of CHP, Stacy enjoys going to movies, swimming in the ocean, and spending time with her two children and her cats, Oliver and Holly.

Elise Birritella

  • Elise is excited to enter the role of Curriculum Coordinator at CHP this year after teaching the morning only threes last year. She comes from a long line of educators and has always known that working in a school is her passion. Elise graduated with a BA in English Literature from Binghamton University and then received a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Hunter College. She worked at Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn Heights for three years, where she taught children ranging in ages from three to six. She then taught at Barrow Street Nursery School in Greenwich Village for six years, working with four and five year olds.

    Elise became a part of this wonderful community five years ago when her two children attended CHP. She served as the secretary for CHP’s Board of Directors for three years and really enjoyed learning more about the school during this time. In her free time she loves to read, explore Brooklyn with her family and take long walks. After taking a few years away from teaching to support her children during their own CHP years, Elise is happy to be back in school working with all of the teachers and children!

Lindsay Rigby

  • Lindsay is excited to join the Cobble Hill Playschool community as Auxiliary Programs Coordinator. She holds her B.S. in Child & Family Studies with a concentration in child development and community outreach from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She spent the last five years as Assistant Director of Communications at a Manhattan Montessori school, and trained and began working as a postpartum doula in 2022. Before transitioning into school administration, Lindsay worked for many years as an early childhood educator in Montessori and Reggio Emilia early childhood classrooms.

    Originally from eastern Tennessee, Lindsay moved to Brooklyn in 2017 and now lives in Greenwood Heights with her husband, partner, daughter, and dog. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, quilting, cooking, and exploring the city with her family.

Classroom staff

Our classroom teachers build close relationships with each child and create environments that encourage independence, collaboration, discovery, and play.

Andrea Shuman

  • Andrea has been teaching early childhood in Brooklyn for 12 years. She grew up in Chicago with her parents and two sisters who loved living in the city as much as escaping it. She learned to love people and food as well as trees and lakes and frogs. Andrea stayed in the midwest for college, earning a degree in Elementary and Special Education, and during this time she had the opportunity to teach at an international school in her mother's hometown of Guatemala City. She moved to Brooklyn after college and has been teaching here ever since. Most recently, she completed her M.S.Ed in Language and Literacy from Lesley University and loves to explore language development with children through play, songs, poems and picture books. Prior to joining CHP, Andrea taught pre-k and kindergarten in a few different Brooklyn communities including Red Hook, Downtown Brooklyn, and Fort Greene. The opportunity to teach in various settings and communities has led Andrea to a passion for progressive and equity-focused education, and for classrooms full of active, hands-on learners who are exploring nature, stories, friendships, and themselves. When not at school, Andrea loves to spend time with her family, which includes her husband, sisters, nieces, and doggy!

Catherine Amore

  • Catherine is a lifelong Brooklynite with a passion for educating the young minds of tomorrow. She has a B.S. in Educational Theatre from NYU and a MSEd in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College. She has many years of experience leading classrooms from birth through preschool and prioritizes progressive learning techniques in the form of emergent curriculum, STEAM activities, socio-emotional learning, and DEIB practices. When she is not teaching or spending time on teacher social media channels, you can find her cheering on the Mets at Citi Field, watching a Broadway show, volunteering for events at Green-Wood Cemetery, or wondering what small pet she should adopt next! 

Alison Logan

  • Alison has been teaching for almost twenty years, twelve of which have been in the Montessori Method. She is a Chicagoland native, though she moved to NYC from New Orleans in July 2024. She holds a BFA Theatre degree from Millikin University in Decatur, IL. Alison is currently getting her MS.Ed in Early Childhood Education from Northwestern Missouri State University. Alison has created numerous extracurricular specials at her former schools, including Creative Movement and Drama. She has also taught Fairytale Ballet, CCD, and Vacation Bible School in the past. Alison also worked at Prairie Fire Children's Theatre, touring and teaching a new city of children a show (Beauty And The Beast) in a week's time. Alison is thrilled to be a part of Cobble Hill Playschool! 

Nancy Dickerson

  • Nancy, like many of our faculty members, first found CHP as a parent. She joined the staff as a substitute teacher in 2018 and the following year as an assistant teacher. She holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin and BSN-RN from SUNY Delhi. Nancy brings her knowledge and enthusiasm for the arts, science, and Carroll Gardens to the CHP classroom. Nancy was born 40 minutes south of Green Bay, WI. She met her husband while working as a Features Art Director in San Francisco. Fifteen years ago, they relocated to Brooklyn and fell in love with the neighborhood. They adopted a son in 2012. When not at CHP, Nancy enjoys DIY projects, birds, travel, the arts, biking, supporting Brooklyn Public Library and St. Ann's Warehouse, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers.

Angela Manfredonia

  • Angela brings to CHP a passion for early childhood education, music, and theater. A graduate of The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, she moved to NYC to pursue a career as a singer and songwriter. She worked as an actor/singer at Sesame Place for six years (she is very good friends with Elmo), and more recently as a Kid Expert at Curated Care. In her spare time she can most likely be found writing new music, hanging out with her cat Kevin, or painting portraits of pets!

    Angela loves singing, dancing, coloring, and crafting with children, and she is thrilled to delve deeper into the field of early childhood education alongside the experienced faculty at CHP.

Caitlin Lee

  • Caitlin is so excited to bring her experience working with children to CHP! Growing up in Los Angeles, Caitlin earned her BA in Communication Studies from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. After graduation, her love of travel led her to Spain, where she taught English to students ages 2-11 and spent her spare time exploring as many new places as possible! In 2022, she moved to Manhattan and accepted an Americorps position at a nonprofit where she taught English and History. In her free time, Caitlin loves to read, bake, and write.

Julian Friedman

  • A native New Yorker, Julian is a former attendee of LaGuardia High School and Binghamton University, where he focused his studies on physics and mathematics and focused his interests on the theater. Prior to joining the team at CHP, Julian worked with young children in a science based summer program and has extensive experience in the theater - as an actor, a member of stage crew, and as a teacher/trainer working with older students. Julian’s most important credential is that he is a graduate of CHP! He considers himself a lifelong student who loves the give and take of teaching.

Lila Rynd

  • Biography forthcoming

Jordyn Perkey

  • Jordyn is a Maryland native and a Brooklyn resident, and has been in early childhood education since their late teens. Getting the opportunity to see children grow and thrive in different environments is the best part of their job, and they feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to see students through different milestones and developmental stages. In their spare time, Jordyn loves to sketch and bake! 

Arts specialists

Visual and performing arts are an integral part of learning at CHP. Our specialist teachers work alongside classroom educators to connect art, music, drama, and movement to the ideas children are exploring throughout the year.

Anna Gothard

  • Anna (she/they) joined the CHP team in 2021 as the Music Specialist and expanded her role to Music and Performing Arts Specialist in 2022. She brings over a decade of experience as an early childhood educator to CHP, as well as a background as a working actor and musician in NYC and a passion for curriculum design. Anna studied at Muhlenberg College and Accademia dell ‘Arte in Tuscany, earning a dual degree in Theatre and Music. Along with being a backup vocalist for a few albums, Anna led a folk-pop band, called the Anna/Kate Band, for many years. Their album is on streaming platforms, and they have performed 100+ concerts in the tri-state area and abroad.

    In her spare time, Anna loves to do anything and everything in nature, including gardening, going on runs in Prospect Park and swimming in lakes after a long day of hiking. She lives in Brooklyn with her wife, their son, and their sassy cat, Tonks.

Nancy Dean-Hunt

  • Art Specialist Nancy Dean-Hunt brings to CHP her passion, dedication and training in visual arts and early childhood development where she introduces students to visual arts as a means of exploring their thoughts, feelings and ideas. Nancy’s relationship with CHP began in 1993 when her first child was a student, and she joined CHP as a teacher in 1998.

    Nancy’s interest in art began in nursery school and continued in the public schools of Winchester, Massachusetts, as well as in many specialized art programs including the Intensive Visual Studies Institute at Phillips Andover Academy.  She holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Child Development Associate Degree from Bank Street College. Nancy continues to paint on commission.  During the summer, she often assists her husband, an art fabricator, on projects for many renowned clients.  Nancy and her husband are also a singing/songwriting duo whose music has been featured in half a dozen independent films.  Their five albums include the 2005 national release “Broken Wheel” (Rustic Records) and recently independently released “Dream World.”