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Lourdes Scholarship

298 6th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 965-3135
fax (718) 965-0381

Teachers

Our incomparable teaching staff is Brooklyn Free Space's biggest strength. Our staff has a long tradition of staying at BFS for years and years -- and many who move on find their way back to us later. BFS doubled in size for the 2007-08 school year. In growing from two to four classrooms, we welcomed, or welcomed back, some new staff members. We are happy to be beginning (or resuming) long, fruitful relationships with these teachers.

Educational Director

Stacy Roupas

BA in Anthropology, MA in Education
NYS Licensed Teacher
Teacher since 1995. Teacher at BFS for 3 1/2 years before moving to Brooklyn New School; returned to BFS as Assistant Director and Head Teacher in 2007; Educational Director as of Summer 2008.

Stacy believes a day at BFS should "help each child feel engaged, to feel empowered. Preschool should help the young child experience the joy of learning about the world around us, and to express their creativity freely in an emotionally responsive environment." She is tremendously excited by the challenge of ensuring the continuity of the amazing BFS legacy of warm, loving, creative early-childhood education, in partnership with the wonderful staff of teachers, while also helping to foster and support the changes and growth of a dynamic community institution.

Rainbow Classroom

Lillian Fincher

Rainbow Room Head Teacher

BFA in Dance, MA in Early Childhood Education
Taught dance and yoga for 2 years in Chicago; Taught Pre-K for 2 years for the DC Public Schools.

Lillian believes that early childhood is an amazing period in a person's life. she enjoys supporting young children to become independent, caring, and crititical thinkers who contribute to a positive classroom community. She also loves bringing her dance and yoga background into the classroom to show students another way they can express themselves.

Devora Unger

Jitterbug Room Assistant Teacher

Working on BA in Education
Started at BFS in 2007

Fun facts: "I did ballet for 14 years. I love traveling, and have been to Hawaii, Israel, India, France, Amsterdam, Peru and Ecuador."

Mally Toro

Rainbow Room Assistant Teacher

BA in Art and Spanish
Child Development Associate Certification
Teacher at BFS since 2004

Mally says, "When the kids are doing and having fun, they are learning." She pays attention to each child's interests, asking: What intrigues this child? What would this child really like to do? In one Rainbow child's highly detailed drawings, Mally sees elements of earlier conversations about science, math, art, and narrative. "The ideas are mixed in surprising ways. "Look! See? She.s got all this in her head, It's all there."

Sunshine Classroom

Joanna Valenza

Sunshine Room Head Teacher

BA in Early Childhood Education, and MA in Early Childhood Environmental Science
NYS Licensed Teacher
Teacher at BFS since 2006

"I've wanted to be a teacher since I was five," Joanna says. "I used to set up my own classroom, complete with an apple and a model desk. When my father saw me writing 'lessons' on the wall, he bought me a giant chalkboard." Joanna especially enjoys using art projects, stories, and experiments to get children excited about science topics and the special features and events of each season.

Camille D'Agosto

Sunshine Room Teacher

Child Development Associate Certification
Teacher at BFS since 2004

For Camille, an important part of teaching young children is to help them accept their friends and themselves. "I want them to feel comfortable with who they are, and to get along with one another. I want them to know there is more good than bad in the world, and to be happy about what they are." Watching the children grow and become more independent, and contributing to their development, has been a source of great satisfaction and excitement. Camille is warm and funny, and greets students cheerily with lines like, "Where's my wink?"

Maria Rosa

Sunshine Assistant Teacher

Currently Attending Brooklyn College, and will soon recieve BA in Early Childhood Education
Started at BFS in 2008

She feels that she is a caring and loving person, and that she brings this to her work with the children through being patient and understanding to their words, feelings and needs. She feels that she can thrive as a teacher at BFS.

Dragonfly Classroom

Aida Gongora

Sunshine Room Co-Head Teacher

Working on BA in education
Child Development Associate Certification
Teacher since 1989, at BFS since 1992

Aida is renowned for her gift of helping children to develop emotional self-awareness and empathy while they explore the world around them. With her gentle, wise guidance, children learn to pay attention to and articulate their own feelings and those of others, which enriches and expands the classroom learning environment as a whole. She says, .Children want to be loved and understood. They learn best with open-ended questions and hands-on activities.

Christine Long-Gabel

Dragonfly Room Co-Head Teacher (on leave)

BFA in Theater, MA in Early Childhood Education
NYS Licensed Teacher
Assistant Kindergarten Teacher at Brooklyn Friends before coming to BFS in 2007

Mrs. Gabel believes that the best way for children to learn is from their experiences and through creative play. Giving children opportunities to be independent and encouraging positive self-esteem are very important objectives for Mrs. Gabel. She says, "I strive to create a family environment where children feel safe to explore new hands-on activities, as well as learn about the world around them". A former musical theater performer, Mrs. Gabel places high value on the arts, and incorporates music, dance and acting into her teaching every day.

Odalys Lopez

Dragonfly Room Substitute Teacher

Currently Attending Brooklyn College, and will soon recieve BA in Early Childhood Education
Started at BFS in 2008

Odalys believes children learn best through hands on activities and exploring. "Children who are given support and encouragement will be creative and adventurous learners". She has an enthusiastic outlook on challenging a child's mind, and strives for children to get in touch with their intellectual minds and their indiviuality. In the classroom she enjoys to make it a fun, loving and safe environment. Since all children are unique they become more interesting and she learns from them as well. Fun Fact: Names I have been called by children: Odallas, Dolly, and Dalys.

Stacy O'Hanlon

Drangonfly Room Assistant Teacher

High school diploma
Ten years childcare experience
Started at BFS in 2007

Stacy is the newest member of the BFS staff. She brings a natural ability to relate to children individually and within a group. Stacy is currently taking classes at Touro college working towards her bachelor degree in Early Childhood Education. She has quickly become a valuable and popular presence in the classroom.

Jitterbug Classroom

Daniela Vancurova

Jitterbug Room Head Teacher and Assistant Director of BFS

BA and MA in Early Childhood Education
24 years teaching experience
Teacher at BFS since 1988

Daniela believes that children learn best about the world through spontaneous and creative play. She likes to help enrich the well-rounded harmonious development of the children in all areas from physical, cognitive, emotional, moral, and social to artistic. She believes in respecting the individual personality of each child, and in creating a trusting and emotionally rich family atmosphere in the classroom. Encouraging independence and self-esteem in the children, and a well-balanced communication and cooperation with the families are her main goals. Daniela.s lively warmth makes the children around her blossom. Fun fact: "I.ve been called [by kids]: 'Dayanella,' 'Dandilela,' 'Danooeva,' 'Yella,' and even 'Mommy' — by mistake."

Theresa O'Hanlon

Jitterbug Room Assistant Teacher

High School diploma
30 Years Childcare Experience
Started at BFS in summer 2007

Theresa's warmth, humor, and kindness made her an instant favorite with the children of BFS. "Children seem to enjoy the way I can make up funny words for situations. Such as 'kanoogle': when two heads bump into each other."

Dolores Hickey

Rainbow Room Assistant Teacher

Teacher at BFS since 1985

Dolores believes that building a good foundation of learning for each child begins with establishing a loving relationship not only with the child, but also with the child's entire family. "I will do anything to get a laugh and make the children happy," she says. "I love to dance, too. Give me some good music, and I'll do a Lindy!"

Additional Teachers & Staff

Laura Pollakoff

Administrator

Laura works part time as the school's administrator. She is the parent of 1995 alumna. She manages many financial and administrative aspects of the school in coordination with the educational director and the Steering Committee. She performs all banking, prepares the budget, monitors cash flow, oversees IRS tax filings and other required government reports, and administers the teacher pension plan.

Suzi Shelton

Music classes

Suzi is a local kid's "rock star" whose reputation grows ever larger. Her first CD, Simply Suzi, won a 2006 Parents' Choice Award, iParenting Media Award, and Children's Music Web Award. Her second CD, No Ordinary Day, will be released in early 2008.

Amy Yang

Art classes

Amy is a professional artist with a BFA in Photography from NYU.

Cat Martino

Yoga and Movement (Jitterbugs and Dragonflies)

Cat has been teaching artist in NYC schools since 1999. She has created a unique movement class that integrates her yoga and dance training, as well as her musical background as a singer-songwriter.

Gabrielle Moisan

Art (Jitterbugs and Dragonflies)

Gabi has an MFA in studio art from Stonybrook University, and is a freelance art teacher of young children and adults. She is currently completing her early childhood and visual art certification for NYS.

Jump for Joy

Dance & Movement classes

Jump For Joy's curriculum focuses on the connection between movement and human development, utilizing the links between physical patterning and mental growth in children. Jump For Joy sparks the child's natural creativity in a positive, open atmosphere. The child is encouraged to discover his/her own solutions to carefully structured movement challenges.

Laura McGrade

After School Teacher

Teacher at BFS since 1994

Laura says, "My first responsibility is to guide the children and help them establish confidence and at the same time give them all the tender loving care they need." Fun fact: "Sometimes when I read to the children I change my voice to match the characters in the book and become a little animated and goofy. The kids love it — they shout, 'More, more!' It's hysterical for all of us."