Katherine Thompson     2′s Lead

After graduating with undergraduate degrees in graphic design and  psychology from Syracuse University, Katie discovered her true passion was teaching! She went back to school to get her certification and Masters in Early Childhood Education and has been teaching ever since.

Katie started at Perry School in 2010 and fell in love with the staff, environment, and most importantly, the kids! Working with such a young age group, Katie’s philosophy is to create in every child a love of learning, a happiness in coming to school, and a newfound independence as he/she begins their exciting educational journey.

Melina Gac-Artigas   2′s Assistant

She loves working with young children and has been teaching baby, toddler and child yoga classes in the city since 2007. She also teaches process focused art classes for toddlers and infant massage workshops in Brooklyn. She is happy to join the Perry School family this year as the 2′s Assistant Teacher.

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Marissa Bergman 3′s Lead

Marissa earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Theater from Wheaton College, MA where she developed a passion for education and children’s theater. Marissa has worked in various children’s theaters and programs across the country including Norton Youth Theater, Seattle Shakespeare Company, and Camp Bravo: A Theater Arts Summer Camp.

Upon moving to New York, Marissa began assisting at a Brooklyn not-for-profit early childhood education program. She assisted at the Perry School in the summer of 2012, and is proud to be leading the 3s in the 2012/2013 school year. She uses her theater background to encourage imagination, creativity, and acceptance in the classroom.

Liz Gabel 3′s Assistant

Liz Gabel grew up in the Village where she went to West Village Nursery School and VIllage Community School. She holds a degree from Duke University and from Bank Street College of Education, where she got her Master’s in Early Childhood Education.

Living in the West Village, I see my family and old friends often. Liz’s interest, in addition to children and teaching, include cooking, animals, reading and travel. Liz is very passionate about education, and hopes to share her excitement and love of learning with all of her students.

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 Tejal Shah   4’s and Think Tank

Originally a native New Yorker, Tejal earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a focus on Early Childhood Development from Simmons College in Boston,MA.

When we first met Tejal in the summer of 2010, Tejal was teaching a 2′s/3′s for non profit literacy based schools in Brooklyn.  She worked closely with the children in the classroom and their parents to help empower them through workshops as their child’s first teacher.  By the end of the summer, we asked her to stay and become part of our school as a lead teacher for our 3′s and 4′s program.

Tejal believes being a preschool teacher is the best job in the world!  She is constantly inspired by the children and how they look at the world around them and passionately dedicates herself in providing a warm, enriching, creative learning environment which encourages children to explore, ask questions, and develop a life long love of learning.

Lauren Dooley   4′s

In 2010 Lauren completed her New York State student teaching requirements graduating from SUNY Plattsburgh with a degree in Early Childhood Education (Birth-6). She is currently attending CUNY Hunter to complete her Masters in Early Childhood Literacy. As a teacher with a background in art, she is dedicated to the development and actualization of the creative potential of her students. Lauren strives to create a classroom setting where students will feel free to explore new ideas in an atmosphere that is visually stimulating.

Lauren has been with the Perry School family since the summer of 2010. In these last two years she has been committed to using her art background to help in providing an environment for children that feeds the imagination while helping them learn how to observe, question, and explore ideas while maintaining an understanding of mutual respect and acceptance. She tries to combine the abstract with the conventional to continually boost the children’s self-worth.  Not only has Lauren been such a crucial part of our preschool, she has been instrumental in our after school program, Go Pop Kids, as our set designer and resident artist.