OUR TEAM

MS. MIMOSA JONES TUNNEY

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT

In 2010, Mimosa Jones Tunney firmly believed that she had reached the highest level of human success: her own parking space on the Warner Bros. lot.

The spot – which came from writing on a critically-acclaimed television show – was evidence of her worth. As was directing her first documentary short series and developing a film with Tom Hanks. But it was through writing a mini-series for Oprah and HBO about the Life of Ida Tarbell that suddenly made the parking space seem irrelevant. That… and having her first child.

MS. NICOLE WALKER

LEAD PRIMARY EDUCATOR

AMS Early Childhood Credential, BA in Elementary / Special Education CPR / AED / Epi-Pen Infant / Child and Adult Certified, 6 years of experience as an Educator.

MS. KAITLYN RUSSO

LEAD PRIMARY EDUCATOR

BA in Sociology with a concentration in Human Services, Masters in Social Work, Child Development Associate, CPR/AED Infant/Child and Adult Certified. Over 10 years experience in the Montessori Environment, former curator of the TSH Pre-School Extended Day Program. Currently obtaining her WSMNYC Montessori Certification in NYC.

MS. NICOLE INTOCI

LEAD ELEMENTARY I EDUCTAOR

AMI Primary Diploma, BA in Elementary Education, Students with Disabilities and IT with a minor Psychology, Masters in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Montessori, 7 years of experience as an Educator.

MR. THOMAS TROTTA

LEAD ELEMENTARY II EDUCATOR

BS in Childhood Education from St. John's University with a concentration in history and a Master’s Degree in Childhood Education, CPR/AED Infant/Child and Adult Certified, currently obtaining certification in Montessori Elementary I and II in NYC.

MS. MICHELLE FARLEY

ASSISTANT PRIMARY EDUCATOR

BA in Elementary Education with an endorsement in ESOL & ESE, CPR/AED Infant/Child and Adult Certified, 5+ years of experience as an Educator.

MS. DANIELLA MAGNANI

REGGIO-EMILIA ART EDUCATOR

Master of Arts from Adelphi University in Art Education, Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fine Arts with a minor in Art History and Creative Technology.

MR. JONATHAN KULA

LEAD PHYSICAL SCIENCES EDUCATOR

Bachelor of Science Degree in Health and Physical Education. Licensed Coach. CPR/AED/First Aid Certified. Five years experience as an Educator and Coach.

MR. WILLIE STEEL

LEADER OF THE SCHOOL HOUSE BAND

High School Diploma from Walt Whitman H.S., U.S. Army from 1979 to 1985 Receiver.. U.S. Army Commendation Medal Studied Guitar at W.H. Bauer School 1990 to 1996, 25 years of private music instruction, Two years of guitar instruction at Chaminade High, 4 Years music teacher at Cold Spring Harbor, 32 years as a professional musician.

MS. MEG LEONARD

PRINCIPAL

BA in Elementary/Special Education with a minor in English from Fairfield University, CPR/AED Infant/Child and Adult Certified, Child and Parent Certified Life Coach, 18 Years Educator and Administrative Experience.

MS. JULIE KARL

LEAD PRIMARY EDUCATOR

AMI (Association Montessori International / USA) Primary Diploma, BA in Elementary Education with a minor in Special Education, CPR/AED Infant/Child and Adult Certified, + 7 Years Educator Experience.

MS. JANICE MEANEY

LEAD PRIMARY EDUCATOR

AMI (Association Montessori International / USA) Diploma 0-3 years Certified, AAS Degree in Business, Continuing Education in Early Childhood Education at Suffolk Community College, CPR Infant/Child and Adult Certified, 27 years’ experience as an Educator. Janice was awarded a Grant through Suffolk AEYC (Association for the Education of Young Children) “Celebrating and Exploring Multicultural Families in our Classroom”

MS. LAURE DUVERGER

LEAD ELEMENTARY I EDUCATOR & DANCE CONSULTANT

BA in Engineering, Former Martha Graham Dancer, AMI Primary Educator and currently training for the Elementary environment, certified Positive Discipline. CPR/AED Infant/Child, 8 years experiences working with children.

MS. CHLOE TSIAMES

LEAD ELEMENTARY II EDUCATOR

AMS Elementary I and II Training, BA in English with minor in Elementary Education, Master's in Elementary Education, Adelphi University.

MS. KYLE PLATI

ASSISTANT PRIMARY EDUCATOR

BA St. Joseph’s College with dual certification in Elementary Education and Students with Disabilities (Birth-6th Grade), MA SUNY Stony Brook (concentration in Child Study), NYS Early Intervention Provider, Special Education Itinerant Teacher, 14 years of experience as an Educator.

MS. OLGA TALANOVA

MUSIC EDUCATOR

Ms. Olga graduated from The Moscow School of Music with a degree in Music Education and Performing Arts. She has taught students from the beginner level to National Competitors for over 30 years . She has held tenure at Duke University’s String School, UNC, Cary School of Music and her own private studio.

MS. MIRIAM FLORIDIA

LEAD SPANISH EDUCATOR

Primary Diploma in Elementary Education. National University of Cuyo, Argentina. Bilingual Teaching Training (Spanish as a Foreign Language) University of Jaden, Barcelona-Spain. 5 years of experience as an Elementary School Educator in Argentina and +10 years of experience as a Spanish Educator in New York.

MR. CHARLES M. CORWIN

GROUNDSKEEPER

Greenport High School 1977 & United States Army

MS. JULIET LANE

HQ DIRECTOR

BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan with post-graduate work in Social Work and International Law. She has over twenty years of experience working with children and children’s rights and advocacy.

MS. CASSANDRE ETIENNE-DENIS

LEAD PRIMARY EDUCATOR

AMI (Association Montessori International / USA) A to I Diploma, BS in Elementary Education Pre-K-6, CPR infant, child and adult certified, 21 years of experience as an Educator

MS. DEBBIE (DEBORAH) GIORDANO

LEAD ELEMENTARY I EDUCATOR

Certified Lower Elementary Montessori Teacher, BA in English, 13 years teaching experience, 5 years’ experience as a Special Education assistant.

MS. STEFANIE PIZZOLO

LEAD ELEMENTARY I EDUCATOR

Primary and Elementary I and II Montessori Diploma from Montessori Europe; Bachelor of Science in Human Development with a concentration on Early Childhood Studies, CPR/AED Infant/Child and Adult Certified, 20 years of experience as an Educator.

MS. ANNA COSTELLO

ASSISTANT PRIMARY EDUCATOR

ECE Certified/ BS in Business from St. John’s University / CPR/AED Infant/Child and Adult Certified / 6 years experience assistant educator / 10 years of daycare experience 

MS. ANNA GIULIANA TUCCIO

LEAD SCIENCE EDUCATOR / LEAD ITALIAN EDUCATOR

MS in Molecular Biology, University of Naples

MS. JENNIFER RUSSO

HEAD LIBRARIAN

Master's in Library and Information Science and a Bachelor’s in English. Eight years of experience as a Youth Services Librarian.

MS. JENNA HENNESSEY

SCHOOL NURSE

BS in Nursing, BS in Education, Human and Social Development Minor, Registered Nurse, CPR/AED Infant/Child and Adult Certified