Teacher Bio’s

INFANT ROOM

MS. JESS – Infant Room Lead Teacher, Level II

  • B.A. in English & A.S in Early Childhood
  • Previous Lead Teacher experience working in a childcare setting for 10+ years
  • Started at Rich Beginnings in June 2022
  • CPR/First Aid Certified & MAT certified

MS. DEB – Young Infant Lead Teacher, Level II

  • A.S in Liberal Arts/ Early Childhood Education
  • Has 34 years of experience working with children
  • Started at Rich Beginnings August 2022
  • CPR/First Aide Certified & MAT certified

MS. MEG – Infant Room Teacher, Level I

  • Started at Rich Beginnings June 2022
  • Has 5 years of experience working with children as a nanny, at the YMCA, and at the Pittsford Rec Center
  • CPR Certified
  • Red Cross Babysitting Certification

MS. HAILEE – Teacher Support

  • Started at Rich Beginnings September 2022
  • Attends Monroe Community College
  • Hailee is teacher support and working part time during the school year and more hours in the summer and on school breaks

TODDLER ROOM

MS. STEPH- Toddler Room Teacher, Level II

  • Communications degree from SUNY Brockport
  • Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certified
  • Infant/Toddler CDA
  • Previous childcare, camp counselor and nanny experience
  • Experience working in all the classrooms at RB over the past 10 years
  • Started at Rich Beginnings May 2017 (Full time), previously worked at RB while in high school and in college part time, also attended RB as a child
  • Steph became a teacher because she enjoys watching the kids grow up and bonding with the families

“Ms. Steph-your energy and love for the kids is unrivaled. Each time we pick Raegan up she is running around getting into some sort of trouble with you, these days usually covered head to toe in sand! We know that she loves being in the toddler room and a large part of that is due to your presence. She even started babbling about “Ms. Sef” at home. We just adore you- and its very clear that Rae does as well!” – Nikki & Chris 2019

MS. HEATHER – LEVEL II (Maternity Leave Acting Lead)

  • B.A degree in Early Childhood Education and Health Science from SUNY Brockport
  • A.S degree in Fire Protection from MCC
  • Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certified
  • 10 years lead teacher experience working in a child care setting (Bates-Rich)
  • Heather is thrilled to be at our Rich Beginnings Location with such amazing staff and families

Ms. Heather will be acting Lead Teacher for Ms. Steph while she is out on maternity leave

MS. KELLIE – Toddler Room Teacher, Level I

  • Started at Rich Beginnings in 2017
  • Early Childhood Education Certificate from MCC
  • 5+ years’ experience working with children in a child care setting
  • Experience working in the all the classrooms at Rich Beginnings

MS. EMMA – Toddler Room Teacher Aide 

  • B.A. in French from Nazareth College
  • Previous experience working with children through Partners for Learning and as a life guard at Seabreeze
  • Started at RB April 2022
  • Emma loves arts and creating art with the children!

TWO’S ROOM

MS. CHELSEA – BIGS Room Teacher, Level II

  • Started at Rich Beginnings in January 2020
  • Currently obtaining CDA from the Child Care Council
  • Studied at FLCC
  • Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certified
  • Has previous experience working with children as a babysitter & as a mother
  • Experience working in all the classrooms here at RB
  • Chelsea loves watching each child’s personality grow and it makes her smile when they hit new milestones

MS. GAIL – Two’s Room Teacher, Level I 

  • Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certified & MAT certified
  • Started at Rich Beginnings September 1982
  • Gail became a teacher because she is amazed how children love to learn
  • Gail’s favorite Rich Beginnings memory is seeing the expressions on children’s faces as they turn over logs and rocks to find bugs and worms while exploring the trails

“Ms. Gail was always so sweet to Anna. She has a way of making every kid feel that they are her favorite! She made the twos room feel like a home away from home for Anna and she sent so many pictures to us of her daily activities. It made us feel very connected to Anna and it made us remember why we love the daycare so much and all the special things they do with the kids. All the teachers in the room are wonderful but there’s something special about Ms. Gail. We felt this way when Julian was in the room too!” – Nancy & Brian 2019

MS. BROOKLYN – Two’s Teacher Aide

  • Started at Rich Beginnings August 2022
  • Has previous experience working in a child care setting
  • Brooklyn finds teaching very rewarding

BIGS ROOM

MS. SHANNON – BIGS Room Lead Teacher, Level II

  • Early Childhood Education at MCC
  • Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certified
  • Experience with toddlers, 2’s, 3’s, Pre-K and school age children
  • Started at Rich Beginnings September 1993
  • Shannon became a teacher to make a difference in how young children experience learning. She strives to teach to each child’s style of learning. Shannon is happy to have the privilege of teaching
  • Shannon’s favorite Rich Beginning’s memory is: “Over the past 27 years I’ve had so many great memories! Building strong bonds with the children and families always tops my list and those are what motivate me to create great memories each yeah I am here!”

“Wyatt adores Miss Shannon and gets excited when he sees her “truck” parked outside some mornings when we arrive. He talks about her constantly and has even named one of our house plants ‘Miss Shannon’. I’ve often joked that Wyatt seems to have a little crush on her and I think it’s evident that they all do. She is so excited to see them, listen to them, encourage them. She has been a blessing to him and our family.” – Maggie & Ryan 2019

MS. KACI – BIGS Room Teacher, Level I

  • Currently working on Early Care Certificate from MCC
  • Started at Rich Beginnings May 2022
  • Experience working in a childcare setting
  • Kaci loves teaching in an environment where children are encouraged to be hands on learners

MS. KORAL – Teacher Aide

  • Studied Art and Humanities at Portland University & Antioch University
  • 3 years previous experience working as a teacher assistant at a Waldorf School in Seattle & Hawaii
  • Started at Rich Beginnings October 2022
  • Koral really enjoys teaching children of all ages

PRE- K

MS. KAYLEIGH – “Ms. W” – Pre-K Head Teacher

  • Bachelors of Science in Education from SUNY Fredonia
  • Currently working on Masters degree
  • Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certified, MAT certified
  • Experience working in Early Childhood Grades 1-9
  • Started at Rich Beginnings July 2017

“Sawyer loves having Ms. W for a teacher, and loves talking to her about the rhombus! He also has a new appreciation for sloths. Her easygoing personality accepts all the children for who they are. Her dedication is giving them a strong foundation as they prepare to enter Kindergarten!” – Erica & Mike 2019

MS. NINA – Pre-K Teacher, Level I

  • Attended college in Pakistan for teaching
  • 35+ years teaching experience in Pakistan and many years’ experience working at centers here in the Rochester area, mother
  • Started at Rich Beginnings October 2015
  • Nina became a teacher because she loves kids and find this career respectful
  • Nina’s favorite Rich Beginnings memory is: When a 4-year-old pointed out to her that she wears a lot of black and asked her if she only has 1 color and she told them that it goes with everything, and now tries to wear a new color every day

“There are many mornings when I have to drop our daughter off early and she is one of the first to arrive, and not always ready for me to leave her. To help make this a little more easy, Miss Nina danced for Marlowe one morning, this was all it took to get a smile out of her and to start her day at Rich Beginnings. Miss Nina is always helpful with drop off and pick up and has Marlowe’s cubby organized for us. THANK YOU!” – Charles & Louise 2018

MS. DOMINIQUE – Pre-K Teacher, Level I/ Summer Camp Counselor 

  • Currently attending Brockport for Education
  • Started at Rich Beginnings December 2017
  • 5 years’ experience working with children
  • Worked in all the classrooms here at Rich Beginnings and as a Camp Counselor for our School Age summer camp

EARLY KINDERGARTEN

MS. APRIL – Early K Head Teacher

  • B.S. in Psychology and Elementary Education
  • Experience as a Special Education teacher in LeRoy, NY School District and Pre-K teacher in Lyons, NY
  • 15+ years owning and operating in-home day care
  • Started at Rich Beginnings February 2022
  • Ms. April loves planning activities that are fun, engaging and provide hands-on learning experiences. She loves to sign and dance along side the children

“Ms. April is an amazing teacher! Her knowledge of early childhood development and love for students make her an ideal educator.  Our son comes home from school happy and eager to share all that he has learned.  We are so impressed with his academic and social progress this year.  Ms. April is a gem and we’re grateful every day that she is our child’s teacher.”   -John and Annie 2022

SCHOOL AGE I & II – After School Program

MS. MARISA- Assistant Early K Teacher & School Age Teacher/ Summer Camp Counselor 

  • Bachelors in Psychology from Nazareth College
  • Experience working with children as a private nanny and working in an after-school program at St. Joe’s School
  • Started at Rich Beginnings January 2020
  • Marisa enjoys helping children grow, learn and realize their potential

SUMMER TUTOR

MRS. KAREN MORALES 

  • Master’s & certified to teach Pre-K through 6 grade
  • Summer one-on-one tutor a few days a week
  • Teaches in the RCSD – 21 + years

OFFICE

MS. CINDY – Owner & Director

MR. HARRY – Owner

MS. JEN – Assistant Director, Level II Teacher

  • Infant/Toddler CDA
  • Infant/Child CPR and First Aid certified, MAT Certified
  • Associates Degree from MCC in Business Administration
  • Experience babysitting, coaching youth girls softball, mother of two
  • Experience working in all the classrooms at Rich Beginnings
  • Started at Rich Beginnings January 2007 (2007-2019 Toddler Room Teacher, 2019 – present Assistant Director)
  • Jen became a teacher because she enjoys molding young minds and teaching at RB has made her a better mom!
  • Jen’s favorite Rich Beginnings memory is: Too many to name over the years! Every day there is something new to add to the list, that’s why I love my job!

“Milo loves getting up in the morning and going to school. One of the things that he looks forward to the most is getting to see his teacher, Ms. Jen. When I pick him up at the end of the day and ask what they did at school he always says (with great enthusiasm), “Projects!” Milo loves all of the different creative and fun projects Jen finds for them. I am deeply appreciative of the time and energy that she spends on this work. She is so much more than what you find at many daycare/day school settings; she isn’t just watching my son for me she is truly helping to teach and form him into the little boy (and eventually big boy, and eventually man) that we want him to be. Jen, please know that Milo loves you unconditionally and completely.”  – Kevin & Erika 2017

FLOATS

MS. EMMA M.- Float

  • Currently attending Brighton High School
  • Started at Rich Beginnings September 2021
  • Emma floats 3-6 in various classrooms M-F

MS. CHLOE – Float

  • Currently attending Brighton High School
  • Started at Rich Beginnings September 2021
  • Chloe floats 3-6 in various classrooms a few days a week

MS. LAUREN B. – Float

  • Currently attending Brighton High School
  • Started at Rich Beginnings September 2021
  • Emma floats 3-6 in various classrooms M-F during the school year and longer hours in the summer
  • RB alumni

MS. LARA – Float

  • Currently attending Brighton High School
  • Started at Rich Beginnings September 2021
  • Lara floats 3-6 in various classrooms M-F during the school year and longer hours in the summer
  • RB alumni

MS. ELLA – Float

  • Currently attending Brighton High School
  • Started at Rich Beginnings September 2022
  • Ella floats 3-6 in various classrooms M-F during the school year and longer hours in the summer
  • RB alumni

MS. SOFIA – Float

  • Currently attending Brighton High School
  • Started at Rich Beginnings June 2022
  • Sofia floats when available
  • RB alumni

MS. MADELINE “Maddy”

  • Started at Rich Beginnings October 2022 – currently in training
  • Maddy is our full-time float who subs in all the classrooms
  • She has experience with children, helping to raise her much younger siblings

MS. MARIELLE

Starting March 2023

Bio coming soon!

SUMMER/SCHOOL BREAK FLOATS

MS. JULIA – Float

  • Currently attending college for speech therapy
  • Experience working at RB while in High School
  • Started at Rich Beginnings May 2017
  • Julia floats during school breaks and summer vacation

MS. HANNAH – Float

  • B.S. in Physical Education
  • M.S. in Education with concentration in Athletic Administration
  • Coaches’ women’s basketball for St. John Fisher
  • Experience working as a camp counselor at the YMCA
  • Started at Rich Beginnings September 2020
  • Floats when in the basketball off season

MS. KAREN – Float

  • Currently attending college for Education
  • Experience working at RB while in High School
  • Started at Rich Beginnings August 2019
  • Karen floats during school breaks and summer vacation