Helen Kim, Head Teacher

"My name is Helen. I like giraffes because they are tall, and they can see real far. They're also very friendly. I like to travel, and I love to take walks."

Helen holds a BS in Early Childhood Education and an MA in Literacy Education from NYU. When she isn’t uncovering the silly sides of children, she enjoys traveling and sleeping in. She also finds gift-wrapping therapeutic.

Nelcia Cadoo, Teacher

"Hi, I am Nelcia. I like to cook, listen to music, and read. I have three birds at home."

Nelcia’s smile is legendary around the Lincoln Road Playground. It’s a smile that starts brightening kids’ days at early drop-off and never fades. Nelcia came to the school seven years ago and she is now a teacher for the Twos.

Kimberly Morales, Teacher

"Hi, my name is Kimberly. I'm always smiling. My favorite colors are blue and purple. I love dogs. I like to dance and listen to music. My favotire food is sushi."

Since 2006, Kimberly has helped to ease the Butterflies transition from home to the classroom. Kimberly has a BA in Psychology and Education with an Early Childhood Education concentration from Touro College. She is working toward her Masters degree.

Vernessa Felix, Head Teacher

"Hi, I'm Vernessa. I like cats and dogs. My favorite food are rice and pasta (but not together). Yum!"

Known for making even the shyest turtles come out of their shell, Vernessa has a knack for putting the kids in her class at ease. She is also pursuing her MSW from Columbia and her MA from Bank Street. She specializes in art projects and relishes in the joy of students discovering new textures and colors.

Peggy François, Teacher

"Hello, I'm Peggy. I like to sing and dance. I enjoy eating food. I love to start my days off greeting my friends with a nice warm hug."

Word on the Maple Street is that Peggy is “more funner than the whole world.” She also has a ‘Wayne Brady-esque’ gift for impromptu sing-a-longs. But Peggy isn’t resting on those laurels; she is getting a BA in education and behavioral science.

Dorcas Acevedo, Teacher

With her enviable fashion sense and natural way with kids, Dory is an all-star teacher. She came to Maple Street in 2005 as an intern from Kingsborough College. Dory is currently enrolled in BA program in Psychology and Education at Touro College.

Jennifer Smith, Head Teacher

Hi, I'm Jenn. I like reading all kinds of books. I like getting messy during art time. I like food a lot."

She is the ringmaster of the Rocks class and makes sure that everyone has a chance to be in the spotlight. When Jen enrolled her first child at Maple Street, she loved it so much she stuck around. She is now head teacher for the Rocks and loves every minute of it.

Ann Marie Elley, Teacher

"Hi, my name is Ann Marie. I am the proud mother of two. I am originally from Trinidad. I love to embrace new families. I make a mean veggie salad. My best feature is my smile."

Ann Marie’s hugs are currently being studied by the United Nations in an attempt to find alternative ways of peacekeeping. Since 1997, she has been bringing her joy to Maple Street where she guides little ones as they spread their wings.

"Hi, my name is Habby. My favorite hobby is dancing. I really like playdough. I collect shoes and love cool shiny shoes!"

Habby’s dance moves defy time and space. He is on par with Spiderman in inspiring awe in children. Since 2003, he has been helping Maple Street find its footing and get its groove. It is through dance that he is able to make individual connections with the kids at Maple Street.

Lisa Gauches, Teacher

"I like to play my piano and sing. I like to make things grow, and to tramp around in the wilds of Prospect Park."

Lisa studied theater and music in New York and London, and specializes in children’s theater and education. Her students love her so much that they want to visit her at home, believing all they need to do is “take the train.”

Barbara Culbreath, Teacher

"Hi, I am Barbara. I like drums, dancing, the ocean, and Anansi the spider."

Barbara came to Maple Street over twenty years ago as a parent. She believes life should be fun and brings that sense of fun to her teaching. She is a bookaholic who also loves creating things with her hands. When she grows up she WILL write a children’s book.

Jeremy Zmuda

Jeremy has a degree in Music Education from the Berklee School of Music and has been teaching children since 1998. At Maple Street since 2005, he loves that children are eager to learn, have no inhibitions and will try anything.

Kathrynn Diallo, Afterschool Director

"Hi, I am your Afterschool Director. I love creating and dancing. My favorite food is cornbread. My favorite drink is sweet tea."

KD brings the funk to the funkiest pre-school on earth. She keeps the party going long after the school day ends. She is pursuing a degree in Education and working on her teacher’s certification in anti-gravity yoga. As if that wasn’t enough fun, she also like to dance and perform.

Nikki Calonge, Teacher

"Hi, my name is Nikki. I like to ride my bike and play with puppets. I'm looking forward to eating fun snacks and dancing in Afterschool."

Nikki holds a B.F.A. in Drama from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. She is thrilled to be a part of Maple Street's Afterschool Program! When she's not reading stories or making faces she likes to ride her bike around Brooklyn, play with puppets, act, and dance.

Marisa Wallin, Teacher

"Hi, I'm Marisa. I like baking pies. I also like making art with sparkly things. I am feady for Afterschool yummy cooking, expressive theater, and playing with trains. I am a great conductor! Toot! Toot!"

Marisa has a BFA from NYU. In addition to being an Afterschool guru, she works as an administrator for Groundswell Community Mural Project and is an actor and writer. For fun, Marisa does yoga as much as she can, rides her bike all around Brooklyn, takes photos of everything, and reads tons of books!

Wendy Cole, Director

"Hi, I am Wendy, your Director. I help the school run smoothly and safely. I hope you have fun playing, singing, pretending, dancing, jamping, and being part of Maple Street. I love books, chocolate, flash lights, and flowers. I love to make up songs and stories with my children and all the children at Maple Street."

Wendy loves empowering children to be free creative and playful and she is often dressed up and parading right beside them. She has both a master’s in social work from the University of Minnesota and a master’s in Educational Leadership from Bank Street College, and a BA from Mount Holyoke College.

Michelle DeFossett, Business Manager

"My name is Michelle and I am the Business Manager. I am a mom. I love chocolate chip cookies."

Legend has it that leprechauns turn to Michelle for help finding pots of gold, because of her skill in all things financial.  She graduated with a BA from Vassar College and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.