kelsey Nathaniel   |  executive director for the school

Kelsey obtained her undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology from Loyola University Maryland.  Upon graduation, she moved to Bangkok, Thailand where she taught English to students aged 3-10. In 2013, Kelsey moved to Savannah, Georgia to complete her graduate work in speech-language pathology at Armstrong State University.  Settling in New York, Kelsey began work as a speech-language pathologist in the early childhood setting. Kelsey first came to CHP to provide speech therapy services to a few of our children. In 2018, she joined our faculty as a classroom teacher and was instrumental in launching CHP’s DEI initiative. In 2021, Kelsey moved into the Education Director role after returning from parental leave following the birth of her son, Mack. In the Fall of 2023, Kelsey became the Executive Director for the School.

stacy foote  |  executive director for operations & enrollment

Stacy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism/English Literature from Baruch College in New York City.  She spent the early days of her career working as a corporate event planner on Wall Street. For seven years she worked in this fast paced environment planning conferences, closing dinners, golf outings and seminars.  Although the hours were long, the position brought her to exciting places such as Europe, Asia, and beyond.

After the birth of her first child, Stacy took a hiatus from the workforce to stay home with her children.  She was very involved in the PTA at her children’s school at the time, PS 58 The Carroll School.  In 2011, she returned to the paid workforce and joined the team at CHP. Born and raised in Brooklyn Heights, Stacy has very fond memories of attending Grace Church Nursery School and The Packer Collegiate Institute from K-12th grades.

Outside of CHP, she enjoys going to movies, swimming in the ocean, and spending time with her two children and cats Oliver and Holly.

elise birrittella  |  teacher

Elise is excited to enter the role of Curriculum Coordinator at CHP this year after teaching the morning only threes last year. She comes from a long line of educators and has always known that working in a school is her passion. Elise graduated with a BA in English Literature from Binghamton University and then received a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Hunter College. She worked at Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn Heights for three years, where she taught children ranging in ages from three to six. She then taught at Barrow Street Nursery School in Greenwich Village for six years, working with four and five year olds.

Elise became a part of this wonderful community five years ago when her two children attended CHP. She served as the secretary for CHP’s Board of Directors for three years and really enjoyed learning more about the school during this time. In her free time she loves to read, explore Brooklyn with her family and take long walks. After taking a few years away from teaching to support her children during their own CHP years, Elise is happy to be back in school working with all of the teachers and children!

Arielle Stein | teacher

Arielle holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Brooklyn College, and she brings to CHP over eight years of experience working in preschool classrooms, including Saint Ann’s School, Chickpeas Cooperative Preschool, and Prospect Kids Academy. She is trained in Reading Rescue, an early reading intervention used in public schools across New York City. She loves working in and around literacy with young children, and during her first year at CHP, produced a full play wherein all aspects of the project were child-driven, from the initial idea to the script writing to stage and scenery creation and, of course, the actual production. Arielle also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from the Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York, and continues to design jewelry in her spare time. Arie lives in Williamsburg with her fiancee.

samantha hunt  |  teacher

Samantha is delighted to bring to CHP her love of working with children and her years of experience in the arts. Samantha attended SUNY Brockport, obtaining an undergraduate degree in Studio Art, and later received a Master’s Degree in Art Therapy and Mental Health Counseling from the College of New Rochelle. She has worked for 15 years in the arts, ranging from work in art museums and galleries, as an art therapist in varying mental health settings and as an art teacher in several nonprofit organizations. She continues to create her own art work regularly and shows work in galleries throughout New York State. Samantha truly believes in arts’ incredible capacity to foster meaningful connections and personal growth in all ages, as well as the importance of maintaining a space of encouragement and acceptance.

nancy dean-hunt |  Art specialist

Art Specialist Nancy Dean-Hunt brings to CHP her passion, dedication and training in visual arts and early childhood development where she introduces students to visual arts as a means of exploring their thoughts, feelings and ideas. Nancy’s relationship with CHP began in 1993 when her first child was a student, and she joined CHP as a teacher in 1998.

Nancy’s interest in art began in nursery school and continued in the public schools of Winchester, Massachusetts, as well as in many specialized art programs including the Intensive Visual Studies Institute at Phillips Andover Academy.  She holds a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design and a Child Development Associate Degree from Bank Street College. Nancy continues to paint on commission.  During the summer, she often assists her husband, an art fabricator, on projects for many renowned clients.  Nancy and her husband are also a singing/songwriting duo whose music has been featured in half a dozen independent films.  Their five albums include the 2005 national release “Broken Wheel” (Rustic Records) and recently independently released “Dream World.” 

anna gothard  |  music & drama specialist

Anna joined the CHP team in 2021 as the Music Specialist, and she is excited to expand her role to include music and drama. She brings over 10 years of experience as an early childhood educator and working musician in NYC as well as a passion for curriculum design to the CHP classroom. Anna has worked with a number of learning institutions in the last decade, from the Brooklyn Preschool of Science to independent tutoring and pod learning with families at P.S. 321. Anna graduated from Muhlenberg College with a dual degree in Theatre and Music, and also studied abroad for a semester, studying physical theatre and mask work at Accademia dell'Arte in Tuscany. Along with being a backup vocalist for a few albums, Anna led a folk-pop band, the Anna/Kate Band; their album is on streaming platforms, and they have performed 100+ concerts in the tri-state area and abroad.

In her spare time, Anna loves to do anything and everything in nature, including gardening, going on runs in Prospect Park and swimming in lakes after a long day of hiking. She lives in Brooklyn with her wife, their son, and their sassy cat, Tonks.

nancy dickerson | assistant teacher

Nancy, like many of our faculty members, first found CHP as a parent. She joined the staff as a substitute teacher in 2018 and the following year as an assistant teacher. She holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin and BSN-RN from SUNY Delhi. Nancy brings her knowledge and enthusiasm for the arts, science, and Carroll Gardens to the CHP classroom. Nancy was born 40 minutes south of Green Bay, WI. She met her husband while working as a Features Art Director in San Francisco. Fifteen years ago, they relocated to Brooklyn and fell in love with the neighborhood. They adopted a son in 2012. When not at CHP, Nancy enjoys DIY projects, birds, travel, the arts, biking, supporting Brooklyn Public Library and St. Ann's Warehouse, and cheering on the Green Bay Packers.

angela manfredonia |  assistant teacher

Angela brings to CHP a passion for early childhood education, music, and theater. A graduate of The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, she moved to NYC to pursue a career as a singer and songwriter. She worked as an actor/singer at Sesame Place for six years (she is very good friends with Elmo), and more recently as a Kid Expert at Curated Care. In her spare time she can most likely be found writing new music, hanging out with her cat Kevin, or painting portraits of pets!

Angela loves singing, dancing, coloring, and crafting with children, and she is thrilled to delve deeper into the field of early childhood education alongside the experienced faculty at CHP.

patrycja mlynarska |  assistant teacher

Patrycja brings to CHP a wealth of experience working with children.  A college graduate in her native Poland, Patrycja uses her education in tourism and recreation to enhance her career working with children.  She has worked as a nanny for over ten years in Brooklyn and Manhattan.  She is enthusiastic about expanding her work in early childhood education at CHP.  When not at work, Patrycja loves hiking, especially when she happens upon a waterfall.

julie veto |  LEAD TEACHER

Julie joined the CHP staff in 2019, bringing with her a wealth of experience working with children as a mom, a parent at PS 32, and a parent volunteer at Plymouth Church. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Julie spent her early years in the development department at The New York Botanical Garden. Following the arrival of two children, she spent several years as a full-time mom, which included serving on the PTA at PS 32 as well as serving on the Children’s Education Committee at Plymouth Church. Julie came to CHP when her children were older and fell in love with being a teacher. This is her 5th year in our Twos classroom and she is currently pursuing her Masters in Early Education at Hunter. Julie lives in the neighborhood with her two high school aged children, her husband, and her dog, Piper.

julian friedman | assistant teacher

A native New Yorker, Julian is a former attendee of LaGuardia High School and Binghamton University, where he focused his studies on physics and mathematics and focused his interests on the theater. Prior to joining the team at CHP, Julian worked with young children in a science based summer program and has extensive experience in the theater - as an actor, a member of stage crew, and as a teacher/trainer working with older students. Julian’s most important credential is that he is a graduate of CHP! He considers himself a lifelong student who loves the give and take of teaching.

allegra ranelli | assistant teacher

Allegra is thrilled to bring her years of childcare and non-profit educational experience to Cobble Hill Playschool! Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Allegra began volunteering at Yale-New Haven Hospital in high school where she first discovered her passion for working with children. She then started teaching at New Haven Reads, a community library and after school program that aims to provide a more equitable educational landscape by offering access to books and promoting literacy within her underserved school district. This experience inspired her to seek out more teaching opportunities that centered community empowerment and celebrated curiosity within a creative environment.

Allegra earned her BA in Russian and Eastern European Studies from Wesleyan University, where she also studied social, cultural, and critical theory as well as oil painting. She began teaching music in the after school program at IRIS, an integrated refugee and immigrant services organization. Through teaching kids about life in our world, mathematics, and community through music, she saw first hand the impact that nurturing a child’s natural creativity has on their developing sense of self. She aims to create a safe and welcoming environment where children can express who they are with open-minds and develop valuable tools for building connection, confidence, and curiosity each and every day she enters the classroom at CHP.

In her spare time, Allegra is a working artist. She loves painting, printmaking, and discovering new artists to admire. She is excited to join the creative community here in Brooklyn and, of course, to be teaching at CHP!

luke dixon | president, board of directors

Luke is dad to CHP alum Rafe, who will enter kindergarten this year, and Bram, who begins CHP in the 2s program this year. This will be his third year on the Board, having previously served as Director of Facilities. Luke has a background in middle school education and administration, and is excited to help make the CHP space conducive to learning and play. Contact: president@cobblehillplayschool.com.

Jaime caldwell  |  vice president

Jaime is the mom of CHP alums Katie and George, and Charlie, who will return for his 3rd year at CHP in our 4s program. This will be Jaime’s third year serving as Vice President. Previously, Jaime has served as the Board’s President as well as on CHP’s community events and alumni committees. When she's not at CHP, Jaime is the Girl Scout Troop Leader for her daughter's neighborhood Brownie Troop. Contact: vicepresident@cobblehillplayschool.com.
 

elizabeth germano  | treasurer 

Elizabeth is mom to Evie, who has returned to CHP in the 4s program. This is her first year on the Board of CHP. Elizabeth is a mathematics professor at St. Joseph's University in Clinton Hill where her research focuses on celestial mechanics, mathematical biology, and other applications of differential equations.
Contact: treasurer@cobblehillplayschool.com.

andrew toledano  |  secretary

Andrew is a two-time CHP parent and lives in Carroll Gardens with his wife and two daughters. His older daughter loved her time at CHP so much that she requested to repeat Pre-K. His younger daughter joins the 2s program this year.

Andrew is a co-founder and the Chief Client Development Officer at Kepler Group, a digital marketing and media agency headquartered in New York. Andrew graduated with BAs in Economics and Public Policy Studies from Duke University and then received an MBA from Columbia Business School. And he is an NYC native with no interest in ever moving back to Manhattan. Contact: secretary@cobblehillplayschool.com.

daphne jordan | director of diversity, equity & inclusion

Daphne Jordan is mom to recent CHP alum Laurel, and Beckham, who is on his second year at CHP in the 3s program. Daphne works in financial compliance, which has limited overlap with early childhood education, outside of her love of rules. This is her first year on the board and she's looking forward to partnering with Kelsey to further CHP's DEI initiative. Contact: dei@cobblehillplayschool.com.

charlotte wessell  |  director of fundraising

Charlotte is mom to Lee, who is returning to CHP this year for the 3s program, and future CHP-er Wren. This is her first year on the Board of CHP. In her day job, she works in higher education advancement and board relations.Contact: fundraising@cobblehillplayschool.com.

amy davis | director of special projects

Amy is excited to join the board during her children's "gap" year. Amy is mom to CHP alum, Emily, and future CHP-er Oliver. Amy is a proud native Minnesotan and Brooklynite transplant. In her day job, she works in Trust & Safety, writing product policies and advising on abuse risks at a technology company. She feels so lucky to have found CHP and its delightful community. Contact: specialprojects@cobblehillplayschool.com.

michael harlan turkell  |  director of marketing

Michael Harlan Turkell is dad to Gil, who is returning to CHP this year for the 3s program. This is Michael’s first year on the board. Michael, a once aspiring chef, now photographer, cookbook author, and podcast host, for years, captured the inner workings of kitchens for Edible Brooklyn and Edible Manhattan for years, and was nominated for a James Beard Foundation Award for his recurring series. He's also photographed over a dozen cookbooks, co-authored a couple, and even wrote and photographed one of his own: "ACID TRIP: Travels in the World of Vinegar", which won an IACP Award for Culinary Travel Writing. For the past decade, he's also hosted podcasts for Heritage Radio Network, Food52, and Modernist Cuisine, most recently recounting the art, history and science of pizza on the Modernist Pizza Podcast. He now teaches food photography at New York University, and continues to explore the world for the superlative slice. Contact: marketing@cobblehillplayschool.com.

kelsey bailey  |  teacher representative

Kelsey obtained her undergraduate degree in speech-language pathology from Loyola University Maryland.  Upon graduation, she moved to Bangkok, Thailand where she taught English to students aged 3-10. In 2013, Kelsey moved to Savannah, Georgia to complete her graduate work in speech-language pathology at Armstrong State University.  Settling in New York, Kelsey began work as a speech-language pathologist in the early childhood setting. Kelsey first came to CHP to provide speech therapy services to a few of our children. In 2018, she joined our faculty as a classroom teacher. In 2021, she was instrumental in launching CHP’s DEI initiative, work she will continue in her new role as Education Director.

Born and raised in Ringwood, New Jersey, Kelsey has settled in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. Kelsey brings with her an extensive background working with both typically developing and non-typically developing children. When not at CHP, Kelsey enjoys spending time at the Jersey shore, practicing Irish dancing, and exploring Brooklyn.  

jana montero  |  director of community events

Jana is mom to CHP alum Kai, who entered first grade this school year, and Miley, who is in her second year at CHP in the 3s. Previously, she helped run CHP’s Silent Auction Fundraiser for two years and worked as a member of the Community Events Committee. Born and raised in Queens, the New York City native has been a Brooklyn resident for over 16 years. Jana has a degree in Business Journalism with a minor in Education from Baruch College and started her career writing for Billboard, BizBash, and Hospitality Design magazines, later joining the world of public relations. Currently, she leads company culture efforts and strategic planning for a client roster of more than 80 as the Vice President of Communications at UpSpring, a PR and digital marketing agency serving the architecture, interior design, product manufacturer, and real estate communities. Contact: community@cobblehillplayschool.com.

jess memoli |  director of parent jobs

Jess is mom to Jake who will return for his 2nd year at CHP in our 4s program. This is her first year on the Board, and she is excited to make a contribution to CHP's wonderful community. Jess has a background in clinical social work, and currently works as a psychotherapist in private practice. Contact: parentjobs@cobblehillplayschool.com.