Meet our teachers
Melissa
Mitchell Jordan,
Program Director, 4s
B.A., Medieval
European History, SUNY Albany; completed 90% of the MAT program in social
studies education, Colgate University; taught 7th grade social studies at
Eastern JHS, Greenwich, CT for 5 years, where I was awarded tenure;
completed 90-hour course in Early Childhood Education; teacher at RPCNS
since 1996, Program Director since 1999.
I first came to RPCNS as a parent when my son was 2
and my daughter was an infant. I enjoyed holding a board position as well
as co-oping in the classroom. I started teaching at RPCNS when my daughter
was in the 3s class. There are many aspects of teaching nursery school I
enjoy. First and foremost I very much enjoy each and every child. They are
so innocent and honest, enthusiastic and curious at these ages. I
literally fall in love with every child. RPCNS is a cooperative nursery
school, which means that I have the pleasure of getting to know each
child's parents and siblings. I have met so many interesting and wonderful
people through RPCNS; it truly has been a very enriching experience for
me. I enjoy the challenge and discipline of putting together a coordinated
lesson plan, from the art project, songs sung, to the stories chosen. And
I love to play with the children.
Kristie Giles, 2s & 3s
B.A., Communication Disorders, University of Florida; Master's
degree, University of Central Florida. Speech language pathologist with certificate of Clinical Competence; former
preschool speech pathologist for the public school system in Pinellas
County, Florida. Teacher at RPCNS since September 2004.
I started
at RPCNS as a parent, when my son, CJ, was in the Fours and
my daughter Katie was in the Twos. I served on the Board and started teaching here in
the fall of 2004. My background is in Speech Pathology. I was awarded
my certificate of Clinical Competence from the American Speech Language and Hearing
Association (M.A. CCC-SLP). I previously worked in Pinellas County, Florida as a
pre-school speech pathologist. I love working with children, and I really enjoy the "family"
atmosphere here at RPCNS.
Ruby Reese Moone Domingue, 2s & 3s
A. A., Secondary Education: Montgomery College; B.
A., English Language Education: Hampton University; M. A. Adult Education
and Gerontology: University of the District of Columbia; 90-hour
certificate Early Childhood Education: Montgomery College; taught
9-months-old to 8-years-old at Kids Moving Company (a creative movement
program) in Bethesda, Maryland; taught 1st thru 6th grade students at
Optimal Learning Center in Germantown, Maryland; teacher at RPCNS since
September 2004.
I have lived in the City of Rockville all my life and
can remember as a child passing along West Montgomery Avenue and noticing
the children playing at RPCNS. While looking for a preschool for my two
younger children and discovering that three of my neighbors have sent
their children to RPCNS, I was very interested. After visiting the school,
I knew this was where I wanted my children to attend. I am honored to be
teaching here at RPCNS as well as enrolling my two youngest sons. RPCNS is
a great place for children to grow and learn. I am a proud mother of four
sons and I am very excited about meeting and teaching your
child.
Eleanor C. Bragin, 4s
B.A., Speech Communication, University of Maryland; M.Ed.
in Early Childhood Education, University of Maryland; M.S. in Continuing
Studies with a concentration in Math and Science, Johns
Hopkins University. Developed science curriculum for Head Start
and math curriculum for Prekindergarten. Developed science curriculum and
taught summer science classes for the Audubon Society. Taught 2s, 3s, and
4s at other private cooperative nursery schools.
I joined the staff of this wonderful school in the fall of 2006. Prior to coming to RPCNS I have worked with or for children for the last thirty years. I taught in Montgomery County as a Mentor teacher in Literacy for the three and four-year-olds, as a teacher for Kindergarten, pre-Kindergarten, and First Grade children, and as a writer for Science and Math curriculum for four-year-olds. I taught young children for five years in cooperative nursery schools. I also worked as a social worker for Protective Services in Montgomery County.
My husband, Barry, of 37 years and I have three
daughters and a fourteen-year-old poodle named Mollee. Two of our children
live in New York City, and one in Boston. Rachel and Leah are educators.
Sarah is a stay at home mom and mother to our two precious grandchildren,
Owen and Celia. Barry and I spend a lot of time with family and traveling.
This coming school year, in addition to visiting NYC once a month, we have
plans to go to Denver, Las Vegas, Chicago, Palm Springs, Tallahassee, and
Lake Tahoe. Next summer we will take a two-week Mediterranean cruise and
spend several weeks in Martha's Vineyard. Other interests include
quilting, reading, swimming, walking and playing Bridge. I love RPCNS! The
staff and parents are committed and very hard working. The atmosphere is
warm and caring. The children have been a delight. I look forward to
another year of teaching, meeting new children and families, and having a
lot of fun.
Laura Dixon, Young 4s Friday Teacher
B.A. , Elementary Education, Grand
Canyon University. MA, Diverse Learner Education, University of
Phoenix.
My husband and I are originally from Phoenix,
Arizona. That is where I earned my B.A. and M.A. My husband and I
currently live in Rockville with our three children. My daughter Daryn
attended RPCNS last year. I thoroughly enjoyed working in her classroom as
a co-oping parent, as well as a substitute teacher. I am very excited to
be returning to RPCNS as a classroom teacher this year
Marianna H. Wise, Music Teacher
BA, Early Childhood Education. Received training
in music education through the Center for Music and Young Children of
Princeton, NJ. Certified Music Together Teacher.
I am originally from Hungary and have been living in the USA for 16 years. I am married and have two children. Music has been a part of my life since childhood. As a child I enjoyed ballet classes and loved it very much. After Kindergarten I was accepted to a special music school, where I learned to play the piano. During the ten years I attended there I performed regularly in concerts and accompanied the chorus. In addition, I also enjoyed being a part of the chorus from elementary school through college.
My dream was to teach and educate children. Now I have 22 years of experience working with children from infancy to Kindergarten, and I have enjoyed every moment of my career. I have worked both as a lead teacher and assistant director in Bethesda for many years, and also at the World Bank Children's Center in Washington, D.C. I joined the Music Together staff in June 2005 after successfully completing the training with the Center for Music and Young Children in Princeton, NJ. I teach in both the preschool setting and in parent-child classes. The Music Together program is designed for children from birth through Kindergarten, experiencing music and movement together with their parents/caregivers. The learning is based on the premise that all children are musical and have the same innate ability to learn music as a language.
I love to listen to music. Music plays a big part
in my life and I am excited to share and teach children and their families
every day.
Michelle D'Amour Flynn, Admissions Director
I joined RPCNS in
the middle of the 2004-05 school year as a parent when my oldest son,
Matty, joined the 2's class. Now that my 2nd son Shawn is in the school
and my youngest, Joe, is anticipating his experience at RPCNS next year, I
can't get enough of telling other families about our great community. Over
the past three years at RPCNS, I have been a Class Rep, the Parent
Services Coordinator and I have also Co-Chaired and took on the "Morning
Massage". I will miss the party organizing and scheduling but I am very
excited about my new role and glad that I will still be part of the board
meetings.
Before I was a mom, I enjoyed two different careers. I taught Physical Education at Holy
Redeemer Elementary School in Kensington, MD part time while I attended Montgomery College and
the University of Maryland. I then moved into a full time career as an office manager for
an Endodontist in Chevy Chase, MD. After my husband Matt and I started to have children,
I chose to stay at home with our three boys. But my "stay at home" status was brief as
I took on the position as Extended Day Director at St. Jane De Chantal School in
Bethesda, MD. Extended Day is the De Chantal's before and after school care program. I
also create artwork for children's furniture and knick knacks for a local vendor in the
fall and winter months
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