Celebrating 60 Years! 1963-2023
Our Staff
"RPCNS has been an amazing first school experience for both my child and me. I love getting to watch her learn and grow and know that I am part of that process, too."
I joined RPCNS in the spring of 1994, when my son, Tommy, joined Mrs. Kennedy’s Twos class and my daughter, Katherine, was in the Sibling Nursery. Both my children graduated from RPCNS, and I have many fond memories of their time here. As a parent member I held several positions including Educational Services Coordinator, Class Rep., Sibling Nursery Coordinator and my husband was the Assistant Treasurer the year Katherine was in the Fours. In the spring of 1996 the Board decided to expand our enrollment from just the two larger classrooms, and Gail Boyle, the former director, asked me if I would be willing to get my 90-Hour certificate in Early Childhood Education. I was and did, through MCCA, and started teaching here in Sept. 1996; Katherine was in the Threes. Three years later, when Gail Boyle resigned, the Board asked me to take the director’s position, which I did. I have been director since September 1999. I taught the Twos for ten years and the Threes for eight before teaching the Fours. This is my seventeenth year teaching the Fours.
By way of background information: I attended Maryville College in eastern Tennessee my freshman and sophomore years, then transferred to S.U.N.Y. @ Albany, and graduated in 1976 with a B.A. in European History. Threes years later I entered Colgate University’s M.A.T. program in social studies, completing 90% of the program. I taught 7th grade social studies for Greenwich Connecticut Public Schools, where I received tenure, for five years before moving to Washington, DC and marrying my husband.
Having children and enrolling them in RPCNS opened a whole new world to me! Working here has allowed me to combine my hobbies of music, photography, art and gardening with my professional training as a teacher. I LOVE the children, the challenge of putting together a well-planned lesson, and I discovered that I also love tempera paint, glue and glitter. It’s been my very real pleasure and privilege to work with and get to know so many
wonderful parent members! My life has truly been enriched!
Melissa Jordan
Director and Fours Teacher
The teachers at RPCNS have a passion for cooperative education. Our teachers have four-year degrees, many years of teaching experience, and complete over 12 hours of continuing education every year.
Tracy Niebauer
Threes Teacher
Stay & Play
As a former teacher and fairly new parent, I was thrilled to find the RPCNS community when my son was ready to start preschool! He joined the 2s class at RPCNS in 2012, just before my daughter was born. Consequently, within a couple of months, I had a son enrolled in the school and a daughter attending the Sibling Nursery. During my children’s tenure at RPCNS, I was privileged to serve as the Science Enrichment teacher for two years and on the Board as the Community Services Coordinator for four years. During the 2017- 2018 school year, I expanded my role in the community and began working with the Stay & Play program. By the summer of 2018, both my children had graduated from RPCNS.
I am thrilled to remain part of this amazing community by continuing to work with the Stay & Play program and, since the fall of 2019, teaching the Threes class. In addition to my six years co-oping at RPCNS, I bring fifteen years of teaching experience to the community. During those years, I taught middle school science and health, high school biology, and after school science classes for kindergarten and elementary-aged kids. Furthermore, I ran camp and after school programs for children ages four through seventeen, as well as an outdoor hiking, camping, and backpacking program. I enjoy interacting with kids of all ages and in all types of environments, including both the preschool classroom and the informal classroom environment of the Stay & Play program. I am thrilled to put to use my creative juices again, preparing lesson plans, art projects and activities for the kids to enjoy.
_JPG.jpg)
Amanda Kornfield
Twos Teacher
I’m very excited to be returning the RPCNS Team for another school year!
I entered the world of early childhood education in 2014, after my two children became independent in their own studies. After receiving my 90 hour Early Childhood Education certification, I served as a Lead Teacher at The Children’s Learning Center in Aspen Hill followed by The Tikvat Israel Early Education Center in Rockville. I received my B.A. from The University of Maryland at College Park in television and film production – skills I acquired have been beneficial in my ability to engage with my two and three-year-old students, and to capitalized on my ability to be an “out of the box” thinker!
I also have an interest in early intervention and special needs, as both of my children are on the Autism Spectrum, and early intervention was key in their successful development. As a matter of fact, my initial decision to switch careers and become a teacher was influenced by all of
the amazing educators that have been in my own children’s lives, and how much they helped my own family!
As for my personal background, I am a Washington area native. I grew up in Chevy Chase, MD and even attended a cooperative nursery school - Bannockburn Co-op class of ‘73. I graduated from B-CC High School in ‘87 and completed my studies at UMCP in ‘92. After several years working in Los Angeles, CA I moved back to the area in the late 90’s and married my wonderful husband Tom. We have two great kids, Sam-Henry 19, and Madeline 16, a super goofy dog named Nathan, and our all black cat Nigel.
I’m incredibly excited to see what this new school year will bring and getting to know all of the families that call RPCNS home!
Regina Andrade
Music Teacher
Hi! I just wanted to tell you a little about myself. I own & operate Music Time for Tots. I have always had a passion for music and young children, so I thought, why not combine the two and have the best of both worlds. At an early age I discovered the great pleasure you can get from making music, and since that time music has been a big part of my life. As you can see from my résumé below I have been involved with young children for a long time.
I graduated in December 1984 with a technical degree in instrument (piano) from the Adventist Academy of Arts, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Then from 1982-1984 I was a piano accompanist for the "Little Singers of the Hill", a well-known elementary school choir at the Adventist Education Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil. I followed that in 1984 to 1988 as the conductor of the children's choir "Little Singers of the Hill" also in Sao Paulo, Brazil. I graduated in December 1986 from the Adventist College of Education, at the Adventist Education Institute, Sao Paulo, Brazil, with a Bachelor degree in Education, with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education, and specialization in Vocational and Guidance Counseling.
Since coming to the US I’ve been successful in advancing my career in music as both a performer and an educator. From 1991 to the present I have worked as a singer at the Spencerville Adventist Church Choir. In addition, from 1994 to the present I have been a private piano teacher. I then added in 1995 to 2015 working as a singer and section leader at the Georgetown Presbyterian Church Choir, in Washington, DC. I’ve also taught music from/at the following:
-
1996-1997 - Music teacher at Hadley Acres Adventist School, Gaithersburg, MD, kindergarten through 8th grade;
-
1996-2012 - Music teacher with the Golden School of Music, teaching
-
"Discovering Music for Infants",
-
"Discovering Music for Toddlers", and
-
"Exploring Music and Piano Preparatory" at Montgomery County Department of Recreation.
-
2007-2008 - Music teacher at Spencerville Adventist Academy, Silver Spring, MD, kindergarten through 2nd grade.
-
2011-present - Pianist at toddlers’ Sabbath School classes at Spencerville Seventh-day Adventist Church.
-
2012-2020 - Music Teacher at Temple Beth Amy Nursery School, Rockville, MD., plus their summer camp in 2021 & 2022.
-
2015- present - Director of Children's Music at Georgetown Presbyterian Church, Washington, DC.
I’m so pleased to bring my music program to the young students at RPCNS!
Megan Oliviera
Support Staff
I have been a part of the RPCNS community since 2016. My oldest daughter, Clara, started in the Twos that fall, and I was very pregnant with my younger daughter, Violet. When I co-oped in Clara’s classes, Violet was in the nursery, until she was old enough to be enrolled in the Twos a couple of years later. It has been a wonderful experience to be so closely involved with my daughters’ earliest educational experience.
I am originally from California, and still have family members there. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in history, with a teaching pre credential in social science from California State University, Chico. I have spent most of the last nine years as a stay-at-home mom with my girls. In doing so I discovered a real joy when doing science experiments, art projects, and reading books with them, and I also love doing these activities in the classroom.
While a parent member I held a variety of school jobs including Librarian, Class Representative, Community Services Coordinator, and Co-Chair for three years. During my time as a parent member my family has gained lifelong friendships and a wonderful sense of community! Now as a staff member I am looking forward to working with you and your children in the coming school year. This time in your child’s young life is invaluable and filled with so many emotions. In choosing RPCNS you will be able to watch your child grow and thrive in their first school years. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to continue sharing this experience!
Tracy Saltarelli
Admissions Coordinator
I was born in rural Howard County, Maryland. I attended the University of Maryland where I studied Psychology and Women’s Studies and received my Bachelor’s degree. I married my husband, Jim, in 1997 and we have two beautiful boys, James and Jonah.
I worked for many years in non-profit human services, before having children and staying at home with them. I worked in a psychiatric rehabilitation program in Prince George’s county in a number of capacities: Residential Counselor, Employment Specialist, Development Director, and Asst. Program Director. I then moved to a non-profit in Washington DC where I served as the Program Manager of a large day program and employment program for adults with Developmental Delays.
I am an avid supporter of cooperative education. My oldest son was in a cooperative play school when we lived in DC. When our family moved to Maryland, the first thing I did was find a co-op, RPCNS, for my youngest son. I loved the sense of community and the relationships we formed with other families while he was in RPCNS. While my son attended RPCNS, I held the jobs of Fundraising Chair and school Co-Chair. I am so happy to now work as Admission Coordinator, bringing families to the school and helping to support the exceptional work of this school and its teachers.