Molly has 35 years of experience as an educator in both teaching and administration, locally and internationally. She holds a B.A. in English and Education from The Catholic University of America and a M.A. in Early Childhood Education from the Institute of Education at University College London. Molly is a member of the District of Columbia Reggio Emilia Alliance (DCREA), the North American Reggio Emilia Alliance (NAREA) and the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). This is Molly’s eighth year with St. John’s.

For over 30 years Jennifer (BA, MEd Smith College) has worked both locally and nationally with schools inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, focusing particularly on the culture of the atelier. She has been with St. John’s for 25 years and is the proud mom of two St. John’s alumni. 

Elyse has worked in the field of early childhood education for more than 20 years. Elyse has taught in Reggio-inspired schools across the country, including in Washington, DC; Fairfax, VA; Richmond, VA; New Haven, CT; New Orleans, LA; and Seattle, WA. In addition to her work with children, Elyse has served as a Pedagogical Specialist conducting presentations and trainings about the Reggio Emilia philosophy, and she is the current co-chair of the DC Reggio Emilia Alliance. Elyse holds an M.S. in Human Development and Family Studies and a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies: Early Childhood Development and Dance from the University of Alabama. After receiving her degrees, she served as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Italy. This is Elyse’s seventh year at St. John’s.

Lucy grew up in Northwest DC and attended NCRC, Georgetown Day School, and George School, a Quaker boarding school in Pennsylvania. As a product of independent schools, she values learning environments that nurture creativity, curiosity, and joy. She studied Art History at Connecticut College and earned her Master’s in Art History from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Lucy has worked with children in a variety of educational settings including her most recent role supporting a before- and after-care art program at an elementary school in Pennsylvania.

Originally from Montana, Emma earned her B.A. in Environmental Studies from Bates College in 2017, focusing on connecting children with the natural world. She moved to Washington, DC, in 2018 to pursue a career in education and has taught in a variety of settings, including as an after-school enrichment teacher with Kid Power, a Kindergarten student teacher at John Lewis Elementary School, and a Pre-K 3 and 4 teacher at Truesdell Elementary School. She earned her M.S. in Elementary Education from Johns Hopkins University through the Urban Teachers Preparation Program and holds both a Standard Teaching License in Early Childhood Education and a Special Education Teaching License from OSSE. At St. John’s, Emma has deepened her understanding of the Reggio Emilia Approach, and her visit to Reggio this past spring affirmed how the philosophy extends beyond the classroom, shaping the ways we engage with children, communities, and the wider world. This will be her fourth year as part of this creative and inspiring preschool community.

Karen brings over two decades of experience in education, working with learners from preschool through high school in a variety of roles including environmental educator, high ropes confidence course instructor, classroom teacher, and Early Childhood STEAM Integration Specialist. She began her preschool teaching experience at a Reggio-inspired nature-based preschool in Connecticut, where she followed the children’s lead in exploring their natural environment. In this setting, she learned to develop provocations inspired by the children’s explorations, often including natural materials the children had collected themselves. She holds a B.S. in Life Sciences: Marine Biology and a M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction focusing on Science Education, both from the University of Maryland, College Park. This is her fifth year at St. John’s.

Emma’s teaching career began at a Reggio-inspired preschool in her hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii. As an undergraduate, she studied Philosophy at St. John’s College in Annapolis. She earned her MA in Innovative Early Childhood Education from UC Denver, a program specializing in the Reggio Emilia Approach. Her graduate work deepened her commitment to the Reggio Emilia philosophy and ignited her passion for children’s rights and advocacy. This is Emma’s first year at St. John’s.

Tate has been teaching in the early childhood setting for the past eight years. A DC native, she holds an M.A.T. in Early Childhood Education and a B.A. in Elementary Education from American University. Tate joined the St. John’s faculty from a Reggio-inspired school where she gained a deep appreciation for the approach. This is Tate’s third year at St. John’s, where she is thrilled to be a part of such a warm, child-centered community.

Brigitte has a Baccalaureate and a college business degree from her native country of France. After earning her degree in France, she moved to Washington, DC in 1998 and started her Reggio Emilia education under the guidance and mentoring of Kathy Price, the founding Head of St. John’s. She worked as a Brown Room Teacher, then various roles as substitute and Children’s Workshop teacher and after teaching for several years at St. John’s, Brigitte took time away to raise her family. Upon returning to Early Childhood Education, Brigitte earned her Child Development Associate Credential and taught French as a lead teacher for six years at the French Maternal School. Brigitte earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education at the University of Phoenix. She is excited to be the Early Birds and Children’s Workshop teacher!

Melanie moved to the Washington, DC area in 2014 to begin a career in early childhood education and has been teaching in DC ever since. Preceding this, she earned a dual baccalaureate degree (Environmental Studies and Comparative Humanities) from Bucknell University. Her teaching experience began at a DC public charter school, teaching by day and studying by night to earn her Master’s of Arts in Teaching (with an emphasis in early childhood) from Trinity Washington University. Melanie’s personal pedagogical philosophy and the appeal of the Reggio Emilia approach were satisfied, in 2015, when she excitedly accepted a teaching position at St. John’s. Now a veteran, she continues to co-construct knowledge and engage in joyful and curious learning with the children and families of the St. John’s community.