Meet the Love of Learning Staff
sheldon thompson, co-director
What is your favorite moment as a director? The one where I see a child push themselves and accomplish something they didn't think they could do. For me, this often happens on our Fall Bike trip or Spring overnight.
When did you start lol? "In the beginning..." Like my Co-Director, it was a very long time ago in the dark, distant past, but I'm not sure it was exactly 167 years...
Find me at harborside campus
cami thompson, co-director
When did you start teaching? I started way back when the world was new I tell the kids iVe been at it for 167 years.
what is you favorite part? I love to see the kid who finally gets it.
what is your favorite lol tradition? the one we are working on.
Find me at harborside campus
lille craig, cfo
What is your favorite school lunch? Chicken fingers and sweet potato fries.
fun fact: I graduated from love of learning in 1991. the school wasn't called love of learning at that point, but the Thanksgiving feast, which is my favorite lol tradition, was the same!
find me at harborside campus
“Believe in the child.”
Administrative Staff
Carolyn Barnard, Executive Administrative Assistant
Find me at harborside campus
Tony Formosa, Maintenance
what is your Favorite school Activity? the Biking and hiking field trips.
what is your Favorite Lunch? Hot lunches prepared by LOL families
fun fact: My daughter, Melanie, an lol alum helps me maintain our school and provide assistance with other LOL activities.
find me at harborside campus
Early Childhood Teachers
Denise Brazeau, Early Childhood Teacher
when did you start working at lol? in September 2004, the year the school moved to Camp Alvernia.
what is your favorite Montessori activity? the Short Bead Chains, for introducing the square of numbers and skip counting.
what is your favorite LOL tradition? school pictures outside which capture the beautiful natural environment where we go to school.
find me at harborside campus
Christine Casalini, Early Childhood Teacher
What is your favorite montessori activity? the movable alphabet because it allows children to express their innermost thoughts before they master the mechanical skill of writing.
What is your favorite LOL tradition? the Science Fair and seeing the children’s enthusiasm when Mr. T. tosses the Egg drop experiments off the roof!
find me at top of the hill campus
Maria D'Amico, Early Childhood Teacher
What is your Favorite Montessori activity? geographic puzzle maps & related activities
What is your favorite lol tradition? Kindergarten making and breaking piñata!
find me at harborside campus
Soo-Jung Kim, Early Childhood Teacher
When did you start working at lol? in 2009
what are you favorite montessori activities? science and nature activities!
what is your favorite lol tradition? the thanksgiving celebration
find me at haborside campus
Elementary Teachers
Ian Craig, Elementary Teacher
When did you start at lol? 2015
What's your Favorite School Lunch? Sweet potato fries and chicken nuggets
What is your Favorite LOL Tradition? I have two: the bike trip and Caumsett sleepover
Find me at Harborside campus
Deborah Giordano, Elementary Teacher
what is your favorite montessori activity? the grammar work and test-tube division
what is your Favorite LOL tradition? Beach day!
find me at top of the hill campus
Sarah Hodgkinson, Elementary Teacher
what is your favorite school lunch? every family hot lunch - It is a wonderful sight to see the happiness and pride of children and their families serving each other.
What is your favorite LOL tradition? the end of year celebration concerts. Watching the very youngest children in the school performing their songs with such enthusiasm and pride and then seeing the enormous growth of the 6th grade graduates who speak and act with such confidence. A Montessori Metamorphosis right in front of our eyes! Then they all sing 'This Montessori Light of mine...". Just beautiful.
find me at harborside campus
“The greatest sign of success for a teacher, is to be able to say, ‘The children are now working as if I did not exist.’”
Assistant Teachers
Arli harlan Angello, Assistant Teacher
what is your favorite part of teaching? reading the children's writing, whether it's reports, their homework, or creative work. I also love when we discuss what we've been reading - I'm a bookworm!
what is your favorite lol tradition? the Science Fair.
What's else do you want to share? I have a B. A. In English and M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Adelphi University
find me at harborside campus
Diana Bennencase, Assistant Teacher
find me at top of the hill campus
Toni DiNunzio, Assistant Teacher
find me at top of the hill campus
Nada Drakulich, Assistant Teacher
find me at top of the hill campus
Jami Doria Goleski, Assistant Teacher
when did you start at lol? This is my first year, but I've been an early childhood teacher for over 15 years.
what is your educational background? I have an undergraduate degree in Elementary Ed and a Masters in Special Ed.
What do you do when you're not teaching? I'm a hula hoop dancer and a crafter! I love sharing my passion of creative art & movement with all who are interested.
find me at harborside campus
Atsuko Inoue, Assistant Teacher
What is your favorite Montessori activity? I love to create arts and crafts with the kids
What is your favorite school lunch? the Thursday hot lunch!
What is your favorite LOL tradition? The thanksgiving Feast and the Christmas Concert!
find me at harborside campus
Grace Lee, Assistant Teacher
What is your favorite montessori activity? Making words with Movable alphabet
What is your favorite school lunch? Thursday Hot lunch made by families
What is your favorite LOL tradition? LOL Beach day
find me at top of the hill campus
Jane Neithardt, Assistant Teacher
find me at harborside campus
Sandy Ramalho, Assistant Teacher
What is your favorite montessori activity? The timeline of life.
What is your favorite LOL Tradition? The Thanksgiving hike and bonfire.
find me at top of the hill campus
Jeannette Smith, Assistant Teacher
When did you start working at lol? 2011
What is your favorite school lunch? Pizza Day!
What is your favorite lol tradition? The Thanksgiving fest.
find me at harborside campus
Hui-wen Yen, Assistant Teacher
When did you start at lol? in 2016
what is your favorite montessori activity? The Trinomial cube
What is your favorite school lunch? The Hot lunches prepared by LOL families!
find me at top of the hill campus
Specials & Ancillary Teachers
Timothy Barnard, Phys.Ed & Camp Co-Director
fall, winter, and spring: Find me at harborside
summer: find me at top of the hill
Brigit Boyd, Little Learners
what is your role at lol? my daugher grace is in Mrs. Brazeau’s class. this year, i'm running the Little Learners Thursday morning group for young children.
what is your educational background? i have an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, and Have been working with young children in a variety of capacities for some years.
find me at harborside campus
Alma Carr, Spanish Teacher
When did you start at lol? 2007 - diez años
what is your favorite thing about teaching? I am always amazed when I casually speak in spanish outside the classroom and the kids respond .... they are always paying attention!
find me at harborside campus
Maggie Cotignola, Music Teacher
What is your Favorite school lunch ?thursday hot lunches that are served by students and their families. the enthusiasm and pride that the serving students have in sharing their favorite meal with their classmates and teachers is a pleasure to witness.
What is Your Favorite LOL Tradition?Thanksgiving - Each class brings something to eat that is shared with the whole school. There is music, a hike, hot chocolate and marshmallows to end the festivities; all components for a perfect afternoon for adults and children!
You can find me making music most frequently at Harborside, and one day a week at Top of the Hill
Liz Gray, Extended Day & Camp Co-Director
fall, winter, and spring: Find me at harborside
summer: find me at top of the hill
Tara Porter, Art Teacher
When did you start working at lol? 2001-2005 and 2009-2014 I did ancillary art. In 2014 I started as the main art teacher.
What is your favorite activity? eating lunch outside as often as the weather permits. I love the hot lunch made by the lol classes.
Also...LOL holds a special place in my heart. my son attended in the early days of the school and I now have younger children who attend. I appreciate how LOL truly creates a love of learning in children; shaping their lives by keeping them open and curious to their own growth and education.
find me at harborside campus