Founding Team
Anna Caroline Tehan is an Early Childhood Special Education + Montessori Certified + Anti-bias Early Education Leader. She brings 15Y experience as a creative arts & early childhood educator internationally and locally in underserved communities, classrooms and foster care settings, centering our inclusion practices.
Anna Ellis Nesser is an Early Childhood Special Education + Montessori Certified Educator, and a School Greening and Gardening Consultant. Anna's 14Y experience in early childhood education in classrooms & in developing and leading NYC urban farm programs for all ages is key to our nature-based approach.
MariaClara Planel is Brazilian-American with two decades of experience growing businesses and launching new brands, with 15Y leading roles in tech and retail segments, and the last 5Y helping Collective Kind helping Collective Kind make the dream of Montessori accessibility come true for families of all backgrounds.
Our Incredible Team:
Ashely Dai (she/her) @ Rogers Ashley has known NY her whole life, and its diversity has led her to a fascination with individual experience. Knowing the importance of acceptance and advocacy, for both others and oneself, Ashley prioritizes social-emotional awareness through identity and intersectionality. She believes in Voice and that children speak loudest and proudest when you get down and dirty with them! She celebrates all things creative, playful, silly, and kind. Throw in a ton of laughter and a touch of chaos and that’s her favorite classroom!
Breanna Elleston (she/her) - break camp + substitute teacher - is a licensed social worker born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. With a background in counseling children, she brings a centering and mindful approach to the space. She is passionate about yoga, mindfulness, breathwork, and holistic health. Her goal is to provide the children with the tools and space they need to be their most authentic selves.
Emily Roese (she/her) @ Gowanus + Clermont is a Brooklyn-based educator and creative. She likes to make, collaborate, and engage through a lens of curiosity and wonderment. Leaning on her background in communications, Emily has spent many years working with nonprofits and local leaders to champion education models that better serve students and their communities. She values education spaces that are holistic, student-led, and justice-driven—and she brings all of those values to her work at Collective Kind. As a writer and a painter, she also brings her creative, compassionate, big-kid spirit. Emily believes in the power of community, the agency of young people, and learning through play. She holds a B.A. from New York University.
Jessica Melendez (she/her) @ Gowanus is a dedicated early childhood educator with a Bachelor's degree in Liberal Arts, with a concentration in Social Welfare, from The City College. With six years of experience as a nanny and a Montessori preschool teacher, she understands the significance of introducing young children to diverse cultures, especially in a melting pot like New York City. Jessica is from Brooklyn, NY, and is bilingual, a skill she enthusiastically integrates into her classroom lessons to enrich her students' learning experiences. Outside of her professional life, Jessica is an avid runner and cherishes quality time with her family, with whom she shares a profound connection to her Mexican heritage.
Juli Alfano she/her - break camp + substitute teacher - She studied Early Childhood and Childhood Education at SUNY Cortland.
She truly believe that fostering a supportive, positive, and kind environment for children to learn and grow in is key for their development. She’s always enjoyed working with children because of how fun it is! She loves being goofy and playful and building authentic relationships that allow children to feel comfortable in their space and also with themselves. She loves traveling, dancing, and eating dumplings!
Kristy Butler (she/they) @ Clermont is originally from Buffalo, New York and brings her love of learning and self expression to her caregiving and teaching practices. Kristy is currently studying illustration at Fashion Institute of Technology. A creative person with a range of interests, Kristy is a former professional dancer and textile studio manager. These varied experiences allow Kristy to approach caregiving with openness and curiosity. As a childcare provider with over 10 years of experience, Kristy tries to instill the importance of slowing down and being in the present moment and of giving and receiving care. She enjoys being part of a nurturing classroom environment.
Alexis “Lexi” Kendall (she/her) @ Rogers is a Brooklyn native working with children for over 7 years. Lexi started off volunteering at her childhood daycare center and knew since then that she wanted to become a preschool teacher. Also growing up as the oldest cousin, Lexi has been around younger children her entire teenage and adult years. So she means it when she says it’s nothing but a joy to work with kids. Lexi believes all children should be showered with unconditional love. From circle times to sensory to art to free play - Lexi feels being a teacher is one of the most rewarding jobs.
Kayla “Maay” Brice (she/they) @ Clermont is an Early Childhood Specialist + Social Emotional Learning Certified Educator. She brings 7Y experience as a childcare program director, teaching artist, and gentle instruction advocate in Winchester, VA, Baltimore, MD, and NYC.
Margaret Ellis (she/her) social media, born and raised in Brooklyn, NY has developed and taught early education classes in dance and Spanish. She has worked in Montessori and public school classrooms in both NYC and Ohio over the past four years. She uses her background in Anthropology and early childhood anti-bias studies to foster social-emotional growth in children through play, art, and movement.
Michael Bruffee (he/they) @ Rogers is an educator and licensed massage therapist raised in Park Slope, Brooklyn. He has a BA in Anthropology from Boston University, and was drawn to working with children through his nearly fifteen years of Zen mindfulness training. Michael loves art, dance, music, and improvisational theater, and loves to foster creativity and curiosity in young people. He relishes his role as "world's greatest uncle" to his 14-month old niece and has the T-shirt to prove it!
Olesia Anisimovich (she/her) @ Clermont is a bilingual (Russian-English) Brooklyn based mom to a 4 year old daughter, health coach, yoga teacher and creative. Olesia holds a degree in communication and has over 10 years of experience in providing care for children. Olesia believes the most fulfilling part of teaching young children is supporting them as they grow to become compassionate, thoughtful and independent individuals. Olesia is a strong advocate for play and has been influenced by Maria Montessori and Reggio Emilio teachings.
Cooper Otis (they/them) @ Rogers grew up in Connecticut and moved to Brooklyn in 2016. They are a freelance photographer and have also worked as an arts camp teaching assistant and babysitter for families in Brooklyn, DC, and Connecticut. They are passionate about bringing play, joy, and laughter to the classroom. As a queer, neurodivergent person, Sarah is committed to fostering an environment where all students feel seen and supported as their most authentic selves.
Stacey Sukoff (she/her) @ Clermont is a career early childhood educator excited to join a community of caring and loving educators. She has spent time teaching in a variety of early childhood settings in the midwest and NYC as well as studying Curriculum and Teaching at Teachers College with a special focus on bringing socially just and inclusive curriculum and instruction into the classroom. Her favorite part about being at school is building relationships and experiencing joy with children and families!
Tyhesha “Ty” Coleman (she/her) @ Clermont + Gowanus is a compassionate and supportive person who values community. She has been an Early Childhood Educator for 12 years and is pursuing her studies in psychology and child development. As a visual artist, Ty uses her artistic skills in photography to observe, document and capture the thought process of children’s play. Ty has led workshops about Reggio Emilia and children being seen as strong, capable, competent, and full of potential. She provides activities and projects that emerge from the children’s interest while incorporating the Montessori way of respect for children. Ty believes children are naturally curious learners, that when given the space to investigate, inquire, imagine and create, they are able to blossom in whichever path they choose.
Ursula Gutierrez (she/her) @ Rogers was born and raised in Queens, NY, and completed her Masters in Special Education Early Childhood from Manhattanville College and is also pursuing her Montessori Certificate for Early Childhood at West Side Montessori. Ursula has worked as a Montessori teacher for 6 years and has also worked in self-contained classrooms and as well as Reggio classrooms. Ursula is passionate about building a positive foundation in education for young children. She is a firm believer on “following the child” a Montessori approach that allows individualized learning.
Vanessa Maldonodo Bates (she/her) @ Clermont is a British-Venezuelan AMI Montessori Certified Educator + Event Producer + eternally curious person. With background in Art History and Museum Studies . She is passionate about art, music, theatre, literature and dance. Vanessa is looking forward getting to know the children and helping them nurture and strengthen their individuality.
Our Founding Team:
Anna Ellis Nesser (she/her)
Anna Caroline Tehan (she/her)
MariaClara Planel (she/her)
Learn More about our Vision
Progressive Early Education Should be for All - This is Collective Kind