Staff & Faculty

Nicole Pappas Ferrin

Director

Nicole Ferrin is the Director of the Barrow Street Nursery School. She previously served the school as the Director of Administration, Admissions Director, and as a classroom teacher. She has been a member of the of the Barrow Street community for the past twelve years. Her two oldest daughters, Eleanor and Cece, are Barrow graduates and her youngest daughter, Teddy is a current Barrow student!

Ashley Warren

Director of Enrollment

Ashley Warren is the Admissions Director of the Barrow Street Nursery School since 2019. She spent 14 years at Montclare Children’s School in many roles, including a 4s assistant teacher, 9 years as head teacher of the 2s program and most recently, 4 years as Admissions Director. Using her classroom experience, Ashley enjoys introducing families to their child’s first schooling experience and sharing how these early years are paramount to a child’s growth and development. Ashley recognizes that a nursery school not only becomes a child’s first home outside of the home, but a parent’s as well and loves being a part of each family’s “village”. Ashley holds an M.S. Ed in Early Childhood Education from Hunter College and a B.S. in Childhood Education and Special Education from NYU. In fact, her first year at NYU was spent observing an after-school program at Greenwich House Settlement – it has all come full circle! Ashley’s home life is spent with three little ones, Jack (10), Ellie (8) and Henry (5)!

Samson Baker

Director of Education and Professional Learning

Samson Baker joined Barrow as Educational Director in 2019. Samson has over 20 years of experience working in kindergarten and pre-k classrooms at independent, progressive early childhood settings in New York City. As an early childhood educator, Samson relishes the opportunity each day to tap into his inner child and see the world in new ways, and he loves to fuel the curiosity and passion that our youngest learners epitomize as they actively seek to understand the world around them in ways that are important to them. Samson holds an M.S. Ed in Early Childhood Education from The City College of New York.

Stephanie Roer

Director of Students and Organizational Initiatives

Bonnie Maloney

Director of Pedagogy and Practice

Bonnie Maloney has been an early childhood educator in independent schools for twenty years. She holds an MS from Bank Street in Early Childhood Leadership (’18) and has done doctoral work in Human
Development and Learning. In recent years, she has developed a strong interest in adult learning principles and has leaned into this area to support teachers and parents in doing their best work with
children. Bonnie previously worked at Barrow Street as a teacher and administrator and is delighted to return to the community as Director of Pedagogy and Practice.

Ashley Schuppel

Director of Programs and Operations

Ashley Schuppel has been a part of Barrow Street Nursery School since 2018. She studied Child and Family Studies at Syracuse University and previously worked at NBCUniversal and Madison Square Garden, bringing our community experience as both a programs manager and educator. Ashley lives in Connecticut with her husband and two sons, Theo and Weston.

Sonia Irizarry

Director of Office Operations

Sonia Irizarry is the Office Manager of Barrow Street Nursery School.  Born and raised in the East Village, she has been a member of the Barrow Street community since 2006. She is a proud mother of her 2 older children, Jade and Tristan. She loves traveling and spending time with her family.

Lizzy Fiori

Enrichment Manager

Lizzy Fiori has been a member of the Barrow Street community since 2014. This year she will be supporting the Blue Room and Enrichment team after many years of lead teaching in the 3s/4s and 4s/5s. Lizzy also assists in the admissions office. She holds a Master’s of Education from the University of Colorado. Lizzy has previous experience teaching English as a Second Language to kindergarteners in Madrid, Spain; she also worked at the Google Children’s Center in Palo Alto, California as an early childhood educator. Lizzy and her husband welcomed their first child, Rhys Joseph, in December 2023!

Kimberly McLeod

Educational Manager

Kimberly McLeod is an Assoc. Ed. Director focused on parent education. Kim spent many years teaching at Barrow as the science consultant and garden specialist and will also continue to teach 4/5s science and offer support to teachers in science learning and curriculum. Formerly a wetland ecologist, Kim is a life-long learner who is currently working on her Ph.D. in Education Leadership at Lesley University. She loves to spend time outdoors, camping, hiking, kayaking/canoeing, and bird watching. The mother of two college-age daughters, Kim values family time and has always participated in her daughters’ school and extracurricular communities. Kim is excited to help bring families together, opening up our Barrow community to new and exciting parent education opportunities.

Eddie Lopez

Facilities Coordinator

Eddie has been with BSNS since 2015. Eddie loves welcoming and getting to know all the children in the community. He is a proud father of 2 grown children, 3 beautiful grandchildren and 2 fur babies.

Lucy Chen

Toddlers (White Room)

Lucy Chen is the Master Teacher for the Toddler Program. She joined the Barrow Street community in 2015 and has been instrumental in supporting the program’s growth and evolution. In addition to her work with our youngest learners and their families, Lucy is in charge of training new teachers and overseeing that program in its entirety. Lucy holds an MSEd in Early Childhood Special and General Education from Bank Street College of Education and an MS in Social Work from Columbia University.

Sydney Ring

Toddlers (White Room)

Sydney Ring will be on Lucy’s team in the Toddler Room. She recently graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in Psychology and a double minor in Speech and Hearing Sciences and Human Development and Family Sciences. Sydney has always been interested in early childhood development and education. Over the past 6 years, she has worked in multiple preschool settings and gained valuable knowledge and inspiration through various sites, experiences, and educational philosophies. Most recently, Sydney worked as an Assistant Teacher/Substitute at a nature/play-based childcare center in Columbus, OH.

Ink Thanajaro

Toddlers (White Room)

Ink Thanajaro will be rejoining Barrow and the White Room teaching team after a year away to earn her graduate degree. She now holds a B.S. in Childhood Education and Special Education from NYU and an Ed.M. in Human Development and Education from Harvard University. Ink is particularly interested in the role of adult-child relationships and intentionally designed learning environments. Outside work, she enjoys scuba diving, cooking, and spending time with her family.

Julia Giovannitti

2s/3s (Silver Room)

Julia Giovannitti has been an early childhood educator for the past ten years and is thrilled to join the warm and dynamic Yellow Room community as co-lead teacher. She’s passionate about understanding
and supporting children’s unique perspectives and experiences, fostering children’s sense of belonging, and building relationships with families. Before joining Barrow, Julia taught inclusive pre-k and
kindergarten at a public school and worked with toddlers at a nursery school in Brooklyn. She holds a Master’s in Early Childhood Ed. from Hunter College and a BA in Psychology from Occidental College. In
her spare time, Julia loves to cook and try all the amazing food NYC offers!

Carly Moreno

2s/3s (Silver Room)

Carly Moreno is an assistant teacher in the Purple Room. She first joined the Barrow community as a substitute and after-school teacher in 2021 after working as a teaching artist in NYC public schools and community centers including Greenwich House’s own pottery school. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts from Purchase College and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Early Childhood Education at City College. Open-ended explorations and child-led learning experiences are at the center of her teaching practice.  She loves to learn alongside her students and to be a partner in their inquiries, investigations, and discoveries. When she isn’t in the classroom, she enjoys riding bikes, listening to music, and making big breakfasts on Sunday mornings.

Gal Nissan

2s/3s (Silver Room)

Gal Nissan joins Barrow Street as an Assistant Teacher. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. With over a decade of experience in early childhood settings, Gal is especially passionate about child-led, play-based learning. Originally from New Jersey, she has also lived in Boston, Dublin, and Madrid. In her free time, she enjoys rollerblading along the Hudson and reading in Morningside Park.

Kaitlyn Madden

2s/3s (Purple Room)

Kaitlyn Madden is a teacher in the Purple Room. She has been at Barrow since 2017, working with Toddlers, 2s/3s, and 3s/4s students. Before coming to Barrow, she taught in a 4th grade classroom at an ongoing school in Brooklyn. She brings a love of literacy to her work, with a B.A. and M.A. in English Literature from Cornell University and N.Y.U. respectively. She recently graduated from Hunter College with a MSEd in Early Childhood Education. Outside of the classroom, Kaitlyn enjoys spending time with her husband, knitting, reading, and practicing yoga.

Limchi Sang

2s/3s (Purple Room)

Limchi Sang brings over a decade of experience to her role, having taught at the Bank Street School for Children and University Settlement’s Creative Steps program. She recently completed her M.S. in General Early Childhood and Special Education at Bank Street College. Limchi is also the proud mother of twins, Madison and Carter, who are graduating from high school this year. She is excited to join the Barrow teaching team and continue her work with young learners.

Monica Mistler-Ferguson

2s/3s (Purple Room)

Monica Mistler-Ferguson began her teaching journey in France, where she taught English to children ages 3 to 10 and discovered her passion for early childhood education. After moving to New York City to attend Bank Street College of Education, she worked at Brooklyn Nature Days and later at a French immersion preschool in Brooklyn. Monica brings a love of dance, playfulness, and creativity to her teaching. In her free time, she enjoys dancing—specifically heels, contemporary, bachata, and salsa—and is grateful to be part of the Barrow Street community.

Kayla Hendry

3s/4s (Brown Room)

Kayla Hendry is a teacher in the 2s/3s program and has been a member of the Barrow Street Community since 2021. Kayla has extensive experience working with young children in dance and theater education. She holds a BFA in Musical Theater from Kent State University, and is currently in the process of pursuing a masters in early childhood education. Before joining Barrow, she was an assistant teacher at Saint Ann’s in the lower school. Kayla is passionate about play, and loves integrating puppetry, music, and imaginative inquiry into the classroom.

Julia Herrero

3s/4s (Brown Room)

Julia Herrero is a recent graduate of NYU Steinhardt, where she received her Master’s in Educational Theatre. She has found immense joy in the past 10 years as an educator in summer and non-profit after-school programs, and is excited to transition into early education classrooms. She is deeply inspired by the Barrow community and its dedication to creating spaces where students can feel empowered in their curiosity.

Liz Salegumba

3s/4s (Green Room)

Liz Salegumba joined the BSNS faculty in 2023, as a lead teacher in the Yellow Room. Liz has taught ages 2 through 5 at Beginnings Nursery School and Avenues: the World School. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in fine arts/sculpture from School of Visual Arts and a Master’s degree in early childhood education from Bank Street College. She has also studied the Reggio-Emilia approach, and believes in teaching young children integratively across disparate disciplines. Liz has been a foster parent for many years and has adopted two sibling teenagers. She shares her home with them, her husband Jonathan, a cat, a turtle and some snails.

Ajia Hunter Mueller

3s/4s (Green Room)

Ajia Hunter Mueller is thrilled to join the community as an Orange Room 4s/5s teacher. With extensive experience working with children aged 2 to 6 and a background in the arts, she specializes in crafting joyful learning experiences that nurture children’s interests. Her teaching philosophy centers on creating environments where curiosity thrives, understanding deepens, and a sense of responsibility to community and nature blossoms. This axiom guides her teaching practice as well as her art practice. In addition to her classroom experience, Ajia has served as an Education Director, and she most recently worked at Vivvi, where she served as the Curriculum and Learning Manager. She is excited to get back into the classroom. She enjoys reading, cooking, watching art house films, and relaxing with her husband and their two cats in her free time.

Nicole Fox

3s/4s (Yellow Room)

Nicole Fox has been a preschool teacher for nearly 20 years and will be a lead teacher in the Green Room next year. She earned her MA in Early Childhood Education at Teachers College, Columbia University, and loved it so much that she decided to stay on for their doctoral program. She hopes to finish in 2026! Nicole has taught at various preschool programs and most recently at The Family Annex Nursery School, where she learned about the Reggio Emilia approach. She is excited to join the Barrow Street community to learn and share with the teachers and children there. When she’s not teaching or in class, Nicole loves getting around the city on a bike, knitting, and Formula One racing.

Kristina Todd Nelson

3s/4s (Yellow Room)

Kristina Todd Nelson has been a dance educator for over 15 years, bringing deep experience in both classroom teaching and arts leadership. She previously served as School Director at Steffi Nossen School of Dance and has taught dance at The Ailey School and The Episcopal School. Kristina holds a B.A. in Voice Performance from Brevard College and is also a former professional dancer. She loves camping and spending time outdoors with her husband, Daniel, and their two children, Grady and Finn. She is excited to bring her passion for movement and early childhood education to Barrow Street.

Taylor Menges

4s/5s (Blue Room)

Simone Robins

4s/5s (Blue Room)

Simone Robins comes to Barrow Street from Packer Collegiate Institute, where she taught Kindergarten. She holds an M.S.Ed. in Childhood Education and Museum Education from Bank Street College of Education. Simone is thrilled to join the Barrow community and looks forward to exploring all the joy and wonder that Pre-K offers. Outside the classroom, she enjoys crafting and spending time in NYC’s green spaces.

Ethan Addis

4s/5s (Blue Room)

Ethan Addis joins Barrow Street after two and a half years with Brooklyn Nature Days, an all-outdoor program for young children in Prospect Park. He is eager to be part of a community of engaged, reflective educators—and to stay dry on rainy days. Ethan is a graduate of Wesleyan University with a degree in the interdisciplinary College of Social Studies. He enjoys singing loudly, riding his bike, and listening closely to children.

Brian Koscuiszka

4s/5s (Orange Room)

Brian Koscuiszka is a lead teacher in our 4s/5s program. He previously served the school as the Education Director and as a classroom teacher in our Toddlers and 3s/4s program.  He has been a member of the Barrow Street community since 2015. His son Owen graduated from Barrow in 2018.

Clara Perrine

4s/5s (Orange Room)

Clara Jane Perrine (C.J.) joins us from Corlears School, where she worked with 3s/4s. She holds a bachelor’s degree in art history and is drawn to the Reggio Emilia approach in early childhood education. C.J. is excited to continue her teaching journey at Barrow and hopes to pursue graduate studies in the near future.

Ari Puleo

4s/5s (Red Room)

Ari Puleo is a lead teacher in our 4s/5s program. She dedicates much of her work to the blending of her two passions, early childhood education and social justice. A graduate of Bank Street College of Education, she brings our community a background in both early childhood and special education. In the classroom, you’ll often find Ari either playing her ukulele or telling stories about her dog, Cappy.

Megan Thomas

4s/5s (Red Room)

Megan Thomas recently relocated from Kansas City, where she spent three years teaching 2nd grade. She holds a degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Special Education from Kansas State University. Megan is excited to immerse herself in early childhood education and play-based learning at Barrow Street. This is her first time living outside of Kansas—and she’s also celebrating her wedding to her fiancé, Luke, this summer!

Marlene Dortch

3s/4s Associate Teacher

Marlene Dortch is an associate teacher in our 3s/4s program.  She has served as an associate in the Purple Room and an assistant in the Yellow and Red Rooms.  She has been a valued member of the Barrow Street community for 15 years.

Arlene Greenberg

Universal Teacher

Arlene Greenberg is a universal teacher, supporting the teachers and children in our Toddlers and 2s/3s program.  She previously served the school as a summer program teacher, substitute teacher, and Toddler program support teacher and assistant teacher.  She has been a member of the Barrow Street community since 2019. She brings our community over 20 years of teaching experience as a classroom teacher, formerly as a Lead Teacher at Tompkins Hall Nursery School.

Lisa Lebowitz

Universal Teacher

Dara Rebell

Universal Teacher

Dara Rebell is thrilled to be joining the Yellow Room as a part-time assistant teacher!  She began teaching at BSNS in 2010 as an assistant in the Yellow Room. After taking some time off to have her son, she rejoined the community last year.  She went to Syracuse University, and graduated with a major in Drama and a minor in Child and Family Studies. She has over 15 years experience teaching in various nursery schools in New York. In her spare time, she loves going to the theater with her husband, visiting her favorite steakhouses, and taking her son to trampoline parks!

Ursula Rhymer

Enrichment Coordinator/Teacher

Ursula Rhymer is excited to be part of the Afterschool/Enrichment team for the second year. Ursula has been a part of the Barrow Street community since 2007— as a classroom teacher, Summer Program Director, Afterschool Coordinator, and Universal teacher for all of our age groups. Ursula loves the outdoors and spending time with her family and friends. She is excited to join for another year!

Jahidah Diaab

Curriculum Specialist

Jahidah Diaab will be stepping into a new role at Barrow as Curriculum Specialist. Jahidah has worked with young children for 20 years, ranging from autistic to gifted. She began her first introduction to children at the Herbert G. Birch School. She then went on to teach the arts at Hunter Elementary School for the Gifted, The Dalton School, and Ethical Culture Fieldston School. She joined the team of teachers at Beginnings Nursery School where she began her role as a classroom teacher. Jahidah joined  The Blue School during its developing stages supporting the admissions process, then becoming a lead 2’s teacher in the Pre- Primary Program which was a parent- child half day program. She has spent 10 years as a Head 2’s teacher at Chelsea Day School.  She has also spent time at Brooklyn College as the Creative Arts Curriculum Director. Her role at the center was to make the children’s learning visible through videography and documentation.  Simultaneously, she enjoyed working as an Adjunct Instructor, teaching aspiring students the value of play in early childhood development.  Jahidah Diaab has a B.A. in fine arts and a Master’s in Early Childhood Education—Birth through Second Grade. She enjoys writing, producing plays and short films in her spare time. She is raising two wonderful loving boys and enjoys all things that revolve around nature. This summer she had the opportunity to present at The Little Sprouts Conference focusing on Using Nature to Teach D.E.I.J Work.

Brenna Fisher

Curriculum Specialist

Brenna Fisher is an artist and educator interested in how imaginative play and artistic expression foster compassionate communities and impact cognitive and social-emotional learning in early childhood. She joined the Barrow community in 2014 with her undergraduate degree in Studio Art. Since then, Barrow Street supported her in completing her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education while she worked as a co-Lead teacher in a 3/4s classroom. As an artist, Brenna works in mixed media and writing to examine the relationship between self and community. Brenna also teaches art and leads the Curious Creatures Camp at the Greenwich House Music School.  Brenna has a cat named Krasner, a rock named Colin, and a daughter named Bee.

Dave Gibson

Pottery

Jim Sperber

Art

Jim Sperber has been teaching art at Barrow street for over 10 years. He has an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts and is a working artist. He started at Barrow in 2010 as an after-school art teacher and a few years later transitioned to Art specialist for the 3’s and 4’s curriculum while maintaining his popular after-school painting class. He feels lucky to be able to teach children about the joys of art and to be silly for a living. He has three happy little artists of his own.

Megan Moncrief

Music

Megan Moncrief is joining the community as Barrow’s new Music Specialist. She is thrilled to teach music with such a vibrant, creative community of families and educators! Megan received her certification in music pedagogy from George Mason University and came to Barrow from Blue School. In her spare time, she is an interactive theatermaker and storyteller. Megan enjoys swimming, thrift shopping, reading science fiction, and cuddling her cat, Martine.

Kyleigh Sackandy

Movement

Kyleigh Sackandy has been teaching movement and dance to children in New York for over 10 years and has been the Movement Specialist at Barrow Street since 2020. She holds an MS in Dance/Movement Therapy from Sarah Lawrence College and has brought movement to children in various school settings including those with special needs. She dances professionally with Ariel Rivka Dance Company and performs and teaches internationally.

Kimberly McLeod

Science

Kimberly McLeod is an Assoc. Ed. Director focused on parent education. Kim spent many years teaching at Barrow as the science consultant and garden specialist and will also continue to teach 4/5s science and offer support to teachers in science learning and curriculum. Formerly a wetland ecologist, Kim is a life-long learner who is currently working on her Ph.D. in Education Leadership at Lesley University. She loves to spend time outdoors, camping, hiking, kayaking/canoeing, and bird watching. The mother of two college-age daughters, Kim values family time and has always participated in her daughters’ school and extracurricular communities. Kim is excited to help bring families together, opening up our Barrow community to new and exciting parent education opportunities.