Ms. Gavritsas has worked as a classroom teacher with both school age and preschool age children and continued her career in early childhood education as an assistant director, director, and trainer. Ms. Gavritsas is currently the Event Chair for the Board of Directors for the Suffolk County AEYC. She also sits on the Manhasset/Great Neck EOC Board of Directors as the Educational Specialist. Marni is passionately dedicated to working with administrators, teaching staff and support staff to improve the quality of child care and education for young children. Ms. Gavritsas approaches adult education similarly to her teaching philosophy for young children...learning experiences must be engaging, stimulating, interactive and full of smiles and laughter. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Communications and Business and a Masters Degree in Education.

Ellyn Katz has dedicated the last 27 years to the field of education. She has worked as both a teacher and administrator. Ellyn has extensive experience at preschools for both typically developing children and children with special needs, at elementary and high schools teaching children with special needs and has taught cooking classes to adults and children. She is currently teaching CDA classes and workshops for The Training Center and loves being able to share her years of experience and enthusiasm for young children with her students. She likes to stress the importance of reading to children, learning in a natural setting, playing with blocks in the classroom and cooking with children. She holds a BS in Elementary education and Special Education from Buffalo State College, an MA in Special Education and Nursery and Elementary Education from Hofstra University, and a certificate for Supervision and Administration and School district administration from Queens College.

Jackie is the Director of a NAEYC Accredited early childhood program in Holtsville New York. She has over 10 years experience working as an early childhood educator.  She holds a B.S. in Elementary/Special Education and is working on her Masters degree at SUNY Stonybrook.

Jayne Kaht is the Lead Teacher of the Eastern Suffolk BOCES Early Childhood Education Programs.   Along with her students, Jayne runs a laboratory preschool where students integrate developmentally appropriate theory with hands-on practice. Jayne has been teaching the CDA curriculum for many years and integrates best practices in a “play-based” learning environment.

Jayne holds a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Hofstra University; currently serves as a Board Member on MESTRACT (Mid East Suffolk Teacher’s Center) and the BOCES Employee Resource Foundation; serves as a Coach of her school’s Community Service Team, and is a proponent of Social/Emotional Literacy programs.  Jayne is the recipient of numerous grant awards and is most proud of the recent creation of a “Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom” on her campus, a multi-disciplinary and community partnership project, and her “Play Educator of the Year 2010” Award granted by the Early Years Institute.

Gail Krieger has been the Director of Early Childhood Programs since 1992 and has been teaching CDA classes since 2003.   She has worked in the early childhood field for over 25 years and has been a classroom teacher at the Toddler, Preschool and Kindergarten level.  Gail holds a B.S. and M.A. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Queens College.

Melinda C. Wills-Stallings has nearly 10 years experience in the field of early childhood education in varied professional roles including classroom assistant, administrative assistant, assistant director, administrative director and trainer.  Mrs. Stallings holds a Child Development Associate and National Administrator Credential.  She sincerely enjoys being an advocate and program director for exceptional care and education of young children and families as well as training and mentoring early childhood teachers.

For over 25 years Karen Peterson has fueled and sustained a passion for early childhood education. Karen has put her passion to work for this nation’s most comprehensive investment in early childhood education; Head Start and Early Head Start. Karen has held many positions within the Head Start program and has worked for several different agencies that run Head Start programs. In addition, Karen has experience in providing teacher training at conferences, local training venues and has taught at Empire State College as a part time instructor. Karen is a CDA Trainer, Advisor and Council Representative.

Karen achieved her Master’s Degree in Child Development from SUNY Stony Brook, after receiving her BA in Human Growth and Development from Empire State College and an AA degree in ECE from Suffolk Community College. Karen is an all-in-one trainer, teacher, mentor, advocate, and supervisor, Karen has worked tirelessly for the success of others and above all, the achievement and welfare of young children.