Juhaina is an All School Assistant Teacher at Leila Day Nursery with seven years of experience supporting children and families across classrooms and programs. She has served in a variety of roles at Leila Day, including Afternoon Assistant, Teacher Assistant, and after-school program staff, bringing warmth, flexibility, and consistency to each learning environment. Prior to Leila Day, she taught elementary-aged students in Turkey through UNICEF-supported programming. Juhaina is fluent in Arabic and values creating classrooms where children feel seen and supported. She is currently pursuing her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential through the National Credentialing Program, expected in August 2026.

Phillip is a Teacher at Leila Day Nursery with over a decade of experience in New Haven schools and early childhood settings. He holds a BA in English from the University of New Haven and spent eight years teaching in New Haven Public Schools, supporting a wide range of learners, including students with disabilities and advanced learners. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese from his time living and studying in Beijing, he has tutored Mandarin since 2018. He is passionate about child-centered, emergent learning and building inclusive classroom communities that honor each child’s background, language, and interests.

Lucy is a Teacher at Leila Day with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from Yale University. She brings extensive international experience in Montessori education, having co-taught children ages 3 to 6 at schools in Istanbul (at Istanbul Montessori Coop and Mama Montessori School), and the United States (at Bloomington Montessori School in Indiana). Lucy combines her background in fine arts, design, and research with a hands-on approach to early childhood learning, fostering creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving in young learners. Her work emphasizes individualized attention and developmentally appropriate practices, helping children build confidence, social-emotional skills, and a love of exploration in a supportive classroom environment under the trees and sun. She loves the works of Maria Montessori, and learning and singing new songs.

Gianna is an Assistant Teacher currently completing a BFA in psychology at Southern Connecticut State University. In Fall 2027, she will pursue a master’s degree in Elementary Education also at SCSU. She is a graduate of The Sound School in New Haven, where she studied aquaculture and agriculture, fostering a strong appreciation for outdoor and environmental learning. Gianna previously served as Assistant Waterfront Director at The Sound School, overseeing activities such as sailing, rowing, and fishing while ensuring child safety and supporting staff. Her experience includes child supervision, outdoor activity planning, and conflict resolution.

Michelle brings over 40 years of experience in early childhood education to her role as Teacher in West class. She has worked with children from infancy through preschool in diverse settings, including YNHH Childcare Center, Bright Horizons, Temple Israel Early Childhood Center, the Yeladim Center at the JCC, and Plainville Day Care Center. Michelle is dedicated to creating play-based, developmentally appropriate learning environments that foster exploration, creativity, and social-emotional growth. She holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Development from Cornell University and serves on the boards of both the Connecticut Association for the Education of Young Children and the New Haven Association for the Education of Young Children. She is actively involved in local professional and community service initiatives and enjoys spending time with her friends and family - husband, two grown boys and two cats.

Grace is an Assistant Teacher at Leila Day currently pursuing an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Gateway Community College, with plans to continue toward a bachelor’s degree. She has been part of the Leila Day community since 2022, serving as an Afternoon Assistant, Kindergarten teacher, and Floating Teacher before joining the North classroom as Assistant Teacher in 2024. These varied roles have strengthened her understanding of different teaching styles and classroom environments. Grace also brings years of caregiving experience supporting children from infancy through adolescence, fostering safe, nurturing, and developmentally responsive learning environments. Her favorite days are those when her teaching team doesn't provide toys or anything manufactured, and children play in whatever nature has left for them.

Laurie is a Lead Teacher at Leila Day Nursery with more than 40 years of experience in early childhood education. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development and Psychology from Connecticut College and a State of Connecticut Designated Head Teacher Certificate. She has taught and mentored children, families, and educators across Connecticut in a wide range of early learning settings, including as a Child Development Teacher at Middlesex Community College Preschool and Lab School, where she supervised laboratory experiences and updated the school’s re-accreditation curriculum. Growing up where the Connecticut River meets Long Island Sound inspired Laurie’s lifelong connection to water and place-based learning, and she delights in helping children explore the wonder of water, nature, and outdoor discovery at Leila Day and beyond.

Andrea is an Assistant Teacher with an Associate in Science in Early Childhood Education from Gateway Community College. Her academic preparation included focused study of the Connecticut Early Learning and Development Standards (CTELDS) and the Connecticut Documentation and Observation for Teaching System (CT DOTS), which she applies when planning developmentally appropriate learning experiences. Andrea gained hands-on classroom experience through an internship at Family Academy of Multilingual Exploration, collaborating with lead teachers to support curriculum implementation. She is bilingual in Spanish and English and brings strong communication skills, thoughtful observation, and a commitment to creating inclusive, supportive learning environments for young children. She is the proud parent of two Leila Day students.

Kara is a Lead Teacher at Leila Day with more than 27 years as both an educator and parent in the school community. She studied early childhood education at the University of Hartford and Charter Oak and holds a Nature-Based Teacher Certification from The Association for Nature-Based Education. Inspired by a childhood spent outdoors climbing trees, exploring nature, and celebrating her Irish family traditions, Kara brings deep joy and curiosity to her work. Her teaching is rooted in outdoor learning, Indigenous studies, native planting, apothecary, and social-emotional development, with additional training alongside Mohegan Tribe elders and educators. She co-leads our schoolwide Sap-to-Syrup boil each March.

Sue is a Lead Teacher at Leila Day with over 40 years of experience in early childhood education. She holds a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Connecticut and a M.A. in Early Childhood Education with N-3 teacher certification from Southern Connecticut State University. Sue has taught preschool aged children in a variety of settings, and joined Leila Day in 1994, inspired to create the same meaningful learning experiences for her own child that the school offers. Over the years, Sue has built a strong foundation for children’s growth through play-based learning, family collaboration, and thoughtful incorporation of daily meditation into classroom routines.

Bre has been an Assistant Teacher at Leila Day since 2022, and brings extensive experience working with three-year-olds in a nature-based setting, supporting outdoor, play-based learning in all seasons. She holds an associate’s degree from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, and a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from Arizona State University. Bre is committed to creating a safe, nurturing classroom that prioritizes diversity and inclusion, and incorporates varied perspectives and multiple language materials into the classroom to help children develop empathy, respect, and an appreciation for differences. She is the proud parent of a seven year old who brings an ever-evolving perspective to what it means to be a teacher each day.

Angel is a Lead Teacher with an Associate in Science in Early Childhood Inclusive Education from Housatonic Community College and advanced coursework at the University of Hartford. In both settings, she graduated Phi Theta Kappa, and has completed extensive practicum and student teaching experiences across preschool through first grade settings. She brings more than 1,100 hours of supervised fieldwork and student teaching in inclusive classrooms. Angel has served as a Lead Teacher at Earthplace Preschool and previously as an Assistant Teacher at Little Wreckers Preschool. In her free time she loves to read books that make you solve along with them, crochet, and hike.

Nicole joined Leila Day as an Afternoon Assistant Teacher in 2013, became an Assistant Teacher in 2015, and has served as a Lead Teacher since 2018. She brings extensive knowledge of Leila Day’s nature-based, emergent curriculum and has grown alongside the school’s place-based approach. Nicole loves supporting children’s curiosity about the natural world and watching their interests evolve throughout the seasons. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Cognition and Learning from Charter Oak State College and an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Gateway Community College.

Amy is a Lead Teacher at Leila Day Nursery with more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from University of Connecticut and has supported children and families across Connecticut at the New Haven YMCA Youth Center, St. Mark’s Day Care Center, Inc., Carousel Preschool, and Julia Day Nursery and Kindergarten. Amy is passionate about nature-based, hands-on learning and delights in bringing the wonder of composting, gardening, harvest cycles, and snow and ice play into the classroom curriculum, helping children build curiosity, confidence, and a deep connection to the natural world.