Lorraine Mondesir
Director

With a strong commitment to personal and professional excellence, Lorraine joined the staff of the Early Learning Center in February 2017. Prior, she served for 24 years as an assistant teacher, lead teacher, and most recently as director in the Early Childhood Center at Brooklyn College. As an experienced early childhood educator and administrator with 31 years in the field, Lorraine holds B.A. and M.S. degrees in Early Childhood Education from Brooklyn College, along with several certifications in teaching, supervision, and administration. She also has an array of experience in leadership, curriculum planning, grant writing, and in creating a supportive family-friendly environment for diverse student-parents, as well as designing conducive classroom settings for infant/toddlers, and pre-school and school-age children. She holds memberships in several professional organizations to include the National Coalition for Campus Childcare Centers, NYC Association for Educators of Young Children, and the Child Care Council of City University of New York.

Sophia Solomon
Lead Teacher

Sophia returned to the Early Learning Center in August 2018 after a two-years appointment as the Educational Coordinator of the preschool program at Ivy Bound International School in Bangkok, Thailand. Prior to leaving for Thailand, Ms. Solomon was the Educational Director/Lead Teacher at the Early Learning Center

Ms. Solomon has also been an adjunct lecturer at Hunter College CUNY, School of Graduate Education where her hands-on, interactive curriculum design for teaching Child Development is now the blueprint for teaching that course at Hunter College.

Growing up in East Africa, Europe and the Middle East gives Ms. Solomon a uniquely multicultural perspective, a passionate commitment to creating learning environments that embrace diversity and honor individual learning styles. Her teaching approach places a high value on developing social-emotional skills alongside academic excellence to nurture critical thinkers who can tolerate dissension, embrace paradox and negotiate differences respectfully.

Ms. Solomon has an M.S. Ed., Birth-8 years old and a B.A. in Music (piano) & Library Science.

Mariestel Adon
Assistant Teacher

Mariestel has worked at the Early Learning Center since January 2019. She attended Herkimer County Community College where she earned an Associates in Science Degree in Childhood Education and worked as a sign language tutor.

Mariestel began her career as an assistant teacher and tutor in after-school programs. But, her true passion is working with very young children, where she shares her enthusiasm for cooking and teaching songs in sign language.

Patricia Morel
Administrative Assistant

Patricia received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Baruch College (CUNY) in 2014. She worked at the Student Life office as a student assistant and as the Coordinator. There she managed budgets, finances, and worked with many students on a daily basis assisting them with all kinds of everyday collegiate issues. She is bilingual (English, Spanish) and baking is her passion.

Lynn Schaul
Theater Arts Specialist

Lynn Schaul is a theater arts specialist and has been in the field of Arts Education for over two decades. She is a graduate of NYU’s program in Educational Theater and holds a Master’s degree in Technology in Education. Lynn has toured nationally with Children’s Theaters and has led Arts in Education programs throughout New York City and Los Angeles. Lynn uses the power of play and make believe to help children develop language and explore the world around them.

Ganna (Anna) Velychko
Social Worker

Anna is a licensed social worker (LMSW) from Hunter College with the internship training experience from the Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Study Center (PPSC), Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACT), and Elmhurst Hospital. Her experience includes conducting individual and family therapy, developing comprehensive bio-psychosocial assessments, and co-facilitating groups on wellness and self-management: problem-solving, impulse control, self-regulation, and social interactions. She had also assisted with developing a curriculum for the after-school program with kindergarteners enhancing children’s community-building skills, emotional and physical health by teaching yoga, as well as tutored patients (K-12) of the inpatient psychiatric unit on improving reading, writing, and comprehension skills through SAT preparation and informal counseling. Anna’s approach is compassionate, culturally sensitive and trauma-informed. She incorporates yoga, meditation, spiritually transformative experiences, and mindful design as integrative therapeutic offerings. Currently, she works as an LMSW psychotherapist at two private practices located in Brooklyn Heights and Manhattan.