BSNS Staff and Faculty

 

 

Qualifications

Our talented and caring teachers bring rich experience, professional expertise and inspiring dedication to our nursery school. Every classroom has at least one Lead Teacher certified in Early Childhood Education, which requires a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education and successful completion of stat exams. Many of our assistant teachers are currently working towards an Early Childhood Education Masters or have recently completed a Masters program. Within our diverse community of lead and assistant teachers, we have a variety of educators, a chef, a marathon runner, an ice skater, a former Air Force musician, an avid botanist, a tennis player and several proud mothers, who all bring a love of learning and a wealth of talent to their work everyday.

Professional Development

Barrow Street believes it is essential to build on our teachers’ extensive formal training with ongoing professional development. We host many workshops during staff development days throughout the year. Workshops from this past year included a specialized science workshop, a child observation and recording workshop, an art workshop and a child development workshop on brain research.

We also provide rich and exciting learning opportunities through conferences hosted by NYSAIS, NAREA and NAEYC where our teachers are given opportunities to travel locally, nationally and internationally to reflect on personal teaching experiences, grow together as learners, and share ideas, lessons and opinions with others in a stimulating environment. In the past, we have sent many teachers to Reggio Emilia, Italy and other local, national and international Reggio schools. All teachers are CPR and First Aid Infant/Child Certified.

 

Administrative Team

Nicole 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 ten years. Her oldest daughter Eleanor graduated from Barrow in 2019, her daughter Cece is in our 3s/4s program and her youngest daughter, Teddy will be a Barrow Student soon!

Bonnie Maloney, Associate Director 

Bonnie Maloney is the Associate Director of the Barrow Street Nursery School.  She previously served the school as the Education Director, Administrative Associate, and as a classroom teacher.  She is currently in her second stint at Barrow Street with over seven years as a community member.

Ashley Warren, Admissions Director

Ashley Warren is the Admissions Director of the Barrow Street Nursery School.  She has been in early childhood education for 16 years and was a 2s teacher for 10 years at Montclare Children’s School. She was the Admissions Director there for 4 years before joining Barrow Street. She has three children at home, Jack (6), Ellie (4) and Henry (1). 

Samson Baker, Education Director

Samson Baker is the Education Director of the Barrow Street Nursery School.  He brings to our community over 15 years of experience in teaching and leadership at the Little Red School House, Calhoun School, and the Ideal School.

Emily Knowlton, Associate Education Director

Emily Knowlton is the Associate Education Director of the Barrow Street Nursery School.  She previously served the school as an Admissions Associate and classroom teacher in our 2s/3s and Toddler Program.  She has been a member of the Barrow Street community for the past three years, bringing over twelve years of experience teaching Toddlers and 2s/3s to Barrow Street. 

Sonia Irizarry, Officer Manager

Sonia Irizarry is the Officer Manager of the Barrow Street Nursery School.  She has been a member of the Barrow Street community for 13 years. She is the mother of Jade and Tristan.

Ashley Oster, Programs Manager

Ashley Oster is the Programs Manager of the Barrow Street Nursery School.  She has been a member of the Barrow Street community for the past two years.  She brings our community experience as both a classroom teacher and project manager.

Teaching Team

Brian Koscuiszka, Toddlers Co-Lead Teacher

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

Lucy Chen, Toddlers Co-Lead Teachers

Lucy Chen is a co-lead teacher in our Toddlers program.  She has served in this role for the past four years, during which she has supported the program’s growth and evolution.  She brings our community a background in both early childhood education and social work.

Kaitlyn Madden, Toddlers Assistant Teacher

Kaitlyn Madden is an assistant teacher in our Toddlers program.  She has served in this role for the past two years.

Gabby Melton, 2s/3s Lead Teacher

Gabby Melton is a lead teacher in our 2s/3s program.  She returns for her third year in the Yellow Room, having previously served as a co-lead for two years. Gabby joined Barrow Street after teaching for three years at another independent nursery school. 

Marlene Dortch, 2s/3s Assistant Teacher

Marlene Dortch is an assistant teacher in our 2s/3s program.  She returns to the Yellow Room after serving as an assistant in the Purple and Red Rooms.  She has been a member of the Barrow Street community for 12 years.

Erin Pruckno, 2s/3s Lead Teacher

Erin Pruckno is a lead teacher in our 2s/3s program.  She returns to the Purple Room after previous serving as a co-lead in the Yellow Room for two years.  She has been a member of the Barrow Street community for the past three years and joined Barrow Street with five years of experience as a Lead Teacher in the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center in Washington, DC. 

Jack Spagnolo, 2s/3s Assistant Teacher

Jack is an assistant teacher in our 2s/3s program.  He returns for his second year in the Purple Room. Jack brings our community experience as both a classroom teacher and a playwrite.

Christina Malin, 2s/3s Assistant Teacher

Christina Malin is an assistant teacher in our 2s/3s program.  She is new to the Barrow Street community, joining the Purple Room.

Brenna Fisher, 3s/4s Co-Lead Teacher

Brenna Fisher is a co-lead teacher in our 3s/4s program.  She returns for her third year in this role in the Green Room after previously serving as a 3s/4s assistant teacher.  She has been a member of the Barrow Street community for the past five years. She brings our community experience as a classroom teacher, studio artist, and art teacher.

Stephanie Roer, 3s/4s Co-Lead Teacher

Steph Roer is a co-lead teacher in our 3s/4s program.  She returns for her third year in this role in the Green Room.  She brings our community experience in both early childhood education and supporting faculty growth and development. 

Cate d’Amboise, 3s/4s Lead Teacher

Cate d’Amboise is a lead teacher in our 3s/4s program.  She returns for her second year in this role in the Blue Room.  She brings our community over twenty-five years’ experience as a 3s/4s and 4s/5s classroom teacher and created the early childhood program at her previous school in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Melissa Atwood, 3s/4s Assistant Teacher

Melissa Atwood is an assistant teacher in our 3s/4s program.  She returns for her second year in this role in the Blue Room.  A member of the Barrow Street community for five years, she previously served as an assistant in our 2s/3s and 3s/4s programs.

Hillary Goldman, 3s/4s Assistant Teacher

Hillary Goldman is an assistant teacher in our 3s/4s program.  She is new to the Barrow Street community, joining the Blue Room, after teaching for two years as an assistant at City and Country. Prior to being a classroom teacher, Hillary worked as a research scientist. 

Danielle Rallo, 4s/5s Lead Teacher

Danielle Rallos is a lead teacher in our 4s/5s program.  She returns for her second year in this role in the Orange Room.  She previously served as a lead, co-lead, and assistant teacher in our 3s/4s program.  She has been a member of the Barrow Street community for the past five years

Alfons Santiago, 4s/5s Assistant Teacher

Alfons Santigo is an assistant teacher in our 4s/5s program.  He returns for his second year in this role in the Orange Room.  He previously served as an assistant in our 2s/3s, 3s/4s, and 4s/5s programs.  He has been a member of the Barrow Street community for over fifteen years.

Ari Puleo, 4s/5s Co-Lead Teacher

Ari Puleo is a co-lead teacher in our 4s/5s program.  She returns for her third year in this role in the Red Room.  She brings our community a background in both early child education and special education.

Lily Pollack, 4s/5s Co-Lead Teacher

Lily Pollack is a co-lead teacher in our 4s/5s program.  She is new to the Barrow Street community, joining the Red Room.  She brings our community five years of teaching experience as a classroom teacher at the Blue School and in the New York City PreK-For-All program.

Ursula Boone, Universal Teacher

Ursula Boone is a universal teacher, supporting the teachers and children across all our programs.  She returns for her 4th year in this role. She previously served the school as a 4s/5s classroom teacher and has over 20 years of teaching experience, 12 at Barrow Street. 

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.  She has been a member of the Barrow Street community for the past two years. She brings our community over 20 years of teaching experience as a classroom teacher, formerly as a Lead Teacher at Tompkins Hall Nursery School.