GUILFORD CENTER FOR CHILDREN - Key Persons
This is my first year working at GCC but I have been working with children for 30 years! I love doing arts and crafts, reading and getting creative at circle time in the classroom! I have two daughters, a son in law and a beautiful granddaughter named Sara. I enjoy gardening, decorating, rejuvenating old furniture and going to Jacobs Beach and Disney World!
I joined the GCC community 4 years ago and have loving every second of being a sub here! I have been working with children for over 10 years, a lot of which has been teaching dance! I have my bachelor's degree in contemporary dance and often can be found dancing with a group of kids on the playground or doing barefoot yoga! I recently got married and I love being a wife! In my free time I enjoy gardening, knitting, eating and cooking!
I've been working with children for 20 years and have been here at GCC for 2! I have my associates in ECE and am currently pursuing my master's degree in early childhood education. My favorite activities to do with children are making playdough, reading and anything science related! When I'm not at school, you can find me reading, traveling walking my dog and going to the beach!
I have been working with children for over 35 years, including singing and brightening days of those at Yale. I have a bachelor's in English and a master's in ECE. I love bringing my music into GCC and play for the children when I am here! I would love to publish a children's book and 2 songs. I enjoy reading, going to the gym, gardening, skiing and exploring Connecticut.
I've been working at GCC for 10 years! I love gardening in the summer, taking trips to the beach and spending time with my dog Tucker! I am a great cook and love to bake with the kids here at school! My mom is Ms. Chris, a teacher in the yellow room!
Hello! I have been working in Early Childhood for the last 8 years. I am attending Charter Oak School to finish my degree in ECE. I have loved working with children and seeing their smiling faces every day. I love spending time with my family and friends and going to the gym in my spare time.
Carolina Machado has been sharing her Spanish language teaching skills with GCC for 6 years. She is also degreed in engineering. When she has time between juggling her four children, she enjoys dancing, throwing parties and making games. Carolina loves GCC because of the children, the teachers, and the beautiful environment.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Hi! I'm Dawny. I grew up in Guilford. I attended college in New Haven and graduate school in Dallas, Texas. I've lived all over the country and in Toronto, Canada. I have a bachelor's degree with a minor in nutrition. I have been an animal rights activist since I was 15 years old and have a strong concern for the environment and animals. I have been married to my wonderful husband Marc for 27 years. We have two adult daughters who live in NYC!
I love working with children, music and having fun! I am often the one starting dance parties on the playground with a Kidz Bop hit list! I enjoy writing my own songs and dancing, though I'm not too good at either! I also love science! I have two wonderful pups at home and a Gary. Relaxing on the beach is where you can find me outside of school.
Before joining GCC, I ran the kitchen services at A.W Cox Elementary School for many years. This is my second year as a classroom aide and I love laughing, singing and dancing with the children. I love to travel to Bermuda, Rhode Island, Mystic and am often walking around the center of Guilford.
I started teaching preschool almost 10 years ago now! My experience with early childhood education and special education continues to keep me motivated to be the best teacher I can be in the classroom. Art has been a big influence in my life and incorporating it on a daily basis with the kids is key to a happy learning environment for me.
I just joined the GCC community and am so excited to be working with children! I am a graduate of Guilford High School and love to sing, crochet and bake (especially cherry pie!). I have a goal of one day having an Etsy shop to sell the things I crochet. I have a large dog named Yeti and like traveling to Vermont and visiting Chittenden Park!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
My name is Diane Maio. I am a staff member at Guilford before and after school care program. I have been with the program since 2014. l am also employed by Guilford Public schools a kindergarten Para-educator. I have three children, Brittney who is 25 years old and resides in Virginia and is currently going through the sheriffs Academy. Brandon who is 21, and has just completed his junior hockey career in Canada and is now employed by the town of Hamden and Alexa who is 19 , and is a student at Southern Connecticut State University studying sociology and criminal justice. In my spare time I enjoy going shopping, spending time with my family and friends and especially going to the beach! I have been a Guilford resident for the past 28 years.
Hello, my name is Elaina and I have had the privilege of being a part of GCC since 2020, after spending over 15 years teaching at my previous center. I was excited to join the GCC community and the team of amazing and creative teachers here! I received my ECE degree and just love what I do! I am committed to providing you and your child a loving and developmentally sound classroom for a lifetime love of learning. Outside of school I am a wife and a mother of two amazing boys aged 5 and 9. We live in Durham. In my free time I am with my family, in my garden or working on a DIY project!
Gail Etter has been sharing her talents and love for music with GCC for 7 years. She has an Education Degree in Special Needs and many graduate credits in music and education. She loves combining her two passions, children and music, at GCC! When Gail is not with us, she enjoys gardening, yoga, choral singing, piano and reading.
Hi my name is Gina Whitmore. I have two sons. I enjoy cooking and love spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy the beach and the ocean. I work at Guilford Lakes with the before and after school program. I love the children and I think our program is fantastic! We all work together to make sure our program is a safe and fun place to be.
I have 6 grandchildren, one who attends school here at GCC! I am thrilled to be here subbing and spending time with the children reading to them and doing puzzles among other things! I have my bachelor's degree in Medical Technology. I love to visit Cape Cod, garden, cross stitch and keep busy with home projects!
Job Titles:
- Retired Executive Assistant
Jonathan Kehew has been coming to GCC for 2 years and sharing his love of singing and all musical instruments! Jon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and he is the owner of Corner Music in Old Saybrook. As a true musician, his favorite pastimes include: music, music, music, reading, and music.
Hi! Krista here! I have been working in Early Childhood Education for many years. I love the preschool age because I enjoy doing interactive activities with the children. I love soy lattes, playing tennis and going on the Hammonassett Trail. I also have a deep love for Celine Dion and astrology!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Hi everyone! My name is Kristen Signore and I have been working with the before and after school care for two years now. Before that I was a substitute para working at different elementary schools and doing that for a little bit made me realize that I do enjoy working with children. Besides working, I like to go to the beach, spend time with family and friends and love going to concerts.
I just started at GCC after working in the public schools and with children for 15 years! I have a bachelors degree in communication disorders and a master's in special education. I love any activity that centers around reading and making fun science activities like slime or playdough! I live with my Husband Ryan and our two cats and I enjoy reading, creative writing, singing, cooking and baking!
Hi! I grew up in the Pittsburgh area and moved to CT in 1970. I have 2 sons, 2 stepsons and 4 grandchildren. Soon after retiring as a language arts teacher at GHS, I began subbing in the GCC BASC Program. I enjoy the energy of elementary school age children, as well as their views on life. One of the most gratifying aspects of my job with BASC is working with so many children of my former students!
Born and raised on a dairy farm in upstate NY. I moved to Boston for 10 years then to the CT shoreline in 2006. Married for 15 years with 2 children. Joined GCC in 2016. I have a BA in psychology and a MA in teaching. I love working with the families of GCC. Outside of work, I love hiking, boating, baking and cooking. You can find me at the beach, in Maine or on my farmland on the weekends.
I have been a teacher at GCC since August of 2000 and have worked in Early Childhood since receiving my associate's degree at Becker College in 1983. I have been married to my husband Stuart for 35 years and we have two adult children; my son Benjamin and my daughter, GCC's very own Ms. Amanda! I have lived in Madison my whole life and am the middle sister of 5 girls. I enjoy reading, playing the piano, visiting my son on Long Island and walking my grand dogs in my spare time.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Hi my name is Melissa and I have been working with GBAC since last summer. I love working with the kids and am happy to be a part of such a great program!
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Board of Directors
Hi, my name is Mike. I have a passion for music, art, teaching, and animals, especially my dog Cooper and snake Gerard! As a before and after care teacher, I strive to create an engaging learning environment for the kids to unwind, grow, and most Importantly, have fun!
Hello Everyone! My name is Mirjana Mukic and I am the Head teacher of the Before and After school care program. I have 13 years of experience working with children in the GBASC program and I also work as a Para-educator at A.W. Cox Elementary school. I came to the United States of America with my husband and two children twenty three years ago from Bosnia and Herzegovina (former Yugoslavia). We did not speak the English language and it took a lot of courage to start a new life but with hard work we succeeded. My children are now grown. My daughter is a High school American history teacher and my son works as a Senior account executive for a Pharmaceutical marketing company. I am very fortunate to work with children because this is a profession that I truly care and am passionate about.
My name is Sabrina Mone, I am a sophomore at Southern Connecticut State University. I am going to school to be an elementary school teacher! When I'm not at work or school I enjoy spending time with friends and family.
My name is Samantha, but my favorite people call me Ms. Sam. I grew up in Milford and attended Western CT State University where I attained my bachelor's degree in health promotions and exercise science. I have always loved working with children and decided to switch roles. I was blessed to find a job in a local pre-k, and I haven't looked back. When I moved to the area 2 years ago with my husband Jorge and our dogs, I was so lucky to find GCC! I love being a part of this community!
Job Titles:
- Creative Movement Specialist
Samantha Parsons has been our creative movement specialist for over 2 years, and has been doing programs at GCC Before and After School Care for over 10 years. Sam has her Bachelor's Degree in Dance Education, her Master's Degree in Liberal Studies focusing on Performance Studies, Movement Analysis, and Women's Studies. Sam also holds certificates in Laban Movement Analysis and is a Registered Somatic Movement Therapist and Educator. Sam is at GCC because movement is important to psychological development and underpins cognitive and emotional health. An avid reader and writer, she can also be found running around Guilford or teaching spin classes.
Hello GBASC Community! I am originally from the Aloha state of Hawaii. My husband and I have lived in Guilford for 30 years and I have two lovely daughters that attend Guilford High School. I have worked at A.W Cox as a recess aide for 10 years and joined the Guilford Before and After School Program a 3 years ago. I enjoy spending my free time with family and going to the beach. I'm looking forward to another great school year with everyone!
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Board of Directors
My name is Tatjana Kostic. I have been working with the Before and After School Care program for 16 years! I have also recently started working for the Guilford Food service. I grew up in Bosnia and came to America when I was 22 years old! I have been happily married for 19 years and have two energetic sons! I have my degree in the Culinary Arts and love to cook!!!
Hi! I have been working for the Guilford Before and After School Program since 1997. In my time here, I have implemented countless fun gym games. I have taught speed cup stacking to many children here at the program and even participate annually in the breaking of a world record of the greatest number of children stacking on one day. I also recently started instructing the children how to complete Rubix Cubes! In my spare time, I enjoy traveling the country visiting different baseball stadiums. To date, I have watched baseball in 29 stadiums with 1 more to go. Ayana Amoja Hi! I'm Ayana and I've been working for GCC BASC since 2020. I have found a love for working with kids especially in this program. I'm currently a junior at University of New Haven and I aspire to work with kids in the juvenile system, in the future. Carla Misbach Hi, my name is Carla Misbach and I am life long resident of Guilford! My husband and I have raised both of our children here. I have been working in the Guilford Public School Systems since 2007. I truly enjoy working with children of all age groups.