Park Street Academy preschool in Montclair, New Jersey, prides itself on having a professional faculty that facilitates learning using a positive, multi-modal and hands-on approach. Our Team Teachers are NJ State Certified in Early Childhood or maintain a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. All remain current with teaching methodologies by participating in continuing education courses and seminars.
Each teaching team works together to provide an exciting learning experience in all the content areas for our students. While each teacher has their own style, the goal is always to develop self-esteem and love of learning.
Directors
Lisa Raphael
Director
Lisa is the Owner and Director of Park Street Academy, founding the school in July 1996. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education and is New Jersey State Certified in Special, Elementary & Early Childhood Education, through William Paterson University. Lisa is also a certified Wilson® Dyslexia Practitioner. She earned her National Administrator Credential from the National Child Care Association (NCCA) and is a member of the Learning and the Brain Society, the National Autism Association, the Association of Supervision of Curriculum & Development (ASCD) and the American Camp Association. In 2015, Lisa became a member and certified instructor with New Jersey Workforce, a statewide initiative implementing systems to enhance preparation and continuing education of early childhood and afterschool practitioners. She is a recognized Child Development Associate (CDA) instructor and Professional Development Specialist with the National Council for Professional Recognition. Lisa has earned her advanced certification as a Nurtured Heart Approach Certified Trainer. As Lisa’s first love is being in the classroom, she teaches PSA’s Fine Arts classes to our Pre-K and Transitional Kindergarten students.
Sandy Weber
Business Director
Sandy joined PSA in 2000 after years in the fields of women’s health administration, small business management, general medical administration, family planning research, and community organizing. She has worked as the Coordinator of Outpatient OB/GYN services at Kings County Hospital Center and as the Director of the Community Family Planning Council’s Mobile Clinic program in the boroughs of New York City. Sandy has a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Adelphi University and a Master of Public Health degree from Columbia University, where her focus was women’s and children’s health. Her extensive experience, knowledge, and organizational skills have made her an invaluable part of Park Street Academy for more than 26 years!
Christine O’Gara Mazzacca
Assistant Director / Freshman Music Teacher
Christine earned her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from Montclair State University and has over 30 years of experience working with young children. She first joined Park Street Academy as a Freshman teacher from 2006–2010 before taking a position at the Newark Museum, where she ran programs for children and families. Christine also served as the Assistant Director of a daycare in Florham Park and as Assistant Director of Nemnet Minority Recruitment, a national teacher recruitment agency. Fortunately for us, Christine returned to the Freshman Team in 2015 and became our Assistant Director in 2020. Her exceptional administrative and organizational skills, along with her creativity and many years of experience in early childhood education, contribute greatly to the smooth functioning of the school. She is also happy to continue sharing her love of music with our youngest students as their Freshman Music Teacher!
Freshman Team Teachers
Alexa Davis
Freshman Team Teacher / Summer Camp Director
Alexa has been a vital member of the Park Street Academy staff since 2000, when she joined our Freshman team as a teacher. She holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and brings more than 26 years of experience and dedication to PSA. Over the years, Alexa has created and taught several of our popular afternoon clubs, including Kids’ Café, before passing those torches on to other staff members. When she is not with our Freshmen, Miss Alexa can be found planning, organizing, and directing our spectacular summer camp program. One only has to see her leading one of our famous camp Spirit Days to know that “we’ve got spirit, yes we do!” Her energy, creativity, and enthusiasm help make camp an unforgettable experience for our children each summer!
Brianne Gerne
Freshman Team Teacher / Professional Development Coordinator
The unflappable Miss Brianne joined our Freshman team in 2001 after attending Montclair State University and the Nursing Program at Mountainside Hospital. She holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and earned her Associate’s degree in Social Sciences from Essex County College in May 2026. Brianne is currently a junior at William Paterson University, where she is pursuing a BA in Leadership & Professional Studies and expects to graduate in 2028. As our Professional Development Coordinator, Brianne connects our faculty with opportunities to maintain continuing education credits and stay current with new research and techniques in early childhood education. She also plays an important role in welcoming new staff members by conducting orientation and training. Her knowledge, dedication, and calm presence make Brianne an invaluable member of the PSA team!
Freshman Support Staff
Christina Miltner
Freshman Team Support
Christina joined our afternoon team in September 2020 and quickly became an integral member of our support staff, finding her niche in the Freshman class. She attended Rutgers University studying Criminal Justice, and received her emergency dispatcher certificate in 2026. The skills she gained as a former coach in the North Arlington Recreational Cheer program have been put to good use as she is the assistant teacher in our afternoon Gymnastics enrichment classes!
Gabby Coe
Freshman Team Support
Gabby has been part of Park Street Academy since she was a two-year-old student in our Freshman class! A graduate of Buxton School in Williamstown, MA, Gabby studied journalism at Rutgers University for two years, while also working as an afternoon team member and summer camp counselor. After spending some time away, Gabby happily returned to Park Street Academy and now supports our Freshman class. Having worked in every PSA classroom at one time or another, she brings a unique familiarity with our school and a special ability to connect with and engage the children. A talented artist (responsible for making our hallways beautiful) and singer, Gabby loves incorporating her creativity into everything she does!
Adriana Angier
Freshman Team Support
Adriana is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Science. She brings a wonderful combination of education, experience, and enthusiasm to Park Street Academy! Adriana has worked as a paraprofessional supporting preschool students and has also gained valuable experience working at Lakeshore Learning. With extensive experience caring for young children, she is excited to bring her warm and nurturing nature to our Freshman class. We are so happy to welcome Adriana to our Freshman Support Staff!
Sophomore West Team Teachers
Amanda Rooney
Sophomore West Team Teacher
Amanda originally joined Park Street Academy as a Senior South Team Teacher in early 2021 before moving to the Sophomore West team in July 2023. She has been an early childhood educator since 2005, with experience teaching special education, Kindergarten, and 1st and 2nd grades in several private schools and public school districts. In addition, Amanda served as the Center Director at Kiddie Academy in Florham Park for over three years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in Business from the College of Saint Elizabeth and earned her K–8 Teaching Certification from Caldwell University. With her extensive experience and wonderful way with young children, Amanda has the perfect touch for this lively group of 3-year-olds and is a fantastic part of the team!
Jessica Juhrden
Sophomore West Team Teacher / Social Media Manager
Joining us in summer 2021, Miss Jess realized her love of teaching while participating in a Future Educators of America program in high school, through which she led sports, science, art, and literacy activities for elementary school children. She holds an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Passaic County Community College and a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Jess has worked with disabled children at the Roberto Clemente School in Passaic and was a Lead Teacher at Lightbridge Academy in Millburn. In addition to team teaching in Sophomore West, Jess is responsible for creating our adorable and often hilarious social media posts on Instagram and Facebook. Check them out at Park Street Academy Montclair!
Lenka Schoonfield
Sophomore West Team Teacher
Lenka became part of the PSA family in 2020 as an afternoon teacher and transitioned to our Freshman team in 2021. Prior to joining PSA, she spent 22 years as an Assistant Teacher at the Early Learning Center in Fairfield, NJ, where she gained valuable experience and skills in early childhood education. Lenka has earned her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and is excited about her new role as a Team Teacher in the Sophomore West class. With her gentle nature and caring heart, Lenka has a wonderful way of making children feel safe, loved, and cared for.
Sophomore West Support Staff
Jezely Yanes
Sophomore West Team Support
Jezely joined our support team in November 2024 and has quickly become an integral part of the Park Street Academy family. She is currently a student at Hudson County Community College, where she is studying Early Childhood Education. Prior to joining PSA, Jezely gained extensive hands-on experience as an in-home caretaker for young children. Her warm and caring personality, positive attitude, and genuine love for children make her a delight to have on staff. We are so happy to have Jezely as part of our support team!
Sophomore East Team Teachers
Lisa Howard (aka “the other Miss Lisa”)
Sophomore East Team Teacher
Originally joining the PSA family as a parent, Lisa holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Pace University and spent twenty years working in finance and managing computer information systems before making a career change. She soon discovered that her heart and passion were in early childhood education and decided to pursue that path. Lisa joined our faculty in 2005 and has earned her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. With more than twenty years at PSA, she brings a calm and nurturing approach to the classroom and enjoys helping children develop confidence, independence, and a love of learning.
Sabrina Hodgson
Sophomore East Team Teacher
Sabrina attended County College of Morris and Montclair State University, where she majored in Early Childhood Development. Before joining Park Street Academy, she spent three years as a Head Teacher at Executive Kids in Cedar Grove and earned her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Sabrina joined our permanent staff as a Sophomore Team Teacher in 2016. In addition to her work in the classroom, she plans and teaches Kids’ Café, our super-popular Friday afternoon cooking club. Her creativity and enthusiasm make every class a delicious adventure!
Daniela Wahlers
Sophomore East Team Teacher
Daniela joined our afternoon team in 2020 and has been a member of the Sophomore East Team since September 2022. She has an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education & Family Studies from the County College of Morris, as well as a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Prior to PSA, Daniela was a teaching assistant at First Mountain Preschool in West Orange and a camp counselor in the West Orange Summer Recreation Program. We are grateful Daniela brings her spirit and energy to PSA.
Sophomore East Support Staff
Ayanna Brantley
Sophomore East Team Support
Ayanna originally joined us as part of her Senior Option internship through Montclair High School in the spring of 2022. She was such a terrific addition that we hired her as a full-time summer camp counselor. She now attends Montclair State University, where she is studying Early Childhood Education & Family Science and expects to earn her Bachelor’s degree in 2027. She has become an integral member of our support staff and you can find her helping in the Sophomore East class most afternoons. A lover of fitness and basketball, Ayanna is a natural fit to assist in our afternoon Tennis and Super Sports enrichment classes!
Senior South Team Teachers
Carmel Mansfield
Senior South Team Teacher
Carmel was born in Southern Ireland, County Tipperary, and moved to the United States as a teenager. She worked as a nanny for a Montclair family for twenty years before attending Dover Business College, where she received her Patient Care Technician certification for nursing. Fortunately for us, Carmel redirected her career to early childhood education and earned her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Since 2017, Carmel has been bringing her Irish wit, wisdom, and incredible creativity to the Senior South class.
Maya Roberts
Senior South Team Teacher
A Montclair native, Maya joined our afternoon staff in September 2021. She studied Early Childhood Education and English at Teachers College of New Jersey (TCNJ) before transferring to Montclair State University, where she studied Family Science and Human Development. Maya earned her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential while working at PSA. She spent several years as a support staff member in Senior South before transitioning to a Team Teacher position in September 2024. Maya leads Book Crew, our afternoon literature club, where she brings her love of books to life and encourages our students to discover the joy of reading. An avid reader, Maya is a member of three different book clubs! Her easy-going nature makes her a well-loved member of the Senior South team.
Dhara Vaishnav
Senior South Team Teacher
Dhara joined us in the fall of 2024 after working at MMO Preschool in Montclair, first as an Assistant Teacher and then for two years as a Lead Teacher. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Montclair State University, where she majored in Justice Studies with a concentration in Justice and Families, as well as a Paralegal Certificate from Ramapo College. Lucky for us, her career path took a turn toward early childhood education, and she earned her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential in the fall of 2025. Fun facts: In her spare time, Dhara is a wedding coordinator specializing in South Asian weddings and studies semi-classical Bollywood dance. Beginning in September 2026, she will share her love of movement and mindfulness with our students as the teacher of our new Zen Yoga Club.
Senior South Support Staff
Karenna Azcona
Senior South Team Support
Karenna joined our support staff in the spring of 2024 and has been a wonderful addition to Park Street Academy. After graduating from Cicely Tyson Performing & Fine Arts High School, she completed her first two years of college at Montclair State University. Karenna also brings administrative experience from working with two small businesses. Most importantly, she has proven to be a natural when working with our Pre-K students!
Farahnaz Gerayeli
Senior South Team Support
An accomplished dentist in Iran and Germany, Farahnaz worked with children and adults, including providing school-based dental care to children with disabilities through the German public health service. Following her grown children to the U.S., where she is a permanent resident, Farahnaz moved to Montclair in 2021. Fortunately for us, she loves working with young children and joined Park Street Academy as an afternoon staff member. After taking a year away from PSA, we are thrilled to welcome Farahnaz back to our team! She will be returning to work with our Pre-K and Transitional Kindergarten students this fall. We are lucky to have her back on board!
Senior North Team Teachers
Inuka Ivaska
Senior North Team Teacher
Inuka became a Team Teacher on the Senior North Team in September 2023, having joined us the year prior as a support team member and substitute teacher. A graduate of Duquesne University, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. Inuka spent many years working with numerous regional and Off-Broadway theater companies, performing all over the world. Through Dance.Laugh.Learn., she was able to share her passion for the arts with children, bringing yoga, music, and dance to New York City schools. Her teaching experience includes working as an Assistant and Lead Teacher in several early childhood programs, including Lightbridge Academy and Mighty Sprouts Montessori. She holds her Child Development Associate (CDA) credential and has taken numerous classes toward a Master’s in Early Childhood Education. With her background in the arts and early childhood education, Inuka was a natural choice to teach our Thursday afternoon Performing Arts Club! We are delighted that Inuka has brought her many talents to PSA!
Grace Acheson
Senior North Team Teacher
Grace joined the Freshman Support Staff in September 2023 while attending Montclair State University, graduating in May 2025 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Family Science and Human Development. She joined the Freshman Team Teaching staff in September 2025 and became an official member of the Senior North Team in September 2026. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Grace teaches Wiz Kids, our Wednesday afternoon science club, and assists with Kids’ Café. Her experience working with children extends beyond PSA, including serving as a Child Life Volunteer, where she provided play and pet therapy to pediatric hospital patients. Grace also volunteers with Comfort Zone Camp, a bereavement and grief organization for children. Bright, capable, and caring, Grace brings a thoughtful and enthusiastic approach to everything she does.
RiLee McDonald
Senior North Team Teacher
RiLee joined Park Street Academy in May 2026, bringing with her a wealth of experience in early childhood education. She spent 10 years teaching at MMO Preschool Programs and an additional four years at St. James Preschool. RiLee earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Montclair State University and is a certified teacher. Most recently, she worked as a paraprofessional in Verona Public Schools. Conversational in ASL and a piano player, RiLee brings great energy and enthusiasm to the classroom and loves finding ways to keep her students active and engaged. After initially joining our Sophomore West team, RiLee transitioned to the Senior North Team in July 2026 and is excited to begin the new school year with our older students.
Senior North Support Staff:
Yerithzia Gallegos
Senior North Team Support
Yerithzia joined our support staff in 2024 and has been a wonderful addition to PSA. She is currently a student at Essex County College, where she is studying accounting. She has worked with young children both as a babysitter, and at Build-A-Bear, which she described as great fun! Yerithzia has a warm smile and a gentle approach, and we are delighted to have her on our staff!
Sean Mansfield
Senior North Team Support
Sean has been a familiar face at Park Street Academy for the past three summers, working as one of our summer camp counselors. Sean recently graduated from Passaic County Technical Institute (PCTI), where he majored in Criminal Justice. Sean brings a fun and familiar energy to the team, and we are excited to officially welcome him to our Senior North support staff!
Lissette Velasquez
Spanish Teacher for Senior North and Senior South
Proficient in Spanish, Lissette joined our faculty as a Senior North Team Support in January 2025. In September 2025, she transitioned into her current role, teaching Spanish to our Pre-K and Kindergarten students each week. Lissette previously worked as a head teacher in a toddler classroom at The Brunswick School and as an in-class support teacher in the North Bergen School District. She is also a certified yoga instructor and teaches yoga in Nutley.
And last but not least…
Lorena Ulloa Calderon
Custodian
Keeping a busy preschool clean, welcoming, and safe for everyone is no small task, and we are so happy to have Lorena take on this important role. Originally from Ecuador, Lorena recently joined Park Street Academy and has quickly become a valued member of our staff. As the mother of four young boys, she knows a thing or two about keeping up with a busy crew! Lorena takes great pride in keeping our school looking its best and helping to create a clean and welcoming environment for our children, families, and staff. We are delighted to have her as part of the PSA family!
