Our Staff

Ms. Ilana is the Founder and Director of Lolly’s Early Learning Center. She takes great pride in Lolly’s and loves interacting with parents, teachers, and children daily. In 2010, shortly after receiving a master’s degree in early childhood education, Ilana opened Lolly’s- one of the first childhood development centers in the LIC neighborhood. She was overwhelmed by the love and support from the LIC community. She prioritizes celebrating the children and the teachers, who make Lolly’s such an amazing place. Grateful to the LIC community and her exceptional staff, Ilana continually strives to make Lolly’s the most rewarding environment for children, teachers, and families. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, including her three children, Mikey, Mila, and Matthew. Ilana looks forward to many more successful years in the community.

**Ms. D (Stephanie)** *- Director of Education*

Ms. D (Stephanie) grew up in Orange County, NY, and has lived in NYC since 2010. She holds a master’s degree in education and has been working in the field for nearly two decades. Once she joined Lolly’s in 2011 (as the Head Teacher in our pre-K class) her passion for Early Childhood Education became very clear. In July 2022, she retired from her classroom duties to fully dedicate herself to a director role. Her love for Lolly’s, teaching, and the LIC community makes her role deeply fulfilling. Outside of Lolly’s, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her rescue dog, Frankie. She was honored with the 2017 Blackboard Award for Excellence in Education. Stephanie is a tremendous asset to Lolly's, the children, the teachers she guides, and the families she works alongside. Thank you, Stephanie, for well over a decade of hard work and commitment.

Ms. Desiree (Ms. Des) joined the Lolly's team as head 4K teacher in 2022. Born in Brooklyn and now living in Queens, Desiree graduated from Hunter College with a bachelor’s degree in Education and is pursuing her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and English at The City College. She also holds a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts and enjoys baking, traveling, and painting in her free time. As the oldest of five siblings and a former au pair for six years, Desiree has deep roots in New York. With experience as a head teacher in a DOE classroom, she firmly believes in learning through play. Describing herself as creative and artsy, she is super excited to embark on another year at Lolly’s. Ms. Des has quickly become a favorite amongst the children, families and her co-workers. We are so lucky and proud to have her.

Ms. Stephanie G - Assistant Teacher 4K

Ms. Stephanie G joined the Lolly’s family in 2023. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Queens College and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in child and Adolescent Development at Capella University. Her love for working with children began early with babysitting jobs, summer employment in daycare centers with 3–5-year-olds and being a daycare assistant during her time at Queens College. In her free time, she enjoys walking, traveling, and spending time with her two parakeets, Esperanza (Hope) and Attentive. Stephanie loves appreciating different cultures and studied abroad in Australia during her time at QC. We are thrilled to have her at Lolly’s as the Assistant Teacher in our 4K class.

Ms. Zuzanna was born and raised in Queens, New York. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hunter College in 2014 and began working at Lolly’s that summer as an Assistant Teacher in the 2-year-old classroom. After a year at Lolly’s, she decided to pursue her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. In 2016, Ms. Zuzanna became the Head Teacher in the Yellow Room. She earned her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Hunter College in 2019 and received her professional certificate in Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2). In September 2021, Ms. Zuzanna was promoted to the head 3K teacher. She is passionate about helping her students develop a love for learning and is dedicated to their emotional and social growth. In her spare time, Ms. Zuzanna enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and cats. Thank you, Ms. Zuzanna, for nearly a decade of commitment to Lolly's and the LIC community.

Ms. Amanda was born and raised in Queens, New York. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology with minors in Studio Art and Student Personnel from CUNY Queens College. During her studies, she developed a strong interest in the special needs field and plans to pursue a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. After graduating, she worked with two-year-olds on the autism spectrum in an early intervention center for 2.5 years. She also has experience working with children from six months to five years old. Amanda joined the Lolly’s family in August 2021 as a co-teacher in the 2-year-old classroom and was promoted to Assistant Teacher in the DOE 3K class in July 2022. While she loves working with kids, Ms. Amanda also has a huge soft spot for animals. In her free time, she enjoys cuddling with her cats and volunteering at a nearby animal shelter.

**Ms. Rashell** *Head Teacher, Upper Preschool (Red Room)*

Ms. Rashell loves being the Head Teacher in Lolly’s Red Room. She began working with children in high school, tutoring and babysitting for numerous families. During college, she worked with children with autism in honor of her sister, who has ASD. Since 2018, she has been teaching toddlers while continuing to gain experience working and volunteering with special needs students. Ms. Rashell joined the Lolly's family in 2021 and has been an incredible addition to our team. Her favorite activities at Lolly’s include reading stories with silly voices, taking her students outside to the playground and for walks to admire the beautiful buildings. A lifelong New Yorker, Ms. Rashell is passionate about the city, her students, and the LIC community.

**Ms. Sherri** *Assistant Teacher, Upper Preschool (Red Room)*

Ms. Sherri started at Lolly’s as the Assistant Teacher in the UPK class in July 2021. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, but her true passion has always been working with children. Since her first job as a camp counselor at age 15, she has been involved in education, starting in 2015. Ms. Sherri has worked as a Program Specialist in after-school enrichment programs and as a Substitute Teacher for grades K-12 in various private and charter schools. Her love for art and wellness shines through in her interactions with her students.

Ms. Lauren - Head teacher, Lower Preschool (Yellow Room)

Ms. Lauren s a seasoned, enthusiastic, and loving teacher with nearly a decade of experience teaching toddlers. Over the years, she has worked at three early childhood centers in Long Island City, including Lolly's. Ms. Lauren began at Lolly's in 2012 as a part-time floater/substitute before moving to Brighter Babies for a full-time opportunity. Since then, she started her own family, marrying her husband David in 2015, and welcoming their son Christopher in 2016. In 2023, we welcomed Ms. Lauren back to Lolly's as the Head Teacher of our toddler class. The children absolutely adore her, reflecting her dedication, patience, and nurturing personality. In her free time, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family and vacationing, especially at Disney. We look forward to many years ahead with Lauren leading our littlest learners.

**Ms. Chelsea** *Assistant teacher, Lower Preschool (Yellow Room)*

Ms. Chelsea joined the Lolly's family in 2022 as a substitute/floater and was promoted to a full time Assistant Teacher position in 2023. She lives in Sunnyside, Queens, and earned her bachelor's degree in Forensic Psychology with a minor in Counseling from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Chelsea is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She began working with children ages 7-11 during high school through various community service endeavors, including volunteering at her local library, where she read to children and assisted them with computer work. Chelsea also has extensive experience babysitting children ages 5-6, helping them with homework, organizing indoor and outdoor activities, and managing meal schedules based on parents' preferences. Since joining Lolly's, she has thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the children and families. Chelsea is a bright light who brings immense joy to the center, and we are so grateful to have her on board as she looks forward to more experiences at Lolly’s.

Ms. Maggie has lived in Brooklyn, New York, for 20 years with her husband and two children. Although trained as a medical assistant, she has always had a passion for working with children. Maggie loves motivating young minds and seeing how children use their imaginations to learn and explore. She believes that early childhood education is fundamental to a fulfilling life and understands the importance of creating a safe and welcoming environment for children. Drawn to Lolly’s by its affectionate staff and engaging curriculum, Maggie’s experience with physically and mentally challenged children has shaped her into the caring and nurturing caregiver she is. The kids love her personality, humor, and especially her morning hugs. Maggie has been part of our center since 2022 and is an amazing asset to the Lolly's community. We are so lucky to have her.