Our Teachers

Maureen has been working in the childcare industry her entire career. She enjoys working with all groups and is a team player to her coworkers. When Maureen is sitting with her students, she enjoys listening to them as they are working with magnets. Magnetic tiles allow the children to build
and create everything and anything. The children’s imaginations are endless. Maureen prompts the students to describe what they have built,
who shared and worked together as a team. She encourages team building and social and emotional play. Maureen loves being outdoors with her dogs. When she has quiet time at home, she enjoys collaging.

In Sophie’s classroom you will find her sitting on the floor with toys and happy children. Sophie gives the children opportunities to play and make believe with items that one may use as household items. She will use empty coffee cans or oatmeal containers as instruments. The children will sing and dance while tapping or shaking the cans/containers. She also likes to see the children make a mess as well as to “clean up” and put the toys back on the shelves. 

Sophie has two children and has worked at Sugar Plums since 2014. 

You will find me singing and reading to my students in my classroom.  Language is the most important part of my classroom. I teach my students to communicate with American Sign Language, verbal language, and cues. Reading books to my students excites me, especially when my children start to repeat the words from the stories. 

Walk into Jessica’s classroom and you will find colorful graphs, charts, bright schedules, and many words on her wall. Math skills are taught at an early age with graphs. Ask my students “how many of you like the color green vs. orange”. When five children like orange and five children like green, we have learned about “half” of ten. When we learn about animals or transportation, our vocabulary wall gets filled up with new words. Jessica started working at Sugar Plums in 2017. I started working for Sugar Plums in 2017. I have worked in child care for over two years. I also have three nephews who I have cared for since they were infants.I am currently taking early childhood education classes at Montgomery College in Takoma Park. I have my CPR certification. I have a love of dogs. My pitbull and cavalier are like my babies. I have two siblings. I love spending time with my nephews especially at the zoo or playground. I also enjoy shopping, spending time at the beach, taking walks andworking out. Another fun hobby of mine is that I love playing with cosmetics (nails and make up)! 

Alondra is always on the floor while speaking to the children. She understands the importance of eye-to-eye communication to get the children to trust and understand what she wants the children to do.Colorful pegs in a board is a great toy that Alondra uses with the children. She teaches them to count and helps the children use their fine motor skills. Early math skills are used when Alondra asks the children how many pegs are on the board when she takes one away vs when she adds one to the board. She loves when the toddlers figure out how to place the pegs on the board and when they count the pegs. In her free time, Alondra enjoys cooking and baking. She also enjoys doing make overs for friends and family.

Bisrat has worked with all ages groups, but primarily preschool since 2018.  Before entering the education field, Bisrat studied interior design.  Her love for art and design allows her to be creative and have fun with the children.  Her favorite thing to do with the children is play ball.  It is very versatile and can be used inside and outside and it's a fun easy way to engage with children in all age groups.  In her spare time she enjoys flipping furniture, jewelry making and painting. 

The infants become immediately engaged when Ms. Dominique challenges her babies in cognitive games. She loves the toys that are cause and effect. If you push a button, a cow pops up, if you turn a knob a song comes on. The more noise the toy makes the better! Dominique enjoys watching the children’s eyes light up when they figure out which button to push for stimulation.  

Dominique Joined Sugar Plums: 2016  

When an infant is listening to music in Gvansta’s classroom they hear her calming voice as she sings along.  Gvansta offers instruments to her babies and helps them shake rattles, nod their heads and clap their hands. She enjoys helping them with rhythm and movement. 

She started her educational field in Montessori, and she loves the connection between the purposeful play theory at Sugar Plums and Montessori theory of learning through the environment.  

Gvansta enjoys spending time with her family. They love to discover all the amazing museums, restaurants and neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. 

Paola loves to cook and bake. She brings her recipes into the classroom to help the
children with early math skills as they use measuring cups and measuring spoons. Her
creativity does not stop with baking. She loves to use glue and paint and let the children
explore different sensory activities.

Lydia’s pre school classroom is buzzing with questions, music and playing dress ups.
She enjoys watching her students in the dramatic play center. Lydia will prompt her
students with thoughtful questions to help them stretch their imaginations while engaged
in dramatic play. The play space may be a grocery store, a gardening center, or a home
or anything the children want it to be. Come watch Lydia’s students become animated
and excited in her classroom.

If you are in an infant classroom, you are certainly going to hear rattle sounds in the
children’s hands. Latana loves to see babies shake rattles and to watch their eyes light
up from the sounds that are made. Her gentle voice and calming personality gives the
children opportunities to explore and make noise to satisfy the cause and effect skills.
Latana has worked in childcare for over 20 years.