Staff | G-S-E-C-Center

Meet our Good Shepherd Early Childhood Center Staff

At Good Shepherd Early Childhood Center, our staff is dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all children.

Administration

Our administration is dedicated to the enrichment and growth of the whole Good Shepherd community.

Mandy Landivinec

Educational Director

A native of England, Mrs. Landivinec holds a Masters Degree in School Building Leadership (Mercy College), having focused her teaching Masters in both General Education and Special Education (Concordia).

914.591.4104

Rev. Dr. Blaine Crawford

Minister of the Irvington Presbyterian Church and Head of Staff

Rev. Dr. Blaine Crawford began serving as minister at Irvington Presbyterian Church in March 2021. He holds degrees from Western Theological Seminary, Denver Seminary, and Northwestern College (IA). He previously served parishes in Flushing, Queens, and in Rochester, New York.

914.591.8124

Andrea Sarayli - Book Keeper

andrea.sarayli@irvingtonpresbychurch.org

Emily Villar - Office Manager

Emily.Villar@irvingtonpresbychurch.org

Our Teachers

Our teaching staff is carefully screened, trained, and supervised. They are all very experienced in the field of Early Childhood. Our are teachers hold a range of qualifications, from the CDA (Child Development Associate) a nationally recognized credential in the field of early childhood to Masters Degrees and NYS Teacher Certification. Our assistant teachers hold CDAs. All Head and Assistant Teachers are required to complete 60 hours of training every 4 year licensing period. Most of our teachers have remained on our staff for many years. All teachers are trained in CPR and first aid. Our Head Teachers are MAT (Medication Administration Training) certified which enables them to dispense medication for emergencies and chronic conditions.

"I love my teachers because they do such wonderful things. I can't wait to go every morning because I love school!!"

– DJ, age 4

Sandra Hunnicutt

Teacher

I grew up in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Pelham, New York and now reside in Yorktown Heights with my husband Ted. In my spare time I like to be outdoors taking long walks, doing a little bird watching and gardening. I also enjoy a good game of ping pong and backgammon. I have a BA in Education and after graduating I returned to Sao Paulo and taught English as a second language to children of various ages and a 1st grade class at the Chapel American School. A few years later, back in New York, I began my career as a pre-k teacher. I have been teaching for more than 25 years and this is my 17th year at Good Shepherd. I am currently head teacher in the 5-day 3’s. I feel incredibly lucky to work with and care for young children and I always look forward to having fun and learning with them. I take pride in and enjoy making our classroom inviting and ensuring the children feel safe and happy.

Alex Marinis

Teacher

My name is Alexandra Marinis. I have been teaching preschool for over 30 years. I love working with young children. Making a difference in a child’s life is rewarding to me. My goal is to provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment where children can grow in all areas if their development. My curriculum is based on the school’s philosophy of learning through play by enabling children to make their own discoveries with the use of age appropriate materials. My education includes a BA from Lehman College with a minor in education and graduate courses in early childhood. I also have a Child Development Associate Credential. I grew up in the Riverdale section of the Bronx and moved to Irvington when I got married. I raised my family in this village. My four sons began their schooling at Good Shepherd and are now married with children of their own. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and teaching!

Liz Marinis

Teacher

Write up coming soon

Caroline Redmond

Teacher

I am a resident of Irvington, raising my family in this community and working at Good Shepherd for more than 20 years. I truly enjoy the company of young children. I am fascinated by their development and enlightened by their observations. The encouragement I received to return to school and secure a Child Development Associate credential whilst working at this special nursery school led to a rewarding career for me. As an Early Childhood Educator, I feel privileged to support the growth and development of each child and to partner with families through sharing this important time in their lives.

Rachel Hopkins

Teacher

Jenna Jacobsen

Teacher

Write up coming soon

Kerry Silva

Teacher

My name is Kerry Silva and I have been working at Good Shepherd for 15 years. I have worked as a 2’s teacher during those years and additionally as an assistant teacher in the 3’s class for the past two years. I enjoy working with both age groups and being a part of helping the children to learn and grow in their development. It is a wonderful experience to be in a classroom and to see the children’s excitement when they learn something new and accomplish a goal.

Irene Moynihan

Assistant Teacher

I grew up in the Bronx, moved to Dobbs Ferry when I got married, and raised our children in the Dobbs Ferry school district. While working in the corporate world, our two oldest children attended the daycare located at my office. When our third child was born, I made the decision to leave the corporate world behind. At the age of three, she began attending Good Shepherd. Soon after I was offered a position at Good Shepherd and have had the privilege of being an assistant teacher with the 3’s and the 4’s for the past 14 years. Since being here, I have experienced the satisfaction working every day with children. I enjoy being with them – watching them grow and learn. I am passionate about what I do and take pride in calling myself a “teacher”. I have also come to understand that they “teach” me every day! We have an amazing staff that makes coming to work feel like “not just a job”.

Amanda Alvarez

Assistant Teacher

My name is Amanda Alvarez. The children know me as Miss Amanda. I've worked at Good Shepherd for about five years. I started here as a substitute teacher, then I was fortunate enough to work as a floating teacher. This allowed me to experience all of our age groups and classrooms, as well as work with our entire staff of incredibly dedicated and welcoming teachers. I am currently working as an assistant teacher with the 2's. Coming from a big family, I've spent a lot of my life around young kids, but I have been working in childcare for over a decade. Working with children is my passion and I truly believe they are the best of us. I have always valued being able to provide children with a safe space where their curiosity can grow, and working at Good Shepherd allows me to do just that. When I'm not at Good Shepherd, you'll find me teaching barre classes at a studio in Dobbs Ferry or filling the hallways with art at an after school program in Irvington. In my spare time, I enjoy going to concerts, baking, and exploring local restaurants with friends.

Sharon McLaughlin

Assistant Teacher

My name is Sharon McLaughlin, I was born and raised in Irvington and am still a resident. After earning my Bachelor’s degree and working at a law firm for 10 years I made the decision to stay home to raise my children. My son and daughter attended Good Shepherd for 4 consecutive years before I was lucky enough to begin working here. The time I spent raising my children helped solidify my decision to work with young children. I feel fortunate to be able to work with an incredible staff in a wonderful community. In my free time, I enjoy boating with my family and friends.

Rebecca Davis

Assistant Teacher

Write up coming soon

Brian Krall

Assistant Teacher

My name is Brian Krall, but you can call me, “Mr. Brian”. I love working with children; they are an absolute joy! When I’m not at school I enjoy the outdoors. Backpacking, kayaking, sailing, and bicycling are some of my most favorite pastimes. I have been working with children in a classroom setting for over fifteen years. This will be my third year working with the amazing staff at Good Shepherd. Before working with other children, I was a stay-at-home dad with my own two boys, Zachary and Aidan. Aidan is currently attending Temple University in Philadelphia, and Zack has recently graduated from Drexel University. My wife, Melissa, and I live in Sleepy Hollow

Emily Duff

Assistant Teacher

My name is Emily Duff and I have been working at Good Shepherd since September 2022. I grew up in Irvington, and currently live in Buchanan, NY. I love working with and teaching children of all ages; especially 2-6 year olds. My early education experience spans several decades of being involved in enriching & successful educational programs. I am most proud of my dedication to and teaching certification in the Montessori Method which is a very similar philosophy to ours at Good Shepherd. I enjoy yoga, reading, and walks by the Hudson River during my free time. Most of all, I love spending quality time with my family, friends, and two adult children… Julia and Cal.

Cynthia Svigals

Assistant Teacher

Write up coming soon

Emily Wright

Assistant Teacher

Write up coming soon

Good Shepherd Early Childhood Center

of Irvington Presbyterian Church

Meet our Good Shepherd Early Childhood Center Staff

Administration

Our Teachers

Office Hours