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.
Liz Marinis
Educational Director
Born and raised in Irvington, Liz has a BS in Childhood Education (with a minor in Psychology) from Iona University, and a Masters Degree in Literacy from Mercy College. Liz's own children are alumni of this wonderful school, where she has been on staff for over eight years: first as a teacher, and now our Educational Director.
"I love working with children and watching them grow and develop. It is an amazing and rewarding experience to watch children learn, form relationships, and gain independence, in a caring and stimulating environment."
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
Emily Villar - Office Manager
Our 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. 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 also 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 18th 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!
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
A resident of Irvington, Rachel has been the Full Day 4s head teacher since 2022. Rachel has an MA in education from Hunter College and a BA in Drama Studies. She has enjoyed working with children around the globe, through teaching abroad, and spent eight years teaching underserved children in the Bronx. After taking some time off to spend with her own children, Rachel was drawn to the special community she found at Good Shepherd. Her first experience with the school was as a parent, and she welcomed the opportunity to become part of the dedicated staff at Good Shepherd. Rachel continues to enjoy working with young children and is delighted to play a role in sparking an early love of learning in each student she teaches.
Jenna Jacobsen
Teacher
My journey has brought me full circle, as I am an alumnus of Good Shepherd. I grew up in Irvington and went on to receive a Bachelor’s Degree from Manhattanville University in Childhood Education (1-6) and Psychology, as well as a Master’s degree in Literacy (B-6). I also completed coursework to gain a certification in Early Childhood Education. I taught elementary school in other communities for several years, before taking some time off when I had my second child. When it was time for my son to begin a 2’s program, I knew that Good Shepherd was the perfect place for him! After his first year at Good Shepherd, the opportunity arose for me to work as a head teacher, which I have been doing since 2022. I am honored to be part of an establishment that understands children well, creates a warm, nurturing environment, and provides education that is developmentally appropriate and meets children’s individual needs.
Kerry Silva
Teacher
My name is Kerry Silva and I have been working at Good Shepherd for 16 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.
Our Teachers
Our teaching staff is carefully screened, trained, supervised,
and extremely experienced in the field of Early Childhood.
Irene Moynihan
Assistant Teacher
I grew up in the Bronx, moved to Dobbs Ferry when I got married, and raised our children in Dobbs Ferry. 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. She began attending Good Shepherd in the 3's program. 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 19 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 over five years: first as a substitute teacher, then 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
My name is Rebecca Davis and I am currently living and raising my children in the wonderful Village of Irvington. I have worked with children and teens for over 20 years. I have my Masters in Educational Psychology and Masters in Social Work, both from NYU. I have always enjoyed working with preschool children: either as an assistant teacher or running different programs; this was where I was always happiest. I first learned about Good Shepherd after deciding to leave NYC, and looking into where to send my children to school. The nurturing and caring I witnessed and felt from the teachers and staff towards my son made it an immediate fit for our family. After he went to Kindergarten, I felt I was ready to go back to work and I knew it needed to be back in my happy place, working with Preschool children! I was fortunate to start at Good Shepherd as a ‘floater’ in 2018 and soon after began working as a 3’s Assistant Teacher. Not only did being part of the Good Shepherd Community as a parent feel right, but so does being a member of the Good Shepherd Staff.
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.
Emily Wright
Assistant Teacher
My name is Emily and I am an assistant teacher at Good Shepherd. I began working here in 2021 when my daughter was enrolled in the two’s program. Good Shepherd was not only the perfect fit for my daughter, it has been such a rewarding professional experience for me. I was drawn to the program because it is a truly wonderful environment for children to develop and learn about the world. The best part of teaching for me is finding the ‘silly’ in daily life and discovering learning opportunities through fun. Each day brings something new for all of us!