Our Team
All BCPS staff have completed training which must be kept current: First Aid/CPR/AED (including infant), NY State Mandated Reporter, Identifying and Responding to Anaphylaxis, Prevention and Identification of Brain Injuries including Abusive Head Trauma (AHT), Food Safety Protection, Foundations in Health & Safety, Infectious Disease Control, and any other requirements presented by the NYCDOHMH. In addition, the school director holds certification in Medication Administration (MAT), Narcan Spray Administration, and FDNY Fitness for Fire and Emergency Drill Conductor (F-07).
Jaclyn Meltzer, School Director & Education Coordinator
Jackie began at BCPS first as a lead 3s teacher and then in 2021 assumed the role of School Director and Educational Coordinator. She taught at the elementary level for 15 years and prides herself on bringing out each child’s full potential as a learner while fostering their social and emotional growth. Jackie holds a master’s degree in elementary education from Hofstra University and New York state certifications in elementary education and gifted and talented education. She resides in our own neighborhood and enjoys spending time with her two daughters (one of whom attended BCPS), being crafty, and exploring all the city has to offer. An avid reader, Jackie’s favorite book for children is a series by Karma Wilson, which includes Bear’s New Friend and Bear Feels Sick.
Q: What exactly is play-based learning?
Play is one of the most significant means by which children explore, investigate, imagine and learn how the world works and discover their unique place in it. In play-based learning, structure exists but the emphasis is on guiding children to learn with lessons carried out through play and socialization. It is an active, child-initiated process that supports children’s learning in many domains including physical, social/emotional, creative, science, math, language, and literacy. Play-based learning allows children to play for the sake of learning, not forsake play for learning.
Q: What is your vision for the school?
Our mission statement defines two aspects of what we envision for Bridge Community Playschool. First, we want to offer young children a gentle, safe introduction to this new experience called “school”. And second, we want our student body to reflect the wonderfully diverse community of the neighborhood.
Q: How does BCPS prepare my child for the next step in education?
Here at BCPS, we take satisfaction in knowing we meet and exceed the criteria that NYC private and public schools require and set forth. Our goal is to provide each child with a comprehensive and age-appropriate curriculum that is driven by high standards, yet also caters to the individual needs and emotional nourishment that young children require. I am positive that every child who spends their formative years at our preschool will be set on the path to educational success.
Miss Christine, Lead Teacher, 3b4
Nine years ago, Christine joined BCPS as an assistant teacher once the youngest of her two daughters started kindergarten. She quickly realized a new passion (and career) in the education field, so much so that she completed a second master’s degree in early childhood education at Mercy College and received New York state certification in birth-2nd Grade. Her first master’s degree is in clinical research/psychology from IONA College. In 2019, Christine became our lead teacher for the older 3b4s class. Christine loves instilling the love of reading in children and thinks the earlier they start the better. She has two favorite children’s books, Are You My Mother by PD Eastman and Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn.
Q: What is most important for your classroom?
At the preschool level, it is so important to have joy in the classroom. We are teaching the children to share, make friends and learn their letters and numbers, but it is as equally essential to play, sing and dance and instill in each child the fundamental wonder and joy of learning. In fact, I believe it is imperative to nurture the whole child and am glad that BCPS believes this too. It is very exciting to be part of the field of early childhood education and I am happy to be part of such a wonderful school community!
Miss Lauren, Lead Teacher, 3a
Lauren returns again this year as our lead 3s teacher. She has ten years of experience working in early childhood settings and holds a master’s degree in early childhood and childhood general education from Bank Street College. Lauren is also New York state certified in birth-2nd grade. Her classroom environment is purposeful in making the children feel safe to explore, to ask questions, to take risks, and to make mistakes. And nothing gives her more pleasure than to help each child take part in constructing their own learning through explorative collaborations with teachers and peers. In her free time, Lauren enjoys doing science experiments and collecting bugs with her 7-year-old son, exploring museums, taking nature walks, baking, and reading books, including one of her favorite children’s book, Thank you, Omu, by Oge Mora.
Q: What is the role of the family in your classroom?
Because families are the primary context for children’s development and learning, I believe that bridging the space between home and school is essential in creating the most supportive environment for children and their families. Partnering with families makes a strong statement of mutual support and commitment to the children and encourages trust, open communication, and cooperation.
Miss Oribel, Lead Teacher, 2a & 2b
Oribel has a winning mixture of warmth, patience, and enthusiasm which makes her the perfect teacher for our youngest group of 2s. She holds a master’s degree in early childhood education from American College of Education and has over thirteen years of experience working in early childhood education, including six at BCPS. Oribel’s favorite pastimes, besides being with her husband and their almost two- year-old son, include baking and writing poetry specifically about nature. Her favorite children’s book is Marsupial Sue by John Lithgow.
Fluent in Spanish, Oribel also serves as our Spanish Specialty Teacher where each week, she loves introducing the children in each of our classes to the language through lively songs and games designed to help them begin building a vocabulary of simple Spanish words and phrases.
Q: What excites you most about teaching?
Everything about teaching excites me and I can’t imagine working in any profession other than education, especially with preschool-aged children. I love early childhood education specifically because this is the beginning of building an educational foundation and a joy for learning. I always strive to keep the fun in learning and love to sing and dance with the children in my class and I am also most passionate about early childhood literacy, probably because of my own lifelong love of reading.
Miss Jesa, Asst. Teacher, 3b4
Jesa brings positivity, empathy and genuine care to her role of assistant teacher. She holds an associate degree in Computer Programming, but her true passion has always been working with children of which she has been a compassionate and dedicated childcare provider for over twenty years. Nothing brings Jes more joy than making a positive impact on a young child’s life and she is proud to be in her dream job, working in a school that values and supports the development and well being of each child as much as she does. Her two favorite book series to read with children are Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion and also Pete the Cat by James & Kimberly Dean.
Miss Miki, Asst. Teacher, 3a
Miki returns for her third year as assistant teacher with our 3s. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Florida and was an elementary school teacher in Miami for ten years before moving to New York and having three daughters. Miki was also a Zumbini instructor, teaching music and movement classes to toddlers in NYC. She brings to the role her passion for teaching and a natural connection with children, ensuring her students feel nurtured and loved. Miki has many favorite children’s books including I’ll Love You Forever, Oh the Place You’ll Go and ANYTHING by Nancy Tillman.
Miss P, Asst. Teacher, 3a
Miss P joins our 3s class teaching team as an assistant teacher. She brings over a decade of nurturing and teaching children from infancy through age 12 including roles in childcare, after-school programs, and summer camps. Miss P specializes in creating a safe, engaging and developmentally appropriate learning environment for children to thrive in. She is currently pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. A born and raised New Yorker, Miss P attended high school only a few blocks from BCPS and is excited to reconnect with the neighborhood community. Her favorite book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar but adores any book written by Eric Carle, even traveling all the way to Virginia just to get his autograph.
Miss Danielle, Asst. Teacher 2a & 2b
Danielle has been part of our BCPS school for five years. She acquired her undergraduate degree for creative writing at SUNY Brockport, serving as Editor-in-Chief of the school’s literary magazine and taught procedural classes on editing and publication. But she has found that working with young children is her true calling and loves every minute she gets to spend with them. Someday, she hopes to reach full fluency in her parents’ native language—Tagalog. Danielle keeps her favorite children’s book, The Little Prince, on her bedside table as a reminder that language opens new spaces and new possibilities.
Mr. Rory, Administrative Assistant
Rory is the friendly face at the door that greets our families each morning. He helps with the school’s ever-growing administrative paperwork and also lends a hand when needed in the classrooms or during large motor play. Rory acquired his Bachelor of Arts degree in Media and History from The National University of Ireland Maynooth, where he lived since the age of five until returning to the states as an adult. Rory has previously worked in the day camp and sleep away camp industry providing care for children of various ages and needs. He has dual citizenship in the US and Ireland. Rory’s favorite children’s book series is Curious George by H.A. Rey.
In addition to our regular staff, specialty teachers join us each week.
Miss Mia designs her music and movement classes to engage children through rhythmic exercises, instrument exploration, movement activities and sing-a-longs. She uses original kids’ music, nursery rhymes with different rhythmic components and popular music from around the world to instill a love of “all things” musical in our children.
Chess at Three gets our 3s and 4s children playing and loving chess even at the surprising age of 3! The classes are centered on a story-based curriculum where each chess piece has their own quirky qualities and story that help explain why and how the piece moves uniquely through the magical world of Chesslandia. It is a fun way for the children to learn the game all the while developing critical thinking, strategy and problem-solving skills. Our BCPS children love it!
Math-Gym creates a fun learning experience for our 3s and 4s children to explore and develop curiosity around simple counting and arithmetic concepts. Miss Richa’s class time is full of interactive and age-appropriate activities, games and songs with the underlying goal to foster a love for math in every child.