Staff
Staff Reputation
The Little Folks School is known for the commitment, dedication and longevity of its highly qualified staff. They are the primary ingredient for the wonderful reputation that the school enjoys.
JULIE ACKERMAN, a Green Room teacher, grew up in Northern Virginia and received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Photography from the San Francisco Art Institute in California. In addition to studying photography, Julie has also delved into printmaking, painting, and computer graphics, and crocheting. She received her master’s degree from Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in Art Education for grades Pre K-8. While creating her artwork throughout the years, Julie has participated in many community based art projects with children. Julie’s passion is engaging children in the artistic process to bring out their natural creativity, develop problem-solving skills, and self-esteem that will enable success in and out of the classroom.
GAY CIOFFI has been the Director of the Little Folks School since 1980. Ms. Cioffi received her undergraduate degree in Kindergarten and Elementary Education from the Pennsylvania State University. She earned her Masters Degree in Education and the Arts from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. While completing her Masters, Ms. Cioffi studied Painting, Drawing and Design at the Museum School of Fine Arts in Boston. Her art is on permanent collection at museums internationally. Ms. Cioffi recieved outstanding teacher awards from The Wolf Trap Early Learning Institute in 2004 and 2002. She has presented papers on early literacy and art education at the Oxford Round Table at Oxford University in 2003 and 2005. She brings her love for learning and her enthusiasm for the Arts to the children of the Little Folks School.
KARA FRANKEL, a Purple Room teacher, was born and raised in Washington, DC. In 2003, Kara received her B.A. in communications from George Mason University. For nine years, Kara was a camp counselor in the nursery school at St. Patricks Episcopal Day School. Before teaching at Little Folks, Kara was a teacher's assistant at Hyde Elementary School in Georgetown. In the fall of 2010 she returned to George Mason University to work towards earning her masters in early childhood education.
HELEN HAGERTY, former Little Folks parent and current Little Folks Board Member, joined the Little Folks Staff as Gay's assistant in 2003. She quickly became an indispensable member of our team, special assistant to staff and students alike. Helen received her B.A. in Russian from New York University.
MARTA KASSAHUN was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In 1980, she went to the former Soviet Union to study Languages. She earned her Masters in Education at the Pedagogical Institute in Piatigorsk. In addition, Marta has studied Early Childhood Education at the Northern Virginia Community College. After completing her studies in the Soviet Union, she worked as a Nursery School Teacher in Saarbruckan, Germany, for two years. We in the Little Folks Community have benefited from Ms. Kassahun's professional expertise since 1989.
REBECCA LINGEBACH received both her Bachelors of Fine Arts and her Masters in Education degrees from Tufts University. A DC area Native, she returned to Washington in 2006, when she began teaching at Little Folks. Rebecca studied painting, drawing, and fiber arts through college, and she has shown work in more traditional gallery settings in Boston, California, and New York as well as many DIY events. During her time in Boston, Rebecca worked with children to create a large-scale mural which hangs in Children's Hospital, Boston as well as an mural-installation in Revere, MA. At Little Folks, Rebecca enjoys blending her own creative experience and her love of making art with children through daily art projects and more ambitious, large-scale class endeavors.
DIANE MCCARTHY has been a Little Folks teacher in the Green Room for two years. Her musical expertise greatly enhances the Little Folks program which emphasizes the visual and performing arts. She emigrated from the UK in 2003 having graduated in Music with Distinction in Performance. She continued her studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama leaving with a Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Studies. Diane has sung professionally and taught voice for 18 years both in Europe and also at the National Cathedral and St. Alban's Schools. During this time she has sung everything from Baa Baa Black Sheep to the sound tracks for Lord of The Rings and Harry Potter! She is the proud mother of Jessica and Lily.
JOAN ROSENBAUM, a transplant from Santa Barbara, California, has been a Red Room teacher since 1988. She received an Associate Degree from Mount Vernon College in Early Childhood Development. She later received a Bachelor's Degree from Trinity College in Elementary Education. The Little Folks community continues to benefit from Joan's extensive classroom experience and creative energy.
LEONOR ROSERO, known affectionately as "Nory" to the children of the Little Folks School, was born in the Philippines. She studied Communications at the Far Eastern University in Manila, majoring in Drama. She is an accomplished Musician, sharing her musical expertise during our weekly "special" Music Class and every day at Circle Time. Nory has been teaching at the Little Folks School since 1990.