Staff Directory

Melanie Douglass has a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Towson University and a B.A. in Theatre Arts from University of Maryland. In addition to teaching young children, Melanie teaches current and future educators at University of the District of Columbia Community College where she serves as an adjunct professor teaching a course in observation and assessment. When she is not teaching small people or big people about small people, Melanie is spending time with her own family, including two young girls who currently attend Little Folks. She loves the creativity that occurs at Little Folks School each day, from art projects to block building to creative problem solving. Melanie also serves on the board of two DC non-profits, Intown Playgroup and Pointless Theatre.

James Gilroy is a native Washingtonian, having attended Stoddert Elementary and Hardy Middle School before moving to Northern Virginia, where he is currently a resident. He lives in Falls Church with his wife Jeanne, daughter Evyenia, and son James. He attended Georgetown University, receiving a B.A in Psychology, minoring in Sociology. James also holds a M.Ed from the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education in Educational Psychology.

Prior to coming to Little Folks, James was a teacher and administrator at Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School for 10 years. He began his educational journey there as an Associate Teacher in 3rd Grade, transitioning to Directing 2nd Grade Teacher, and then becoming the Director of Auxiliary Programs, serving the families of the youngest learners in Pre-Kindergarten to the oldest departing 3rd graders. While directing Beauvoir Summer, Enrichment Programs, and the Beauvoir Language Institute, James served on the Administrative Team at Beauvoir. James previously served on the Board at St. John’s Episcopal Preschool, and is currently on Board of Directors at National Presbyterian School (NPS).

James is a lifelong learner who enjoys building lasting relationships and putting the child at the center of his work as an educator. His weekends revolve around his children’s extracurricular activities, spending time with friends and family, and waiting for the Georgetown Hoyas’ return to greatness.

Reka Keller grew up in a small beach town in Mystic, Connecticut. After graduating from American University with a Bachelors in Elementary Education, focus in Early Childhood and a minor in Literature, she began her teaching career in Title I education. After 3 years of teaching in an environment with refugee and immigrant students hailing from 30 different countries; Reka learned a great deal about infusing a classroom with culture, sense of self, and social emotional strategies. Reka also has worked as a camp counselor and assistant director at Beauvoir’s summer program in the D.C. area. After joining the Little Folks team and bringing a creative literature focused approach to social emotional learning for 2 years, Reka joined the Administration team as the Director of Communications and Enrollment. She enjoys working with families and staff alike to create the community LFS is known for!

John Paul was born and raised in upstate New York and graduated from The Crane School of Music at Potsdam College, with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education.

John has over 20 years of teaching experience, as a summer camp counselor and private music instructor. He brings his love of the outdoors and music into the classroom every day.

He has worked in many educational settings working with various age levels, but the Little Folks School community and its focus on the Arts, is definitely where he has found his calling.

John lives in Silver Spring with his wife Nancy and children, Amelia and Miles.

Joan Rosenbaum, a transplant from Santa Barbara, California, has been a Little Folks 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.  She has also studied the complexities of the brain and its various functions related to learning at numerous workshops.  Joan is enjoying her new teaching position as a floater this year where she has the opportunity to get to know all of the children in the school and work with children on individual lessons. The Little Folks community continues to benefit from Joan’s extensive classroom experience and creative energy.

Maggie earned her B.S. in Human Environmental Sciences, majoring in Human Development and Family Studies, with a concentration in Child Development, from The University of Alabama. After teaching for a few years and then taking a “break” to raise two boys, she has loved being back in the early childhood classroom for the past 13 years. Maggie loves teaching the youngest learners! Her natural ability to foster growth of the whole child comes alive in her classroom.

Maggie and her husband, David, relocated to the D.C. area from Ohio to begin the “empty nest” phase of their lives. They have two boys, Ben and Jake, who are students at The University of Alabama. After growing up in Alabama, living in Colorado and Texas, and raising their boys in Ohio, they are excited to live in and explore new territory once again! Maggie and David love to travel, hike, and spend time with family.

Maggie and her husband, David, are relocating to the D.C. area from Ohio to begin the “empty nest” phase of their lives. They have two boys, Ben and Jake, who are students at The University of Alabama. After growing up in Alabama, living in Colorado and Texas, and raising their boys in Ohio, they are excited to live in and explore new territory once again! Maggie and David love to travel, hike, and spend time with family.