About Little Genius
Our Educators
Meet our incredible team members that make this such a special and fun learning environment!
My name is Lupita, and I am originally from Guanajuato, Mexico. I started my experience with child development with all ages in 2016. I worked with the Little Genius family in 2022 but had to take a small leave due to having my two daughters, who are now currently enrolled at Little Genius. My daughters are the best thing that has ever happened to me. My favorite hobby is spending time with my family, especially during the holidays, having everyone together. I look forward to continuing my teaching at Little Genius and creating more memories with the kids and other teachers! I have my CPR, SIDS, and EDU 119 certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Darleen Mathews, and I am originally from Progreso Yoro, Honduras. I am the co-teacher for the preschool class at Little Genius. I joined the Little Genius family in August of 2024. I have grown to love what the teachers do, as well as the children. I enjoy the environment I take part in with all the teachers around me. My hobbies consist of reading and baking pastries in my free time. As I continue my education, I hope to major in Marine Biology as well as continue to learn about child education. I have my CPR and SIDS certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Paola Sibrian, and I am the Lead Teacher for the preschool children. I graduated as a hospital nurse in my home country of El Salvador, and I am currently taking classes in child development. I have a 13-year-old daughter. I have had the wonderful experience of working at Little Genius since April of 2023. Initially, being in front of a group of children was a challenge, but now I can say it is a beautiful experience to walk into the classroom and be greeted with their affection. I have my CPR and SIDS certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Brenda Morales; I am the Lead Teacher for Pre-K. I was born in North Carolina but spent the majority of my life in Gto, Mexico. Since I was little, my aspirations and dreams were to be able to help others; I decided to obtain my Bachelor's Degree in psychology. During this journey, I spent most of my time working with children, which led me to love my work. I have been with the Little Genius family since June of 2024. This job allows me to do what I love most in: sharing my time with children, especially learning from them. I have my CPR and SIDS certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Anabel, and I have three children: Luis, Sebastián, and Crystal. My favorite hobbies are walking, spending time with my family, and watching movies. I have had experience as a teacher in early childhood education since 2016, and I am currently the lead teacher for the Middlers class (2-3 years old). I have been with the Little Genius Family since April of 2024. I love working with children and I love my job. It makes me happy to know that I can make a difference in the education and development of children, having a positive impact on their lives. It is a joy that truly fills my heart. I have my CPR, SIDS, and EDU 119 certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
I am the lead teacher of the Toddlers class. I am currently studying, taking classes in early childhood education. I have been with the Little Genius Family since February of 2023. I feel fortunate to witness and be apart of the development of children, from watching them take their first steps and saying their first words, to learning colors, letters, and numbers. We celebrate all their achievements with them. Children are extraordinary! I have my CPR, SIDS, and EDU 119 certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Emiltze Vazquez (EMI), and I have a daughter named Aurora. I am a floater for the Little Genius family, meaning that I am involved with the children from Nido up to Pre-K! I have been working with children of various ages since 2019. This has always been and continues to be something that I enjoy doing and learning from children with each passing day. I enjoy taking courses in order to learn more about children's learning and to be able to help them in their growth. I have my CPR and SIDS certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Marilu, but the children affectionately call me Lulu. When I began working at Little Genius, it was like the final piece of an unfinished puzzle fell into place. I have been at Little Genius since August of 2023, and I am currently a university student studying pediatric nursing, combining the two things I love most. I am the lead teacher for the 4 to 5-year-olds (Pre-K). I have my CPR, SIDS, and EDU 119 certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Nereida. I am originally from Mexico, and I have two children. I have been part of the Little Genius family since October of 2022, and I am enjoying working in the Infant class as a co-teacher. I like knowing that I am part of the babies' growth, and I am excited to see how they develop through their different stages. As a teacher, I have become very fond of caring for the babies. I have my CPR and SIDS certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Amayrani, and I am originally from Mexico. I have two children. My favorite pastime is going to the beach with my family, and my favorite food is tacos! I have been with the Little Genius Family since March of 2024. I am currently the co-teacher of the Toddlers class, and I am taking classes in early childhood education. I love working with children and enjoy being part of the Little Genius family. I have my CPR and SIDS certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Manuela. I am originally from Zacatecas, Mexico. I am a mother and also a grandmother. I have been working at Little Genius since January of 2023. I love working with children; their joy, affection, and love fills my heart. I have learned and grown so much personally and professionally. I am currently the co-teacher of the Middlers class. I am a very creative and dynamic teacher! I have my CPR and SIDS certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Yadira; I am originally from Gto, Mexico. I have two children, Alan and Jazmín, and also two dogs. I have worked in daycare centers since 2009 and have had the pleasure of working with children of all ages. I have a degree in Primary Education, and in my country, I worked with elementary school children. I also worked with children with special educational needs. I am responsible for advising teachers on their weekly planning and finding strategies to ensure the smooth functioning of classes. I believe I have the gift or talent for working with children; I love my profession!
My name is Ayasdet Martinez. I am from Mexico City and have been living in North Carolina since 2006. I have a set of twins, Ana and Julian, and a dog named Shino. I have been the director of Little Genius since 2022. I hold degrees in Child Development and Administration. With experience in daycare centers since 2013, I have had the pleasure of working with children of all ages, from infants to pre-kindergarten. Part of my job included supporting different centers and assisting in opening new childcare centers. This experience motivated me to become a director, as it involves being a crucial part of children's lives during their early years of learning. It is a pleasure to be part of Little Genius.
My name is Rodrigo Pérez, and I am originally from Gto, Mexico. I have been working at Fearrington for since 2007, which is well recognized for its four diamonds. I am the sous-chef there and the supervisor of the other chefs. Currently, I am the chef at Little Genius. I also worked at Four Eleven for eight years, where I was in charge of pizzas and salads. I am the father of a set of twins.
I have had experience in the early childhood education environment since 2019. I am always seeking to further my education and am currently studying to obtain my AAS degree. I love truly this profession! From receiving the affection of the children as I see them daily, to seeing them learn and build their knowledge; it brings me an incredible level of satisfaction knowing I can be part of something so special.
Mission
We are committed to promoting cultural diversity; we believe in the importance of knowing several languages (English Spanish) promoting the development of the capacity of the innate language; and the easiest thing to do is during the first years of childhood. Uniting, strengthening and enriching our cultures, preparing our children for a better future.
For Little Genius, cognitive development is as important as socio-emotional development.
We Offer:
Service from 7:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
A curriculum based on the Reggio Emilia Philosophy: It is considered by Harvard as, "one of the best educational proposals for early childhood”.
More quality of care to children by offering a lower radius.
Extracurricular classes such as Music and Movement, multicultural dances, etc.
Vision
The values we transmit will contribute decisively to the creation of each child’s personality, which will determine their behavior and their own values in their adult life.
Each child is special. Personal attention and respect for the evolutionary rhythm of each child are key.
The continuous training of the teaching staff and a constant impetus for improvement on all the elements that intervene in the educational processes of our school.
Philosophy
The Benefits Of The Reggio Emilia Approach
So how will your child benefit from this Philosophy? Below we have listed several factors that explain this.
Encouragement
Children in Reggio settings are active constructors of knowledge, who are encouraged to be ‘researchers’. Most of the educational experiences within Reggio take the form of projects, where children have opportunities to actively participate, explore and question things. There is also a very strong emphasis on the social development of children as part of the community and their relationships to other children, their families and teachers.
Explorative
The Reggio approach starts from the premise that children use many different ways to express their creativity, understanding and thoughts (the 100 languages). This perspective has been endorsed by many artists, who state that these different ways of thinking, exploring and learning are expressed through drawing, sculpting, music, dance and movement, painting and drama.
Problem Solving Techniques
Children are given learning projects that provide extensive research opportunities, including real-life problem solving among peers, and opportunities for creative thinking and exploration. The children are placed in small group settings with projects that they work on are observed by teachers and the children are allowed to question the topic of interest. Then they introduce materials, questions, and opportunities that provoke children to further explain the topic.
The Reggio Emilia Philosophy has substantial benefits for boys at The Scots College as they journey through their education and become confident and skilled individuals that can face the future brightly.
Active and creative school where the student is the protagonist of their own learning to develop the concept of self and self-esteem.
Values
At this age the values we transmit will contribute decisively to the creation of the personality of each child, which will determine their behavior and their own values in their adult life.
The family is the main factor in the child’s development and requires channels of appropriate communication to facilitate this work.
Active and creative school where the student is the protagonist of their own learning to develop self-concept and self-esteem.
We are committed to a coexistence where tolerance, respect, cooperation and diversity are empowered.
Qualified Caretakers
To understand it better, it’s important to know the three core principles of the Reggio Emilia philosophy: the child, the environment, and the teacher.
The Child
The Reggio Emilia philosophy values the child as central to their own learning, not simply an empty vessel waiting to be filled with knowledge. Children are able to pursue their own interests and revisit and build upon ideas at their own pace.You may have heard of something called the ‘100 languages of children’. This concept recognizes that children have multiple ways of thinking, playing, exploring, speaking and doing. The Reggio Emilia approach encourages children to use every tool they have to express themselves.
The Environment
A Reggio-inspired environment, often referred to as ‘the third teacher’, is one that is open and free-flowing. It enables uninterrupted exploration, play and learning. Outdoor spaces are valued just as highly as formal classrooms, and the design of the space should allow children to move freely between the two. In addition, it is important that children have free access to stimulating resources, as they cannot be the owner of their learning journey without this.
Teachers and caretakers
Teachers are encouraged to observe children rather than to direct them. It is important that children are allowed to experiment in their own way, make mistakes and find new solutions. The role of the teacher is to gently move students towards areas of interest to them, and this can only be done through careful observation carried out over time.