Staff
Ali Papageorge Keller - Founder, Preschool Coordinator, and 2's Teacher
Ali graduated from Salve Regina University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Prior to becoming one of the founders of The Learning Garden Preschool, Ali worked at a local well known accredited nursery school. She has been working in early childhood education for 14 years. As one of her main goals for the school, she would like it to become NAEYC accredited.
Ali was born and raised in Fairfield, CT. She is the proud mother of three children and her daschund, Twinkie. She believes in giving back to the community she lives in.
Jill Champagne - Co-Founder, Director, and 3's and 4's Teacher
Jill has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from Kendall College. Jill has been working as a preschool teacher for 15 years at an accredited preschool in Fairfield County. She earned her CDA in 1998. Jill is a member of NAEYC and her goal is for the Learning Garden to begin the accreditation process after its first year of operation.
Jill is originally from Iowa. She has lived in Connecticut for 20 years and resides in Milford with her husband. Jill believes that a positive and rich early childhood education is the gateway for a child's success to their future educational experiences.
Kelly Gritch - 2's Teacher
Kelly earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, with a concentration in day care/child development, from Quinnipiac College. She has worked with young children for 25 years, including 8 years as owner/director of a Nationally Accredited childcare center. Additionally, she is a Certified Holistic Health Coach and a Licensed Massage Therapist. Kelly approaches child development as a biological unfolding and is nurturing and supportive of each child's learning pace.
Kelly was born and raised in Stratford. She resides in Trumbull with her husband and two children, Matt and Julia.
Fabiola Heusser - 2's Teacher
Fabiola (Fabi) has an Associates Degree in General Studies. She has been a stay-at-home mom for the past 12 years and is very happy to be working outside the home.
Fabi was born in Santiago, Chile and was raised in Queens, NY. She now lives in Fairfield with her husband and 2 sons - Simon and Kyle, Luna (their dog), and 3 kitties.
Amber Britt - 3's and 4's teacher
Amber has her Associates degree in General Studies and is working towards a second Associates in Early Childhood Education. In the near future she will be pursuing a Bachelors degree in Education. Amber has worked as a Toddler Teacher at Bright Horizons and Tutor Time. She also worked as a paraprofessional in the Fairfield Public School system and as a substitute teacher in Bridgeport public schools.
Amber is from Stratford and currently lives there with her husband and three children. She believes the statement,
“Teaching is not just a profession; it's a passion” ~ Unknown.
Suzanne Lamb - Afternoon Teacher
Suzanne graduated in 1999 from SCSU with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies. Suzanne has worked at Childport, Bridgeport Hospital's employee daycare for the past 12 years as an Administrator/Infant teacher.
Suzanne was born and raised in northern NJ. She has lived on CT for 16 yrs. and resides in Hamden with her son and 3 kitties.
Kirstielynn Collazo - Afternoon Teacher
Kirstielynn is taking courses in early childhood education at Housatonic Community College. She has been working in childcare since high school. She has always wanted to be a teacher but became more inspired after her mother passed away.
Kirstielynn has a 1 1/2 year old daughter, Angelina.
