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Valley Drive Cooperative Preschool teachers are degreed, seasoned professionals. They posess 70 years of collective experience and a special rapport with very young children. They exceed the state licensing requirements for early childhood educators. Our parent Board of Directors is directly responsible for staffing and salary decisions. Valley Drive teachers participate in yearly training and enrichment and are first-aid and CPR certified.
Our teachers have a unique understanding of the importance of communication with parents. In fact, almost all of our current teachers also have been Valley Drive parents! Valley Drive staff work alongside families to provide our children with the best possible introduction to school.
Our teachers have a unique understanding of the importance of communication with parents. In fact, almost all of our current teachers also have been Valley Drive parents! Valley Drive staff work alongside families to provide our children with the best possible introduction to school.
Director, Valley Drive Cooperative Preschool
Cindy Hodgkins
Director
director@valleydrive.com
Cindy has a B.S. in Child Development from the University of Maine. Before staying at home to raise her three daughters, she taught second grade and kindergarten for several years.
Cindy's first involvement with Valley Drive was as a co-oping parent in September 1984. She started working for the preschool as the Curriculum Director in 1986, and she has been here ever since!
Cindy HodgkinsDirector
director@valleydrive.com
Cindy has a B.S. in Child Development from the University of Maine. Before staying at home to raise her three daughters, she taught second grade and kindergarten for several years.
Cindy's first involvement with Valley Drive was as a co-oping parent in September 1984. She started working for the preschool as the Curriculum Director in 1986, and she has been here ever since!
2s Class - Yellow Ducks
Beth Longo
2s Class Co-Teacher
2steacher@valleydrive.com
Beth Longo has three children, all of who have attended or are attending Valley Drive. She came to Valley Drive in 2002, when her oldest daughter started in the 2s class. As a parent, she served on the board. She became assistant teacher when her son started in the 2s class, and has been teaching at Valley Drive for three years.
Beth has a Master of Library Science degree. Prior to having children, she worked in human resources. In the afternoons, after teaching, Beth can usually be found volunteering at her daughters' elementary school.
Debbie Bawcombe
2s Class Co-Teacher
Debbie became part of the Valley Drive community in 2008, when her son was a Green Frog. This year she is eager to extend that involvement to include parenting two Valley Drive students and teaching in the Yellow Ducks class.
Prior to this experience, Debbie spent two wonderful years at home with her children following nine years of teaching kindergarten in Prince George’s County.
Beth Longo2s Class Co-Teacher
2steacher@valleydrive.com
Beth Longo has three children, all of who have attended or are attending Valley Drive. She came to Valley Drive in 2002, when her oldest daughter started in the 2s class. As a parent, she served on the board. She became assistant teacher when her son started in the 2s class, and has been teaching at Valley Drive for three years.
Beth has a Master of Library Science degree. Prior to having children, she worked in human resources. In the afternoons, after teaching, Beth can usually be found volunteering at her daughters' elementary school.
Debbie Bawcombe2s Class Co-Teacher
Debbie became part of the Valley Drive community in 2008, when her son was a Green Frog. This year she is eager to extend that involvement to include parenting two Valley Drive students and teaching in the Yellow Ducks class.
Prior to this experience, Debbie spent two wonderful years at home with her children following nine years of teaching kindergarten in Prince George’s County.
3s Class - Green Frogs
Mary Ann Hoffman
3s Class Teacher
3steacher@valleydrive.com
Mary Ann Hoffman holds a bachelor's degree from LeMoyne College and a master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University at Albany. Her teaching experience encompasses all levels, from pre-K through adult.
Mary Ann's four children attended Valley Drive. Prior to joining the staff, she taught in the Alexandria City Public School system.
Natalia Malley
3s Co-Teacher
Natalia Malley came to Valley Drive as the 3s assistant teacher in 2008 with eight years of experience working with children of all ages. She graduated with honors from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1998, where she majored in English literature, minored in psychology, and fulfilled the rest of her electives with art classes.
After spending her mornings at Valley Drive, she teaches art for the Corcoran School of Art & Design’s Youth Programs, Abrakadoodle, Monkey Business, as well as Valley Drive's very own Lunch Bunch/Art Class. Natalia has also started her own small company called Peace Love & Paint, where she offers art lessons and face painting on the weekends for birthday parties.
Natalia enjoys spending her free time riding her bike, making mosaics, practicing yoga, traveling, reading, playing Scrabble, and taking long walks with her dog, Janie. A self-proclaimed artist since the age of 3, Natalia loves encouraging children to explore their own creative potential while developing enthusiasm and appreciation for all kinds of art.
Mary Ann Hoffman3s Class Teacher
3steacher@valleydrive.com
Mary Ann Hoffman holds a bachelor's degree from LeMoyne College and a master's degree in Teaching English as a Second Language from the University at Albany. Her teaching experience encompasses all levels, from pre-K through adult.
Mary Ann's four children attended Valley Drive. Prior to joining the staff, she taught in the Alexandria City Public School system.
Natalia Malley3s Co-Teacher
Natalia Malley came to Valley Drive as the 3s assistant teacher in 2008 with eight years of experience working with children of all ages. She graduated with honors from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1998, where she majored in English literature, minored in psychology, and fulfilled the rest of her electives with art classes.
After spending her mornings at Valley Drive, she teaches art for the Corcoran School of Art & Design’s Youth Programs, Abrakadoodle, Monkey Business, as well as Valley Drive's very own Lunch Bunch/Art Class. Natalia has also started her own small company called Peace Love & Paint, where she offers art lessons and face painting on the weekends for birthday parties.
Natalia enjoys spending her free time riding her bike, making mosaics, practicing yoga, traveling, reading, playing Scrabble, and taking long walks with her dog, Janie. A self-proclaimed artist since the age of 3, Natalia loves encouraging children to explore their own creative potential while developing enthusiasm and appreciation for all kinds of art.
4/5s Class - Busy Bees
Teri Stewart
4/5s Class Teacher
4steacher@valleydrive.com
Teri earned a B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Florida and certification in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Florida. Her 26 years of teaching experience include 18 years teaching primary grades in public school and the rest in private preschool. She has taught at Valley Drive for five years.
Teri is an active volunteer in several school and church organizations, working with sports teams, special needs classrooms, and event coordination. She is the mother of three children: one in college, one in high school, and one in elementary school.
Karen Joia
4/5s Co-Teacher
Karen Indelicato Joia earned a bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation, with a minor in psychology, from Radford University, and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Prior to teaching at Valley Drive, Karen worked for the City of Alexandria's Therapeutic Recreation Section; was Director of Therapeutic Recreation at the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute; and was Youth Director for the Alexandria YMCA. She also worked for the Manor Care Reach Program, Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, and Camp Carysbrook.
Karen has been a 4/5s co-teacher at Valley Drive since 2005. Her children, Jonathan and Eva, attended Valley Drive in 2005 and 2007, respectively.
Michele McMahon
4/5s Assistant Teacher
Teri Stewart4/5s Class Teacher
4steacher@valleydrive.com
Teri earned a B.A. in Elementary Education from the University of Florida and certification in Early Childhood Education from the University of South Florida. Her 26 years of teaching experience include 18 years teaching primary grades in public school and the rest in private preschool. She has taught at Valley Drive for five years.
Teri is an active volunteer in several school and church organizations, working with sports teams, special needs classrooms, and event coordination. She is the mother of three children: one in college, one in high school, and one in elementary school.
Karen Joia4/5s Co-Teacher
Karen Indelicato Joia earned a bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation, with a minor in psychology, from Radford University, and is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. Prior to teaching at Valley Drive, Karen worked for the City of Alexandria's Therapeutic Recreation Section; was Director of Therapeutic Recreation at the Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute; and was Youth Director for the Alexandria YMCA. She also worked for the Manor Care Reach Program, Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, and Camp Carysbrook.
Karen has been a 4/5s co-teacher at Valley Drive since 2005. Her children, Jonathan and Eva, attended Valley Drive in 2005 and 2007, respectively.
Michele McMahon
4/5s Assistant Teacher
Science
Peggy AshbrookScience Teacher
scienceteacher@valleydrive.com
scienceissimple@yahoo.com
Peggy Ashbrook has been teaching science to preschoolers since 1988 as a registered family home child care provider. With a B.S. in Geosciences and on-the-job training as a parent, Peggy learned to use her love of the quest-to-know to guide young children’s explorations. Valley Drive provided additional training while co-oping alongside the teachers, and she was asked to teach science in 1997. Peggy developed and teaches a preschool science program for 2- to 5-year-old children and their teachers.
An active member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), Peggy seeks out new ideas and current research to apply to her teaching and presents workshops for early childhood teachers. Hands-on materials and discussion of inquiry support teachers who want to do science in their classrooms, learning alongside the students. She writes "The Early Years" column for Science and Children, the NSTA’s elementary school journal, and contributes to the NSTA’s "Early Years" blog. Peggy’s book of science activities, Science is Simple: Over 250 Activities for Preschoolers, was published by Gryphon House in 2003.
Peggy lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and thanks you for doing science with young children!
An active member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), Peggy seeks out new ideas and current research to apply to her teaching and presents workshops for early childhood teachers. Hands-on materials and discussion of inquiry support teachers who want to do science in their classrooms, learning alongside the students. She writes "The Early Years" column for Science and Children, the NSTA’s elementary school journal, and contributes to the NSTA’s "Early Years" blog. Peggy’s book of science activities, Science is Simple: Over 250 Activities for Preschoolers, was published by Gryphon House in 2003.
Peggy lives in Alexandria, Virginia, and thanks you for doing science with young children!
Music & Movement
Susan Ruiz
Music & Movement Teacher
music@valleydrive.com
Susan Ruiz holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Education. For 12 years, she taught kindergarten and first grade in California and Texas. She was also a training manager for Capital One for 3 years. Following the birth of her oldest son, she decided to stay home full-time to raise him.
Susan's main role now is raising her two boys, Gabriel and Sam, while also working part-time at Valley Drive. She also serves as a youth coordinator at Beth El Hebrew Congregation.
Susan RuizMusic & Movement Teacher
music@valleydrive.com
Susan Ruiz holds a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in Education. For 12 years, she taught kindergarten and first grade in California and Texas. She was also a training manager for Capital One for 3 years. Following the birth of her oldest son, she decided to stay home full-time to raise him.
Susan's main role now is raising her two boys, Gabriel and Sam, while also working part-time at Valley Drive. She also serves as a youth coordinator at Beth El Hebrew Congregation.