Meet our teachers:

Ms. Amanda was born and raised in Queens, New York. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology with minors in Studio Art and Student Personnel from CUNY Queens College. During her studies, she developed a strong interest in the special needs field and plans to pursue a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology. After graduating, she worked with two-year-olds on the autism spectrum in an early intervention center for 2.5 years. She also has experience working with children from six months to five years old. Amanda joined the Lolly’s family in August 2021 as a co-teacher in the 2-year-old classroom and was promoted to Assistant Teacher in the DOE 3K class in July 2022. In 2025, Ms. Amanda will be transitioning once again to Assistant Teacher in our 4K. While she loves working with kids, Ms. Amanda also has a huge soft spot for animals. In her free time, she enjoys cuddling with her cats and volunteering at a nearby animal shelter.

**Ms. Chelsea -** *Assistant Teacher/ Center Floater*

Ms. Chelsea joined the Lolly’s family in 2022 as a substitute/floater and was quickly promoted to Assistant Teacher in 2023. She lives in Sunnyside, Queens, and earned her bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology with a minor in Counseling from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Chelsea is currently pursuing her master’s degree in early childhood education. She began working with children aged 7-11 during high school through various community service endeavors, including volunteering at her local library, where she read to children and assisted them with computer work. Chelsea also has extensive experience babysitting children ages 5-6, helping them with homework, organizing indoor and outdoor activities, and managing meal schedules based on parents’ preferences. Since joining Lolly’s, she has thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the children and families. Chelsea is a bright light who brings immense joy to the center, and we are so grateful to have her on board as she looks forward to more experiences at Lolly’s.

**Ms. Cindy** - *Assistant Teacher/ Center Floater*

Ms. Cindy joined the Lolly’s team in 2024 as a substitute and floater, bringing with her a background in childcare and education. Prior to joining the Lolly’s team, she worked as a nanny and volunteered with the 8th Grade Committee at her former middle school. Ms. Cindy holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and is currently pursuing a dual master's degree in education and social work. As the youngest of four siblings-all of whom are educators— she is proud to continue the family tradition of teaching and supporting young learners. We love watching her thoughtful interactions with the children and are so grateful to have her at Lolly's.

**Ms. Des (Ms. Desiree)** - *Head Teacher*

Ms. Des (Ms. Desiree) joined the Lolly’s team as head 4K teacher in 2022. Born in Brooklyn and now living in Queens, Desiree graduated from Hunter College with a bachelor’s degree in education and is pursuing her master’s degree in early childhood education and English at The City College. She also holds a degree in baking and pastry arts and enjoys baking, traveling, and painting in her free time. As the oldest of five siblings and a former au pair for six years, Desiree has deep roots in New York. With experience as a head teacher in a DOE classroom, she firmly believes in learning through play. Describing herself as creative and artsy, she is super excited to embark on another year at Lolly’s. Ms. Des has quickly become a favorite amongst the children, families and her co-workers. We are so lucky and proud to have her. In July 2025, Ms. Des will be taking on the exciting new role of Lead Teacher in our 3K.

Ms. Diana joined the Lolly's team in 2023. Originally from Ecuador, she moved to the US when she was 10 years old and has called Queens home ever since. She studied dance at Queensborough Community College. For the past 12 years, she has cherished her role as a stay-at-home mom to three wonderful boys, all of whom are graduates of Lolly's. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, playing soccer, and doing crafts with her kids. She also volunteers as a pre-K Sunday School teacher at her church. She is thrilled to be part of a school that holds such a special place in her heart, and we could not be more grateful to have her on our team.

Ms. Lauren - Floater

Ms. Lauren is a seasoned, enthusiastic, and loving teacher with nearly a decade of experience teaching toddlers. Over the years, she has worked at three early childhood centers in Long Island City, including Lolly’s. Ms. Lauren began at Lolly’s in 2012 as a part-time floater/substitute before moving to Brighter Babies for a full-time opportunity. Since then, she started her own family, marrying her husband David in 2015, and welcoming their son Christopher in 2016. In 2023, we welcomed Ms. Lauren back to Lolly’s as the Head Teacher of our toddler class. In 2025, Lauren will be taking on the exciting new role of Assistant Teacher for our DOE 3K class. The children absolutely adore her, reflecting her dedication, patience, and nurturing personality. In her free time, Lauren enjoys spending time with her family and vacationing, especially at Disney. We look forward to many years ahead with Lauren leading our littlest learners.

Ms. Rashell loves being the Head Teacher of the toddlers at Lolly’s. She began working with children in high school, tutoring and babysitting for numerous families. During college, she worked with children with autism in honor of her sister, who has ASD. Since 2018, she has been teaching toddlers while continuing to gain experience working and volunteering with special needs students. Ms. Rashell joined the Lolly’s family in 2021 and has been an incredible addition to our team. Her favorite activities at Lolly’s include reading stories with silly voices, taking her students outside to the playground and for walks to admire the beautiful buildings. A lifelong New Yorker, Ms. Rashell is passionate about the city, her students, and the LIC community.

Ms. Sherri Ms. Sherri started at Lolly’s as the Assistant Teacher in the UPK class in July 2021. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, but her true passion has always been working with children. Since her first job as a camp counselor at age 15, she has been involved in education, starting in 2015. Ms. Sherri has worked as a Program Specialist in after-school enrichment programs and as a Substitute Teacher for grades K-12 in various private and charter schools. Her love for art and wellness shines through in her interactions with her students.

Ms. Zuzanna was born and raised in Queens, New York. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Hunter College in 2014 and began working at Lolly’s that summer as an Assistant Teacher in the 2-year-old classroom. After a year at Lolly’s, she decided to pursue her master’s degree in early childhood education. In 2016, Ms. Zuzanna became the Head Teacher in the Yellow Room. She earned her master’s degree in early childhood education from Hunter College in 2019 and received her professional certificate in Early Childhood Education (Birth-Grade 2). In September 2021, Ms. Zuzanna was promoted to the head 3K teacher. She is passionate about helping her students develop a love for learning and is dedicated to their emotional and social growth. In her spare time, Ms. Zuzanna enjoys spending time with her friends, family, and cats. In July 2025, Ms. Zuzanna will be taking on the exciting new role of Lead Teacher in our 4K. Thank you, Ms. Zuzanna, for over a decade of commitment to Lolly’s and the LIC community.