Experienced, Passionate Educators

Ms. Stef brings passion, creativity, and over 15 years of experience inspiring young musicians. A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, she holds her 90-hour preschool, infant, and toddler certification in Child Development and Curriculum. Since 2005, she has led engaging preschool music and movement programs throughout the Washington, D.C. area.

A lifelong musician and mother of four, Ms. Stef also teaches piano, guitar, and voice in her private studio. Her classes blend classical, contemporary, and global influences to spark joy, curiosity, and creativity in every child.

Drama specialist with decades of experience putting on productions for all ages 

Brian “Mr. B” Waitzman is a passionate preschool music teacher with a 25-year career in music, education, and performance. He creates engaging classes that help young children develop language, listening, coordination, and confidence through interactive songs, rhythms, and instruments.

Mr. B teaches music enrichment at three preschools across the DMV and also runs a private lesson studio. When he’s not teaching, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children and performing with several bands—including a funk group and a fun yacht rock cover band.

Alison Bawek is the owner and director of the Studio of Ballet Arts Ltd/SBADC. She started dance at the age of four training under the Royal Academy of Dance. As a young child, she performed in various ballet companies and studied with the Vienna State Opera Ballet Company in Austria. She attended Montgomery College and Corcoran College of Art and Design where her focus was dance, theatre and art. Alison began teaching dance in 1993. She dedicates herself to nurturing the love of dance with all her students and teachers. Alison creates an inspiring and supportive environment in the dance room and believes we were all born to dance.

Hi from Ms. Kim! I can’t wait to be part of your Art Enrichment program. I love bringing in different elements to the art classroom, using outside the box materials and focusing on developing the confidence of the artist inside of all of us. As Bob Ross says, there are no mistakes in art, only happy accidents! And, I would add, lots of fun! That’s my philosophy to teaching art to my favorite age, preschoolers!

Tanner Fant is a professional dancer, choreographer, and educator dedicated to inspiring creativity through movement. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama with a degree in Dance and a minor in psychology, she has performed internationally and trained with renowned companies including Giordano Dance Chicago. Ms Tanner now teaches creative movement and beginner dance classes throughout the DMV and serves as adjunct faculty at George Mason University. She is passionate about making dance accessible to all ages and abilities, helping students build confidence, creativity, and self-expression.

Coach Jake has been teaching soccer and other sports for the last 5 years. In college, he worked at Soccer Shots, where he introduced the game to kids while also making sure they had as much fun as possible. Since he started coaching full time, he has worked with numerous preschools, daycares, and private groups, and ensures that every child has the best possible experience while learning new sports. We know that physical activity is essential for healthy development and Mr. Jake has made teaching PE and healthy movement habits not only his passion but also his career! 
 

Ms. LouAnn is a certified yoga instructor who brings mindfulness, movement, and joy to students of all ages. With a background in early elementary education and psychology, she combines her passion for teaching with yoga’s powerful mind–body connection. LouAnn is a 200-hour certified instructor and also holds a 140-hour certification in Warriors and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga. Her classes focus on flowing movement, breathing, and building strength together in a supportive community. She especially loves working with children, blending yoga, mindfulness, and playful exploration.

Ms. Gaby is a native Spanish speaker from Ecuador with over 10 years of experience working with preschool children in the United States. Before moving to the U.S., she owned and operated Humanitos Child Development Center, where she developed programs that nurtured early learning and curiosity. Ms. Gaby now shares her passion for language by teaching Spanish through playful, hands-on activities that introduce culture, vocabulary, and STEAM-inspired learning. She loves helping children discover how fun and natural learning a new language can be, often incorporating nature and outdoor exploration into her classes.

Things that are trendy in the college and career space are helping students explore who they are, what they care about, and what their real options are after high school. The college landscape has changed significantly post-covid and with AI in the mix. 

Ms Lynn is a Vietnamese American artist and sculptor who loves turning everyday and often-overlooked materials into imaginative works of art. Working primarily with wood, Ms Lynn incorporates found and repurposed objects such as chopsticks, bamboo mats, shells, and other natural materials, combining them with colorful acrylic, resin, and other mixed media to create playful and unique sculptures. Her work is inspired by nature, culture, memories, and the simple beauty found in the world around us. Lynn believes that art is a wonderful way to slow down, explore ideas, and see the creative possibilities in things we might otherwise overlook. She holds a BFA in Studio Art from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an MFA in Intermedia and Digital Art from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is excited to share her love of hands-on making, creative exploration, and thinking outside the box with young artists.

Ms Kim is an early childhood teacher of 35 years and is a trained kids yoga instructor. During her career as a classroom teacher, she began incorporating yoga, mindfulness, and breathing techniques, where she observed the positive impact on behavior, emotional regulation, and the overall performance of children.

As part of her classes, MsKim integrates breathing, poses, and mindfulness in an engaging, meaningful, and fun way that results in a holistic and enjoyable experience.

Boogie Bennie DC-based composer, performer, and music educator who loves sharing his passion for music with students of all ages and focuses on early childhood music in his group classes. 

Ms. Caro brings over 25 years of professional singing, performance, and teaching experience to her students. An accomplished performer with international stage experience, she has earned recognition at music festivals in both the U.S. and Chile.

As a warm and encouraging instructor, Ms. Caro helps students build confidence while exploring singing, performance, piano, guitar, and music production. Her engaging approach makes music fun and accessible for young learners while developing creativity, self-expression, and real musical skills.

With training from Berklee Online and a passion for helping every student shine, Ms. Caro creates an inspiring environment where children can discover their own love of music.

Ms Casey is an award winning choreographer in the competition circuit and professional dancer specializing in Jazz, Lyrical, Contemporary, and commercial styles. Her training began at the prestigious Ballet Royale Institute, continuing on to become the first captain of the Salisbury University Poms Dance Team. After college, she went on to train competitive dancers in South Florida, winning several awards, and later moved to New York City to pursue her dream of dancing on a larger scale. After graduating from Broadway Dance Center's training program, she began working as a full-time dancer and choreographer. Her credits include: FKA Twigs, Kat Deluna, Jeremih, Good Morning America, Dancing with the Stars, Broadway across America, and many more. With over 12 years of experience as a dance educator, Casey's teaching style focuses on strong technical training and exploring a dancer's individuality and artistry to further the love of dance!

Nykila Norman is an actor and musician whose work spans Broadway National Tours (1776), West End/Off-West End productions (Kunstler), regional (SLEEPOVA-Olney Theatre Center) and The House I Live In: Josh White’s America- SC New Play Festival, and multiple roles in film and commercial work. She is currently pursuing her MFA in Acting at Randolph College, continuing to deepen her love of the craft of acting and performance. When she’s not onstage, Nykila teaches music and movement to infants, toddlers and preschoolers and also drives a school bus in her efforts to inspire and reach the next generation of artists. She is especially honored to be part of the Enrichment Collective and so excited to share her love of music and theatre with all the littles!

I've been teaching social studies for over 20 years in both online and in-person classrooms with students of all ages. I also have 4 kids, and we love exploring new places, solving puzzles, and learning together.

I've had lots of adventures, too! Right now I live in Maryland, but I've also lived in Australia, Alaska, Ukraine, Washington, New York, North Carolina, Delaware, Iowa, and Missouri. That's a lot of places to explore! Along the way, I've learned about different cultures, met amazing people, and discovered that there's always something new to learn.

Ms Courtney is the owner of Sugar Lace Treats, a custom dessert company specializing in cakes and cupcakes, and interactive baking experiences for children and community events. She is passionate about using baking to inspire creativity, build confidence, and create fun, hands-on learning experiences.

In addition to her business, Courtney is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. She previously served students with speech and language impairments in Prince George's County Public Schools and currently works as a home health Speech-Language Pathologist, providing therapy for adults with communication and swallowing disorders. She also serves as an adjunct clinical educator at Howard University, mentoring future speech-language pathologists.

Ms Courtney's combined experience in education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship allows her to create safe, engaging, and educational baking programs that foster creativity, teamwork, and confidence in students.

Hi! I’m Cadence! I love working with kids and helping them learn while having fun. I’ve been coaching swim lessons and Pre-Team for several years, and I enjoy creating activities that are exciting and engaging. In my free time, I love swimming, arts and crafts, and spending time with family and friends. I’m looking forward to meeting everyone and making this a fun and creative experience!

Ms Emily is a recent graduate from Catholic University, having graduated with her degree in musical theatre!  She loves all things music, and even enjoys writing her own songs in her free time.

Hi! I'm Kayla! I've been coaching cheer since 2022 at Maryland Twisters MoCo and love helping athletes build confidence while learning new skills. I also danced competitively for 11 years and was a two-time Dance Worlds semifinalist. I'm so excited to share my love for cheer and help athletes have fun while growing their skills!

Coach Sam runs fun Pickleball for all. As a dad of two boys living in Olney, he believes that kids learn best through play, and Pickleball is a special sport that all ages can play together with their families. With a master's in coaching and over ten years of experience working with kids in the Montgomery County community, he is excited to bring Pickleball to the school communities through Enrichment Collective. Check out his Next Gen Pickleball Academy for more opportunities to get into Pickleball around the MoCo. 

Hi! My name is Andrea Aragão. I am a Brazilian American artist who was born and raised in Silver Spring, MD. After graduating from The Academy of The Holy Cross in Kensington, MD, I moved to New York City to intern in the fashion industry and attended The Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan where I graduated Magna Cum Laude with an AAS, specializing in Knitwear and Textiles. My love of the fine arts then, led me to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn where I earned a BFA in Fashion Design. After graduating I had the wonderful opportunity to become a costume designer and joined the Delaware Valley Opera Company as Costume Director. During my time there I designed the costume for multiple productions including Carmen and Little Red Ridinghood. In 2020, I became a preschool teacher, using art and the act of creating as a catalyst for all learning. My passion is creating interactive activities and long-term projects that are a truly engaging and memorable experience for students of all ages!

Ms Riley began dancing at a young age has over 15+ years of dance experience and is experienced in many styles. She was apart of a dance competition team growing up and her high school D1 Poms team for four years and became captain her senior year. Riley began teaching in 2021 and currently teaches at SBADC and attends college working on her business and dance education degree. As a dance teacher, she is dedicated to helping people embrace and expand their creativity, build confidence, and develop a love and passion for dance

Esther Whitlock began playing piano at the age of three. She studied from her mother, local piano teacher Linda Whitlock and Esther L. Howe. She also studied violin with Amy Beth Horman as a teenager, and continues her violin studies with our resident violin instructor, Jeff Issokson. Esther adapts her approach to teaching according to the learning style of each student. She encourages every child and adult to believe that they are talented, but emphasizes that practice is actually the deciding factor in success. For example, some students need extensive visual aids in order to learn to read music. Others may benefit by playing their pieces by ear. Since she teaches to their natural strengths and creatively introduces new skills, her students excel easily. Esther considers her great passion to be teaching music.  Her student's success is her greatest gratification. As her teacher Esther Howe told her years ago, "Never abandon your music, and practice, practice, practice!"

I have been playing pickleball for two years and have competed at a high level, reaching the county championship twice and winning the championship during my senior year. I also had the opportunity to travel to China as part of the MCPS Pickleball Diplomacy Trip, where I gained valuable experience both on and off the court.

I am excited to share my love of pickleball with players of all ages and experience levels. I look forward to welcoming families to the club, helping players build their skills, and most importantly, having fun on the court!

Mindful Beginnings brings expert-led safety and caregiving education directly to your group, fully tailored to your schedule. We provide comprehensive, age-appropriate training for every stage of life, including Safe Sitter® babysitting certification, Safe@Home for independent kids, Campus Ready™ lifesaving skills for college students, and specialized courses for grandparents and adult caregivers. Whether you are organizing a session for a community group, school, or private gathering, our instructors bring all necessary materials straight to your location for a convenient, hands-on learning experience.