Heather Saintgeorges

Center Director

I was born and raised in upstate NY in the mountains.  I have been in the Early Childhood Education field for over 15 years.  I have two Associates Degrees, one in Elementary Education and the other in Early Childhood Education.  Over the years, I have worked teaching, cooking, driving, and administration.  My goal is to finish my Bachelors in Early Childhood Education. In my spare time I enjoy being with my family.  My favorite quote: “Our children are living messages that we send to a time and place we will never see”

Maritza Vigo

VPK teacher / leader in training

I have 16 years of experience in childcare. I currently have my CDA, Director’s Credential and a Bachelor’s Degree in Adult Education. In the mornings, I am the first person at Ivy League. I love to greet families in the morning and give a lot of hugs to little ones. I help with the logistics of the school early in the morning, but preparing children for kindergarten is what I love the most, so I teach one VPK class in the morning and a second VPK class in the afternoon. In my spare time, I enjoy listening to music, dancing, reading long novels, and most of all making children smile. A mid term goal is to seek for my Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.

 

Danielle Willis

Infant Room Lead Teacher / Leader in training

I have worked with children for 11 years. My favorite classroom is the Baby room. I enjoy stimulating little brains with fun and messy sensory activities while loving and nurturing them. I grew up in south Florida.  I have two children. Everybody tells me I have great competencies to become part of the administrative team of the school. A very structured, organized way of thinking, a very positive attitude, and a problem solver approach. I am currently working on my CDA and my director’s credentials to become Assistant Director. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling.

 

Sarah Mackey

Infant Room Teacher

I have 2 years of experience in childcare. I am currently attending University of North Florida to obtain my Bachelors in Elementary Education. I enjoy both, taking care of babies and watching them grow everyday and taking care of preschoolers and watching them learn everyday. Colleagues say that I am very nurturing, love to sing and read to children and the most patient teacher they have ever seen. I enjoy baking in my spare time.

 

 

Maritza Rodriguez

Lead Toddler 1 Teacher

I have worked in childcare for 19 years. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. I am bilingual in Spanish and English.  I currently hold my state and national CDA. 1 year old is my fascination. They are like little sponges. I am always surprised with their learning experiences in such an early age. It is as a matter of expose them to interesting age appropriate activities and fun materials and toys. At home, I like to listen to music and dance.

 

Brittany Arnold

Infant / 1 year old Teacher

My name is Brittany Arnold. I have worked in childcare for 5 years.  I currently hold a bachelors of arts and I am working on my Masters.  I love working with the babies and the one year olds. They love to watch everything that is happening around them. My favorite thing of the day is to look their faces when I am reading a book and singing songs for them and see that they are enjoying these experiences as much as I do. In the future I hope to be a school psychologist.

 

Shanta Spears

Educational Coordinator & Lead Toddler 2 Teacher

Shanta Spears – Two / Three year old teacher

I have worked in childcare for 10 years.  I currently hold my CDA. I love working with two and three year olds. I teach them structure and follow rutines while having fun with finger paint, crayons and playdough. I am very proud because I am a very important part of their lives. They learn how to go potty, increase their vocabulary, master colors and shapes and begin to recognize letters and numbers in my class. In my free time I like to hang out with my family and friends.

 

Tara Farmer

Lead Pre-k 3 Teacher

I have worked in Childcare for 6 years. I am very passionate about this field in Early Childhood Education and each and every child I work with.  Make them laugh and learn at the same time is my goal. I currently hold my CDA. During my free time, I love to travel and take vacations.

 

 

Mimi

VPK Teacher/Camp Counselor

I graduated from the First Coast Academy. I also hold a CDA as well as a Florida Directors Credential. I have so much patience from within and find it easy working with young children. I enjoy when they ask questions and begin to engage in their curiosities through investigation and social experiences. It is the amazing part of my job when I walk in and hear them all yell my name and run to share their hugs. That is what a great job is all about. I am grateful to every parent for allowing me to be a part of their child’s life and learning experience.

 

BJ Peniza

Educational Coordinator and Lead VPK Teacher

I have worked in childcare for 11 years. I currently hold my CDA and am working towards my Associates degree in Early Childhood Education. In my spare time I enjoy reading, swimming, and playing with my two girls.

 

Maryvellise Garcia

Cook / Infant room assistant

I was born and raised in Guanica, Puerto Rico.  I started teaching in Chicago in 2003.  In 2005, my family and I moved to Jacksonville, FL and we love it. I have found my passion and that is working with the babies.  I also love cooking. There is no child that will not eat the food that I prepare at Ivy League. Everybody says I know how to mix the right and nutritional ingredients and present it in a awesome way in a plate, so children enjoy eating. I have a five year old son that is my whole world. I enjoy going to the beach and traveling on long road trips.  I am very happy here at Ivy League Academy and I hope to here for years to come.

 

Charlie

Lead School Age Teacher/Camp Counselor

I graduated from Orange Park High School in Orange Park, Florida. I have my BA in Elementary Education. I have 10 years of experience working with children and am very excited to continue growing that number. I love the fact that I have given each child the opportunity to learn and engage in new concepts and ideas in a fun and meaningful way. Learning should be fun and that is my responsibility to the children. I want them to continue their love of learning even after elementary school. Working with children has kept me smiling. You hear the funniest things come out of their mouths.  This job keeps me young at heart thanks to the awesome children I work with each day. In my little bit of spare time I enjoy being with my family.