Staff
Our experienced and caring team provide a warm and safe environment for children to learn and grow
Each teacher is committed to nurturing the whole child and tapping into each child’s unique learning styles. They facilitate learning through play and support a child’s overall development in a multi-disciplinary approach.
Each class is led by an experienced, qualified Teacher. Assistants are placed in each class to support the group. All staff members are required to secure 15 hours of Professional Development training annually which includes CPR and First Aid. We also have specialists on our team to provide separate weekly classes for Yoga/Creative Movement and Music.
Xann Palmer, Director
Our Director, Xann Palmer, has a B.S. in Elementary Ed/Early Childhood Education and over 20 years of experience working in the field of Early Childhood Education in Westchester County. She is committed to upholding Play Care’s reputation in the community as a warm and trusting environment for families to bring their children to learn and grow. She continues to provide the most flexible scheduling possible to support each family’s schedule and differing needs. She and her team are dedicated to ensure children leave the program ready for Kindergarten and all other future endeavors.
Claire Regno
Miss Claire is our young 2s teacher. She feels her role in the lives of children is to allow them to utilize the skills she is able to teach them and express themselves as individuals. She provides guidance to children and their families by identifying their strengths and weaknesses and assists them on building on their strengths and overcoming their weaknesses. She feels her job is to reassure parents, and children, they are being cared for in a safe and warm environment. She has over 18 years of experience as a childcare provider and is equipped to handle any challenges presented to her on a daily basis. She is a provider who is patient and consistent and offers structure, stability and is always looking for new ways to build new skills and enhance the skills she has acquired.
Her hobbies are cooking, baking, arts and crafts, reading and writing.
Patty Kingston-Mead
Miss Patty is one of 2s teachers and has been with Play Care since 2008. She finds this age group “curious, adventurous, inquisitive and a fun age group to teach.” Her goals for the classroom are to make learning a fun experience, and to want children to enjoy and have fun at school while learning. Her goal for the classroom is to make learning a fun experience and to want the children to enjoy school while learning and to explore.
Her hobbies/interests are: nature, hiking, reading and spending time with family.
Liz Wall
Miss Liz is one of our 3’s teacher. She has worked as a preschool teacher for more than 20 years. She enjoys working with the 3’s because of their natural curiosity and their excitement as they explore and discover new things. Her goal for the classroom is to facilitate learning, development, friendships, and independence in a fun, engaging, and nurturing environment.
Outside the classroom Miss Liz likes to spend time with her family. She enjoys reading, traveling, and going to the beach.
Gaynelle Farina
Miss Gaynelle is one of our 3’s teacher.
Alicia Costas
Miss Alicia is one of our 4s teachers and has been with Play Care since 2008. She loves working with 4 year olds and helping them with their transition from Pre-K to “big school”. Her goals for the classroom are to instill a love for school, build self confidence and foster friendships. To teach them to learn through play and creativity and to find each child’s strengths and learning styles and using this information to create a unique plan to help teach readiness skills for the years to come and most of all to have fun!
Her hobbies and interests are Walt Disney World, dance, music, history and a love for learning new things.
Lisa White
Miss Lisa is one of our 4s teachers.