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MEET OUR STAFF

Our teaching team is very excited to begin the 2023-2024 school year.  Partnered with you, we will work diligently to foster learning, growth, creativity, curiosity and resilience in your child. We will seek to discover and nurture each child's unique qualities.
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Karen Nisenson, Director and Pre-K Teacher

Karen has been a dedicated teacher at Pilgrim Preschool since 2008. One of Karen’s greatest pleasures is fostering the joy of learning and love of nature in young children. Watching children find their creative and independent voice is a special privilege. Karen has a BFA from Hartford Art School and has worked as a graphic designer in publishing and advertising in NYC. 

After raising her family, Karen returned to the classroom to become certified by the State of New Jersey to teach both General Education and Special Education. Karen also holds an Orton-Gillingham Therapist  credential which she uses both in the classroom and in her private practice.   The Nisenson family has called Glen Ridge home since 1988.

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Tyra Brown

Tyra Brown holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music in Viola Performance and certificates in Yoga Instruction, and floral design from the New York Botanical Garden. A twenty-two-year resident of Glen Ridge, Tyra and her family have been very active in the Glen Ridge Congregational Church and Boy Scouts of America Organization in Glen Ridge. Tyra’s years as Business Administrator of Skyland Camp for Girls in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina honed the organizational skills she will bring to Pilgrim Preschool as our new Building Administrator. “All three of our children are graduates of Pilgrim Preschool, and I look forward to sharing the Pilgrim spirit with a new generation of children and their families.”

Annie Bayne

​Annie Bayne has lived in Glen Ridge since 2004. She and her husband Tim are the proud parents of two college kids and a current senior at GRHS. Annie graduated from John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio with a degree in English Literature and spent the early part of her career in public relations and marketing. After taking time off to raise her family, Annie has kept busy volunteering in various capacities within the Glen Ridge Schools as well as serving on the boards of the Glen Ridge Women’s Club and the Girls’ Club of Glen Ridge. For the last few years, she has worked with the Gas Lamp Players as a costumer on many of their children’s productions. Most recently, Annie has discovered a passion for early childhood education working at Serendipity Learning Center in Montclair. She is very excited to join the staff at Pilgrim as an aide in the 4-5 year old classroom.

 

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Maira Hernandez-Kinloch

Maira Hernandez-Kinloch is excited to be our 2.5, Threes and Afternoon School Teacher’s Aide. A graduate of Westminster Choir College with a B.A. in music education, Maira has taught music for 30 years, including nine years as the beloved music teacher for Forest Avenue and Linden Avenue Schools, and at Pilgrim Preschool. She continues to work with children as the owner/director of the Summer Treasures Camp here in Glen Ridge. The Hernandez-Kinloch
family enjoyed many happy years living in Glen Ridge, both children going through the Glen Ridge Schools. Maira finds great joy in fostering a love of music and creativity in young children.

Angie Konetzni

A Glen Ridge resident since 2007, Angie and her husband Josh have two children- both Pilgrim alumni.  Angie studied early childhood development and worked as a caretaker for four children while earning her BA in Communication Studies from the University of Iowa.  She spent her career in management and the maritime insurance industry.

Angie has done a lot of volunteer work in the GR school system and is also a former member of the Pilgrim Board.  She is very excited to working with three year olds!

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Ingrid Kozlowski

Ingrid Kozlowski lives in Glen Ridge, and is a proud parent of two Pilgrim graduates.  She is a certified English and elementary teacher and spent 12+ years tutoring and teaching in public middle and high schools prior to becoming a parent.  While her kids were young, she was an active school and community volunteer in Glen Ridge (Women's Cub, HSA, GRMPA, Piranhas swim team, robotics team coach).  After substitute teaching at Pilgrim and local GR schools, she realized how much she missed teaching and took a position at Linden Avenue School as a special education and classroom aide, followed by being hired by Pilgrim Preschool in early 2018.  She loves teaching preschool, and being at Pilgrim feels like coming home. Working with these young people constantly inspires her! 

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Whitney Lipson

​Whitney Lipson graduated from Catholic University with a BA in Psychology.  Her career journey began in the music industry before transitioning to sales in the Pharmaceutical and Dermatopathology Lab Service sectors. Since moving to Glen Ridge in 2016, Whitney has been actively involved in various volunteer opportunities at Linden Avenue School and Ridgewood Avenue School.

"I’m thrilled to be part of the Pilgrim School family and look forward to contributing to this wonderful community!"

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Renee Nichols

Renee Nichols has called Glen Ridge home since 2002. She graduated from Villanova University, and her former work experience was in finance.  She has volunteered in Glen Ridge classrooms and assisted in coaching soccer and field hockey.  Her three children are Pilgrim alumni. "I am very excited to be an aide and foster early learning for the 3-year-olds and Pre-K."

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Colleen O'Keefe

Colleen O’Keefe grew up in Glen Ridge and attended Seton Hall University. Colleen has previously been an aide at Pilgrim with the 2.5 year olds and the 3 years olds. Colleen's family re-located temporarily to the Atlanta area but they missed Glen Ridge too much and have returned.  Colleen has 3 daughters that keep her busy!  She is happy to be back at Pilgrim and looks forward to spending time with the 3 year olds again.

Gabby Olczak

A Glen Ridge resident since 2005,  Gabby lives with her husband Ted and their four children. Gabby is a regular volunteer at Toni's Kitchen, a Girl Scout leader, an Advisor with the Girl's Club of Glen Ridge, and a substitute teacher in the GR school district. After earning a BA from Fordham University and a MA from NYU, Gabby spent several years as an advertising sales manager in numerous computer publications.  The former Publisher/Editor and Founder of Parent Times and Toddler Times Publications, Gabby currently hosts THEGABTALKS podcast. "I love teaching! I am excited to be an aide in the PreK class and help the children grow creatively and foster their love of learning. " In her free time, Gabby loves to do yoga, travel, read, listen to Elvis, and Bruce, watch movies and spend as much time as possible with her kids, who will all be flying the coop way too soon!   

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Diane Schaming

Diane Schaming moved to Glen Ridge in 2016 with her two kids (who went to Pilgrim) and husband Bill. She has degrees in Music Education from Syracuse University and Voice Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University. She was a public school elementary music teacher in Baltimore County before moving to New Jersey.  Ms. Schaming has studied and performed in Italy, Austria, Ghana, and China, and loves sharing all kinds of music with kids. She is the alto soloist at Glen Ridge Congregational Church and Temple Emanu-El in Westfield. 

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Julia Singh

Julia Singh has always had a passion for working with children. Julia graduated from Arts High as an art major and, while in college, worked as a nanny and tutored young children. She worked at Parkside Montessori in Montclair for six years, teaching young children ages 2 1/2 to 6.  She is committed to encouraging each child to grow and develop at their own pace and find their independence while developing social skills they will carry through life. She is very excited to teach in the twos class at Pilgrim Preschool! 

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Maureen Slomienski

Maureen Slomienski, a Glen Ridge resident, is the mother of two sons and the grandmother of five children. Maureen, having retired from her position as an elementary teacher of 36 years, joined Pilgrim Preschool as our music teacher. In 2021 she became one of our Pre-K teachers. Maureen believes that the boost from a quality preschool experience sets children up for success in elementary school. “I’m thrilled to be a part of the Pilgrim team!” 

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Nilay Uzun

Nilay Uzun, a resident of Glen Ridge since 2016 and a graduate from Anadolu University in Istanbul, Turkey, brings a finance and banking background from her past experience. Her journey in the United States began with raising her two nephews, sparking a profound passion for working with young children and fostering their growth. During her free time, Nilay enjoys long hikes, practices yoga, and explores new destinations through her travels. She is looking forward to joining the Pilgrim Preschool family and working with the amazing teachers and children.

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PILGRIM BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Carol Harpster, President

Marsha Watson, Vice-President

Lorraine Brown, Treasurer

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Members at Large:

Karen Nisenson, Director and Pre-K Teacher

Paula Ely - Women's Association

Stephanie Haller - Parent Representative

Ingrid Kozlowski - Teacher Representative

Nina Kundra Shah - Parent Representative

Cliona Stack - Parent Representative

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