Our Faculty
Meet our dedicated director, teachers, and staff.
Our Director
Elizabeth Hearle
Elizabeth has served as Director of Saint Luke’s Parish School since 2016. She holds B.A. degrees in Psychology and Elementary Education from the College of William & Mary and an M.A. in Early Childhood Development from Old Dominion University, as well as a certificate in Administration and Supervision.
Before becoming Director, Elizabeth taught kindergarten in Virginia Beach and at the Chapin School in New York and was a preschool teacher at SLPS. She also served as Executive Director of the Darien Nature Center and has been actively involved in the Darien community for many years.
Elizabeth has a special connection to SLPS—her three children all attended the school, and she has been a member of Saint Luke’s Parish since 2000. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, gardening, spending time with her family, and her three German Shepherds.
Twos Program Teachers
Andrea Valladares
2s Assistant Teacher
Andrea Valladares is excited to join Saint Luke’s as an Assistant Teacher in the Twos! A UConn graduate in Psychology with a background in early childhood development, she previously worked at a lab school in Westport and as a Saint Luke’s camp counselor. She enjoys working out, yoga, and time with family and friends, and looks forward to creating a fun, caring classroom.
Kristin Mallozzi
2s Head Teacher
Kristin earned her B.B.A. in Marketing from Hofstra University and first joined SLPS as an assistant teacher in 2015. She has also been an active volunteer in her daughters’ schools and coaches in the New Canaan softball league. Kristin lives in New Canaan with her family and enjoys hiking, biking, swimming, and other outdoor activities.
Michelle Robotti
2s Assistant Teacher
Michelle is a lifelong Stamford resident. After a career in customer service, she took time away from the workforce to raise her three children before returning as a substitute teacher at The Mead School. Michelle lives in Stamford with her husband, children, and two dogs. She enjoys the beach, entertaining family and friends, and music.
Wendy Lacey
2s Head Teacher
Wendy moved from England to Stamford in 1997. She spent 15 years as a head teacher at Just We Two, teaching 2- and 3-year-olds, and 14 years working in a church-based after-school program. Wendy loves bringing creativity into the classroom through arts and crafts. Outside of school, her happy place is her garden, where she grows English roses, flowers, and vegetables.
Threes Program Teachers
Amanda Smith
3s Head Teacher
Amanda grew up in New Canaan and earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from Boston University and M.A. in Learning Disabilities/Special Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She taught second and third grade at The Marymount School in Manhattan and Wilton Public Schools. Amanda raised her four daughters in Darien, all of whom attended SLPS, and has been an active volunteer in local schools. She enjoys walking, needlepoint, reading, and spending time with her family.
Cheryl DeVault
3s Head Teacher
Cheryl graduated from the University of Vermont with B.A. degrees in Psychology and Sociology and earned her M.A. in Teaching: Elementary Education Pre-K–6 from Manhattanville College. She has taught at New Canaan Country Day School, Greenwich Country Day School, and Pear Tree Point School, as well as serving as a Title I tutor. Cheryl lives in Stamford and enjoys spending time with her family and dog Teddy, reading, crafting, and being outdoors.
Holly Drake
3s Head Teacher
Holly grew up outside Rochester, New York, and graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Communications. She later received her CDA from Connecticut State Community College. After a career in public relations and corporate marketing, Holly returned to teaching and joined SLPS in 2018. Her three sons all attended SLPS. She enjoys running, biking, kayaking, paddle, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Mary Beirne Tinsley
3s Head Teacher
Mary Beirne earned her bachelor’s degree from Denison University and her master’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from NYU. She has taught Young 3s at SLPS since 2012 and previously student-taught at Manhattan Country School and Manhattan New School. Mary Beirne has lived in Darien since 2007, is active in the community and Saint Luke’s Parish, and is also an SLPS parent. She enjoys gardening, opera, figure skating, needlepoint, photography, and genealogy.
Lily Zinicola
3s Head Teacher
Lily was born and raised in London, where she trained as a Montessori teacher. After living in Buenos Aires, she moved with her family to Connecticut and studied Early Childhood Education at Norwalk Community College. Lily has worked in private nursery schools and early childhood enrichment programs throughout the area. She joined SLPS in 2020 and later became a 3s Head Teacher. Lily enjoys cooking, entertaining, reading, and spending time with her family.
Leila Buckjune
3s Assistant Teacher
Leila earned her BA in Art History from Syracuse and MA from NYU, then worked in galleries and at Christie’s, specializing in fine art photography. She moved from NYC to Darien in 2013 and has enjoyed serving as PTO Chair at Hindley and DHS and volunteering on Middlesex committees. Her son is a junior at CU Boulder and her daughter a senior at DHS. She loves cooking, gardening, exploring museums and galleries, traveling, and spending time with her two yellow labs.
Kim Molloy
Friday 3s Head Teacher
Kim graduated from the University of Delaware with a B.A. in Communications and Journalism. She began her career at ABC Sports and ESPN, where she became an Emmy Award-winning producer. After a 20-year career in sports television, Kim focused on raising her family and became active in local schools and community organizations. She joined SLPS in 2024 and enjoys traveling, staying active, and spending time with her family.
Yvonne Nicholls
Friday 3s Head Teacher
Yvonne holds a master’s degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from NYU and previously taught at The Dalton School in New York City. After moving to Darien to raise her three children, she became an active volunteer in the community and local schools. Her own children attended SLPS, and she is dedicated to creating a warm, engaging classroom that fosters creativity and a lifelong love of learning.
Ryann Pegler
3s Assistant Teacher
Ryann grew up in Simsbury, Connecticut, and graduated from the University of Colorado. A longtime Darien resident, she has volunteered extensively with the Darien Nature Center, The Community Fund, local schools, and Challenger Baseball. Ryann has three sons and enjoys tennis, paddle, walking her dog Winni, boating, and traveling with her husband.
Fiona Connolly
3s Assistant Teacher
Fiona moved from Ireland to the United States in the early 1990s. Her varied career has included marketing, childcare, and many years as a substitute teacher at SLPS, where she has worked with children of all ages. Fiona lives in Stamford with her husband and has two grown daughters
Sue Herrmann
3s Assistant Teacher
Sue graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.S. in Marketing and earned her MBA in Finance from Sacred Heart University. After a 27-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, she served as Director of Communications at Greenwich Catholic School. Sue has also spent many years volunteering in her children’s schools. She lives in Stamford with her husband and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Tayler Fox
Friday 3s Assistant Teacher
Tayler graduated from Elon in 2014 with a B.S. in Finance and worked at JPMorgan and in ETF product development at Global X ETFs. Since moving to Darien in 2025, she has joined Saint Luke’s and its Children’s Ministries Committee. She has two children, Liam and Emi, and is excited for Liam to join the SLPS Threes this fall. She enjoys reading, working out, cooking, walking her dog, Tucker, and learning mahjong!
Jamie Kohler
3s Assistant Teacher
Jamie graduated from Lynn University with a B.S. in Business Administration and an M.S. in Marketing. While in college, she worked at Bright Horizons Preschool assisting with early childhood curriculum. After several years in marketing, Jamie returned to working with young children. She lives in Stamford with her husband and their three children and enjoys beach vacations, boating, and spending time outdoors.
Fours Program Teachers
Sara Faugno
4s Head Teacher
Sara earned an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Norwalk Community College. She taught at Canaan Ridge School for eight years before becoming Director of Noah’s Ark Preschool in Stamford. After taking time away to raise her three children, she returned to early childhood education. Sara and her family have been part of the Darien community since 2014.
Maureen Roach
4s Head Teacher
Maureen holds a degree in Economics and Finance, a Child Development Associate credential, and a certification in Special Education Advocacy. She has been active in numerous Darien organizations and has worked with Connecticut’s Court Appointed Child Advocacy Program. Maureen and her husband have four children and have lived in Darien for nearly 20 years. She especially enjoys children’s literature and trips to the Jersey Shore.
Asmae Rouane
4s Assistant Teacher
Asmae has been part of the SLPS community since 2019. She spent three years in the 2s program and is now entering her fourth year as an assistant in the 4s. With more than 16 years of experience in early childhood care, she brings warmth, dedication, and a deep love of working with young children. Asmae also works with children in Lunch Bunch and enjoys spending time with her two daughters.
Morgan Vitti
4s Head Teacher
Morgan graduated from Marshall University with a degree in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Special Education, along with a minor in Child Psychology and an emphasis in Reggio Emilia studies. She previously taught preschool in Charleston, SC, and worked as a para-teacher in a 3rd grade classroom in WV. Morgan has also assisted with curriculum development for Building Blocks in Stamford and Wilton. She enjoys calligraphy and painting.
Sebnem Ceken
4s Assistant Teacher
Sebnem graduated from Gazi University in Ankara, Turkey, with a degree in Business Management and received her Teaching Certificate from Kocaeli University. After moving to the United States, she earned a Certificate in Early Childhood Education from Norwalk Community College. Sebnem lives in Stamford with her husband and twin children and enjoys cooking, volleyball, and spending time with her family.
Fiona Lavelle
4s Assistant Teacher
Fiona was raised and educated in England and began her career in banking. She started as a substitute teacher at SLPS in 2012 and has since supervised Lunch Bunch and spent 10 years as an assistant in the 4s program. Fiona lives in Stamford with her family and enjoys cooking and walking with her dog.
Catherine Gedney
4s Head Teacher
Catherine earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and master’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Maine. Her teaching experience includes Fairfield Country Day, Easton Country Day, and Pear Tree Point School. Catherine grew up in Darien and is delighted to be teaching at SLPS, where she attended as a child. She has also led Beachcomber Camp at Norwalk Yacht Club, taught CCD, and served as a Girl Scout leader.
Christy Giannattasio
4s Assistant Teacher
Christy holds an AAS in Photography from FIT and a bachelor’s degree in Business from UConn. Before joining SLPS, she worked in television for 13 years and spent three years raising her daughter. A Stamford native, she lives there with her husband, daughter, and dog, Lenny. She enjoys the outdoors, photography, music, and travel.
Pre-K Program Teachers
Amanda Foster
Pre-K Head Teacher
Amanda graduated from Norwalk Community College with an associate degree in Early Childhood Education. Her experience working with children began as a summer camp counselor and continued at Saint Luke’s, where she began working with young children in 2017. She spent four years as an assistant teacher at SLPS before becoming a head teacher. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys cooking, concerts, and spending time with friends and family.
Erika Caputo
Pre-K Head Teacher
Erika received her B.A. in Communication from the University of California, San Diego and completed her Child Development Associate coursework through Connecticut’s community college system. After a career in the corporate world, she joined the SLPS team in 2009 and became part of Saint Luke’s Children’s Ministries in 2015. Her two daughters attended SLPS. In her free time, Erika enjoys walking, spending time outdoors, and being with her family.
Misty Krasawski
Pre-K Assistant Teacher
Misty Krasawski is an eternally grateful mama of twelve (including four children-in-law) and “Marmee” to four. Saint Luke’s Parish’s Youth Minister, she recently earned her MDiv from Yale Divinity School, following degrees from the University of St. Andrews and Lipscomb University. Her educational journey began with an Early Childhood Education certification, and she has spent decades teaching and ministering to children, youth, and mothers while homeschooling her eight children. In her free time, Misty loves baking, theology, strong tea, great books, travel, writing, and spending time with her Great Pyrenees. A lifelong lover of Jesus, she hopes to become a little more like Him each day.
Kelsey Cuellar
Pre-K Assistant Teacher
Kelsey holds an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from CT State Norwalk. Before SLPS, she taught preschool in Old Greenwich, emphasizing creative play, exploration, and social-emotional learning. She also assists at Horizons each summer. She enjoys running, time with family and friends, and visiting Southern California.
Staff
Dee Fumega
Administrative Assistant
Tima Elbaqi
Floating Assistant Teacher