Our Staff

Directors

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Kate Argiro

Kate was welcomed to the Northvale Preschool family in 2013 as a Pre-K4 teacher.  She graduated from Manhattan College in 2002 with a B.S in Elementary Education.  That same year, she was hired as a 4th-grade teacher in New York City’s Public School 8, where she taught until her maternity leave in 2006.  After a year away from teaching, Kate taught 4th-grade teacher in Allendale, NJ.  Upon completing the school year, she took a temporary leave from teaching to tend to her growing family.  In 2009, Kate and her family moved to Northvale where she has enjoyed raising her children.  With her kids getting older and ready for school themselves, Kate was ready to continue the career she loves so dearly.  Kate was introduced to Northvale Preschool in 2013 when she had decided to enroll her daughter there.  Shortly thereafter, a teaching position became available at the school and she knew the opportunity was too good to pass up.  Kate enjoyed teaching Pre-K4 for 5 years before becoming Director in 2019.

Head Teachers/Group Leaders

Michelle Miller

Michelle Miller received her bachelor degree from West Virginia University in 2011 and currently resides in Northvale with her husband, and two children. Michelle is continuing in her role as the group leader of the 2.5 to 3-year-old classroom at the Northvale Preschool and her 6th year of being a part of the preschool family. She has been an active member of the preschool’s Parent Committee Board for the past 3 years, headed a very successful fundraiser, assisted with the recent school renovations, and much more. Michelle is so excited about this opportunity to provide a fun-filled learning environment for the children in our community.

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​Jennifer Pawlowski

Jennifer Pawlowski graduated from Hunter College in 2010 with a M.S degree in Childhood Education. Prior to that she received her B.S degree from CCSU in International Business in 2004. She worked in marketing for 8 years in CT and NY before becoming a teacher. Jennifer taught at ECCS preschool in 2010-2011. She was a substitute teacher on and off at the Northvale Public School and Cresskill Public School since 2011 while caring for her growing family. Jennifer lives in Northvale with her husband and three children. She is an active member in the community volunteering her time as a coach and girl scout troop leader. Jennifer is looking forward to being the lead teacher in the Pre-K 4 classroom where she can provide an enjoyable and educational learning environment.

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Teaching Assistants

Samantha Martino

Samantha joined the Northvale Preschool in 2021.  Samantha is a Westwood HS Graduate with Concentration on Early Child Development. She is also a former Student of Bergen Community College; Majoring in American Sign Language, with the desire to be an interpreter for children. 

She joins Northvale Pre-school to help her aspiration to grow her knowledge in Early Child-Development. She has done Volunteer work at the Westwood Library for the Reading Buddies Group as well as Tutoring children, so they receive a better learning experience in reading. Samantha also loves working with parents, while babysitting; she helps in the planning of reading material exposing the children to literature, as well as helping in organizing stimulated motor skills and physical activities, to help the child's development during this special growth period of their lives. 

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Allison Clarke

Allison grew up on Long Island and received her Bachelor's degree from New York University in 1994. She began her preschool career in New York, but after getting married, she moved to New Jersey where she has taught for the past 10 years. Allison was an assistant teacher in the two's class and ran the aftercare program at Temple Beth El in Closter. She lives in Harrington Park with her husband and two daughters, Sophie and Zoe.

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Laura Murphy

Laura moved with her husband to Northvale in 2013. She has two daughters that attend Northvale Elementary School. 

Laura has an Interior Design degree from Inter-Dec College in Montreal, Canada. 

This will be her first year working at the Northvale Pre-school. 

Born in Mexico City, Laura will introduce Spanish through nursery songs as an early introduction to Spanish. She loves the opportunity to bring her enthusiasm for education to the children. 

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Ms. Sophia Yun

Sophia was born in South Korea and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Korean education.  She immigrated after her marriage to Orlando, Fl in 2001 and moved to Northvale in 2014.  She has taught Korean for over 15 years and currently teaches at the Korean Community Center.  She has worked as a substitute aid at Northvale Preschool.  She has two children that attend Northern Valley Regional High School in Old Tappan and one child that attends Northvale School.  She has a great sense of responsibility and organization and loves working with kids and caring for them as her own.

Enrichment Instructors

Lisa Powers (Lisa La La)              Music 

Lisa has been designing and teaching children’s music and physical fitness programs since 2001 in preschools, daycares and public schools throughout Bergen County. She holds a B.S. in Music Business from NYU.

Ms. Nicole Harris                             Yoga 

Nicole has been with the children's school of yoga since August of 2015 and teaches at satellite / off site locations for children starting at 18 months old through school-age, including special needs children. Nicole holds a 90hr children's yoga certification through Yoga Synthesis. She has a Bachelor's Degree in early childhood education (k-6) through the State University of New York at Oneonta.  

Mrs. Wonderwhy                         Science 

Created in 2005, Mrs. Wonderwhy Science is a visiting enrichment program that specializes in bringing science concepts to life for preschool children. Working in a circle-time style with no more than 20 children at once, she immerses little ones in the wonderful world of science using age-appropriate puppets, simple experiments, games, projects, jokes and fun.

Louise Buzzelli               Mozart to Monet 

Graduate of LaGuardia HS of Music &The Arts NYC, and Berklee College of Music Alumni, Louise loves bringing a little NYC Culture to NJ, while inspiring a love of Music & Art in every child!