• EILEEN JOHNSON

    School Director

    I have been Director of Little Missionary’s Day Nursery since 2001.  I was born and educated in Ireland, and there I taught High School and Elementary School children. Working with very young children has been the most fulfilling and rewarding part of my career. My best teaching moments happen when I can be in the moment and listen to the children, then we are all learning together. Children are so much more connected with the power of the unconscious, and every day I learn from them how to let go of preconceived ideas and be humble in the face of their innate creativity. I believe that all good teachers are artists, capable of being in the moment, and responsive to the children who are their audience, and their inspiration.  I am the author of three books:  The Children’s Bill of Emotional Rights,  Emotional Education, and Ten Steps to an Emotionally Healthy Child.  The books illustrate my philosophy of developing an emotionally healthy child so we can have an emotionally healthy world.  These writings are all illustrative of the methodology we use at our school.

     

     

  • Elaine Eng

    Head Teacher Twos Class/Assistant Director

    I have been teaching at Little Mish since 2002 as the head teacher of the Twos class. I have experience teaching children ages 2-10 years. I earned a degree in Early Childhood education and Elementary education through NYU and Brooklyn College. I came into teaching because of my love for children and the belief that all children deserve a great education. I believe that all children are natural learners and have a basic curiosity in the world around them. I feel my role is to facilitate young children by providing a warm, supportive and creative environment for children to grow socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually. Working at Little Mish has made me more aware of the whole child and honoring them as individuals. The philosophy of being there to listen and validating a young child’s feelings has been a focal point for me during my years teaching at Little Mish. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy cooking, baking, listening to music and visiting the city’s great museums.

     

     

  • Glennis Ramirez

    Senior Assistant Teacher Twos Class

    I am an assistant teacher in the Twos classroom at Little Mish, partnering with Elaine for many years.

    I have previously worked as an assistant teacher in the PreK classroom. I have enjoyed being at Little Mish, there is a very big family environment-the teachers are close as well as the children. As well as teaching I am also learning at Little Mish not only from the rest of the teachers but also from the children.

    I like to teach Spanish to the children, I incorporate it into our daily routines.  I also love to teach cooking. I have four wonderful children, two who are twins. I enjoy and look forward to bringing new experiences to your children every day.

  • Kathy Ramirez

    Head Teacher PreK/K Class
    I started working at Little Mish in 2007 when I was in High School, as an assistant afterschool teacher and from then on I fell in love with Little Mish, the teachers, the classrooms, the children, the ambiance and the philosophy. I’ve always loved children because of their curiousity and their yearning to want to know more about the who, what, where, when, why, and how of things. I believe that not only do the children learn from the teachers, parents and guardians but we have a lot to learn from them as well.  I am currently Head Teacher of the PreK/Kprogram.
    As the oldest of four children, there is something that stuck to me from when I was a child and that is that you should always keep that inner child in you. Growing up I was always taught that it is normal and acceptable to have any and all feelings and that I should freely express my emotions; with that I continue with the same lesson to the children I am around because feelings are a crucial part of life and being able to express them in a healthy manner is even more important. The biggest lesson I have learned so far with working with children is that each child is individual and unique and they should be treated as such.  In Spring 2015, I obtained a Bachelors Degree in Psychology with a concentration on Education, and I am currently pursuing my Masters. On my free time I enjoy painting, reading, dancing, singing, playing sports, and spending time with my loved ones.

  • Jessica Rubio

    Assistant Teacher PreK/K Class

    I had begun as a part-time teacher at Little Missionary’s for the Twos and Threes classes in 2013 and I have been here ever since. I love working with these children. I learn a lot from them, just being around them for the short time that they are there. I’ve noticed that every child has their own personality, and different ways of dealing with situations. I have grown to have this bond with the other teachers at little Mish, not just working with coworkers, but instead like a small family that we all are a part of. This will be my fourth year as assistant teacher and I am truly excited  to be a part of this environment, helping these wonderful children find themselves. Not only will I be helping the children they might also be helping me find out things about myself that I have yet to discover. I am pursuing my studies majoring in psychology. I enjoy learning about people and how their minds work, I love reading and writing but most of all I love spending time with my family and friends.

     

  • Chika Yoda

    Threes Class Head Teacher

    I was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan and I came to New York in 1999 as an international student for dance. I received a degree in Dance and a Masters in Elementary Education from Queens College and I’m a certified Early Childhood teacher. I’ve taught creative movement from ages two years old through high school students in public and private schools in New York City. I’ve taught for the Japanese Children’s Society in different age groups as a teacher and an education director. I started teaching at Little Mish in 2006 as an assistant teacher. After my first year in that role, I became Head Teacher for the preK class.  Over the years I have also worked in the 2’s, 2/3’s, 3’s, and 4’s classroom. Even though I work in other schools, I always come back to Little Mish. This school is my home in New York City. I’m so happy being in the classroom with the children. I love to see the children express their negative feelings freely and then the teachers accept and support those feelings. I admire the school philosophy and I love to spread it to the world!  I love to share my Japanese culture with the children. I introduce Japanese songs, books and art activities such as origami to the kids at Little Mish. I am so happy to be a part of the Little Mish community!

  • Destiny Cloud

    Assistant Teacher, 3s Class

    Hello! My name is Destiny, I’m an assistant teacher to the 3’s classroom and the dance program teacher for all these incredible learners and movers! 

    I graduated from Marymount Manhattan College as a first generation student in May of 2023 with a Bachelor’s degree in Dance with a concentration in Kinesiology. I also received dance education training for 6 years in my hometown of California before moving to New York where I continued teaching at various schools in the state. I’ve danced and choreographed at various venues around the city including Gibney Dance and Broadway Dance Center. The most rewarding experiences, however, has been the opportunity to visit classrooms and dance schools and teach movement from young novices to advanced adults. Movement has always had a special place in my heart and I’m so glad I’m getting the privilege to share my love of dance with your kids.

    I’m so excited to continue my journey here at Little Mish! Honored and looking forward to help facilitate the beginning of your child’s education journey.

  • Keldy Penaranda

    Head Teacher 2s/3s

    Hello! My name is Keldy Penaranda. I first had the pleasure of joining the Little Mish team as the 3/4s Assistant teacher and the Music Teacher to all classes. Becoming a teacher at Little Mish has been extremely rewarding. I was able to experience first hand the power of our school’s philosophy through the growth and achievements of all the children.  Throughout my time in college, I learned that ensuring children feel seen, heard and loved is essential for a happy childhood. My goal as an educator is to provide a positive, loving and strong foundational environment. To foster emotional abilities, and enable young children to acquire new skills, from learning their ABCs to mastering a musical instrument. I am glad that through this school I am given the opportunity to do so.

    I graduated from Stockton University with my Bachelor Degree in Music Performing Arts with a concentration in vocal studies and minor in childhood studies. I have always had a passion for music and education, thus I’m glad to continue to be the Music teacher here at Little Mish for the years to come. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Early Childhood Education as this specific age group has become one of my new passions. My journey at Little Mish additionally continues as the 2/3s Head Teacher. I am looking forward to beginning this exciting new chapter. I’m truly excited to see all the learning and fun your child will experience during their time at Little Mish!

  • Cassidy Carter

    Assistant Teacher 2s/3s

    Hello all–My name is Cassidy and I am elated to start my first year as an Assistant Teacher at Little Mish!

    I graduated from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration on Adolescent Development and Biology. Following my matriculation from Fredonia, I moved to New York City from Rochester, NY, and received an Associate’s of Applied Science in Fashion Business Management from the Fashion Institute of Technology. Over the past 14 years, I’ve had the joy of working as a childcare provider, which, along with my academic and research experiences, has allowed me to support and learn from a wonderfully diverse group of children and families. These experiences have greatly deepened my commitment to nurturing the holistic development of the next generation!

    I’m so excited to be part of the Little Mish community and look forward to working alongside the amazing educators here to support every step of your child’s growth and development!



  • Batya Feldman

    2s/3s Assistant Teacher

    I came to Little Mish in 2025 with experience as a teaching artist in circus and theater arts and an abiding interest in human development. Children are a joy, and I consider it my responsibility and privilege to understand those in my care and to cultivate the conditions for them to flourish, both as individuals and in community with others. My approach is grounded in collaborative play and responsive, developmentally-appropriate feedback that engenders emotional safety; Eileen’s advocacy for children’s emotional rights is one of the many reasons that I am so pleased to have landed here at LMDN.

    In addition to teaching, I have a background in promoting and creating art—as a fundraiser for non-profit theaters, studio manager for an architecture and design firm, producer of independent films, personal historian, actor, and clown.

    I have an MBA from NYU’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a BA from Pitzer College in Claremont, California, where I created a special major combining Arabic, Middle East studies, theater, and child development. More recently, I have studied with the Neufeld Institute, the Center for Healing Shame, and École Philippe Gaulier.

  • Brian Lora

    Assistant Teacher, 2s class

    I am excited to be returning to Little Mish. I worked here in 2018 – I used to be an assistant teacher in the After School program.  I appreciated the social and emotional philosophy of the school and made it a part of my interactions with the children.

    I grew up in the neighborhood, and a favorite part of my own childhood was in playing sports and being a part of a team. It taught me that working with others can make everything easier, and brings more enjoyment and build deeper bonds.

    I attended Brooklyn College where I pursued my Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts.

    I’m looking forward to teaching the children and very much looking forward to the enjoyment of working with the teachers I worked with in the past, and getting to know the new ones.