Aaron Goldschmidt, Teacher, CitiSchool 2s and 3s

Aaron received his BFA in acting from NYU’s Experimental Theater Wing with a minor in child psychology. While maintaining a successful writing and performing career, he worked promotions for a major record label, coordinated bustling events for a NYC hotspot and even appeared in CBS’ The Amazing Race. True fulfillment, however, was discovered in working with children and families and he dedicated himself to teaching full time.

After a year in San Francisco apprenticing at the prominent California Street PreSchool, Aaron took his newfound appreciation of the Reggio Emilia teaching philosophies and moved back to NYC. He then spent 6.5 years as the Head Teacher at the Educational Alliance’s Parenting and Family Center of the 14th Street/Sol Goldman Y in Manhattan’s East Village, where he developed and taught classes for children ages 1-5 and their families, as well as helped to run the department.

Aaron’s multidisciplinary background directly affects his approach to early childhood education and is evident in the classroom. His energy and passion, combined with his arts-based curriculum, have inspired both children and adults for years, creating an outstanding reputation and large client following. Both his popularity and visibility in the community have lent themselves to securing him a local “celebrity status” with children, parents and caregivers.

Aaron’s stature as a respected and savvy educator has also been recognized by the global children’s publisher, Scholastic. He sits on the Teacher Advisory Board to the School Book Clubs; is an invited educator to the Scholastic Early Childhood Summit; and continues to help the company keep their finger on the pulse of what is happening in the urban early-childhood classroom.

Marilyn Walker, Teacher

Marilyn studied at the College of Art Science and Technology in Kingston, Jamaica. There she majored in Early Childhood Education and has been an educator for over two decades. Prior to coming to Citibabes, she worked at Sunshine Kids Club on the Upper East Side for six years as a Curriculum Coordinator and teacher. She has a wide range of experience with children, ranging from infancy to teenage years and specializes in nurturing and developing children’s minds with interactive and exciting activities.

Melissa Belgiovine, CitiSchool 2s Teacher

A graduate of Boston University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications and a minor in Italian Studies, Melissa, following in the footsteps of her family’s business, practices real estate in Manhattan at The Corcoran Group when she is not teaching the 2’s program at CitiSchool. Before joining the Citibabes team, Melissa was a teacher for the 3’s program at The International Preschool. Since attending the French Culinary Institute in 2010, she has been creating children’s cookbooks.

Scott Bradlee, Accompanist

Scott performs regularly as a jazz pianist/singer at concert venues and special events all over the Tri-State area. A graduate of The Hartt School in Hartford, CT, he has recently received his master’s degree in Music Composition from New York University. Scott’s own original compositions have been used in television shows and commercials, and his work has received press coverage in local newspapers and music magazines.

Lisa Johnson, Teacher

Lisa, a native Minnesotan, received her BFA in Dance from the University of Minnesota and attended Penn State for a Masters degree in Art Education. She has danced professionally for the Sherry Greenspan Ensemble, The Pennsylvania Dance Theatre, and for several modern dance choreographers in Minneapolis, Pennsylvania and New York. She instructed modern dance for the School of Theatre at Penn State and has since taught art and dance classes in New York. She has worked at various institutions including Discovery Programs, Stage Coach Theatre Arts-Greenwich Village, SUNY Downstate Medical Center and currently teaches at the renowned Steps in Broadway on the Upper West Side.

Jessica Pagan, Teacher

Jessica completed her Kid’s Yoga Certification with Next Generation in Manhattan and her Yoga Alliance Certification at New York Yoga in Manhattan. She has been a practitioner of Vinyasa Yoga for 6 years and spent 1 year teaching in Phildelphia. Jessica, a native New Yorker, is thrilled to be back at home and teaching kids again. “Children are natural born yoginis with their pliable bodies and open minds, it is the perfect time to plant the seeds of connectedness to their bodies, life and nature.”

Kristin Bartlett, CitiSchool 4s Teacher

Kristin Bartlett is a graduate of George Mason University’s UTEEM program earning her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has been teaching at a preschool in Park Slope Brooklyn after earning her masters degree. Prior to entering the graduate program, Kristin taught professionally at the preschool and kindergarten levels. Kristin also acquired substantial classroom experience student-teaching infants and toddlers, preschoolers with special needs, second-graders, and middle school English language learners. Kristin believes in developing and implementing a curriculum that is designed to support her students’ curiosity and wonderment about the world around them and strives to encourage and empower children as they grow to their fullest potential through education. Kristin has a keen interest in travel and wherever possible, seeks to bring her discoveries to the classroom as part of her teaching curriculum.