The Junior Wonders Staff

Mary O'Connell, the founder of Junior Wonders Nursery School, is a graduate of Hunter College and holds a Masters Degree in Elementary Education. She was a 26 year veteran elementary school teacher when she founded the Playful Wonders After School Program in 1986. Having raised seven of her own children and as a working mother she realized the need for quality childcare in the area. In 1992 she extended the program to include daytime classes for pre-school aged children and the Junior Wonders Nursery School was born.

Irene Englisch, Co-Director. Irene is a graduate of Fordham University with a Masters Degree in Special Education with extensive early childhood training and expertise. In addition, Ms. Englisch has numerous graduate courses in Education Administration and Supervision. Ms. Englisch has been with Junior Wonders since its inception in 1992. A mother of two sons, she is responsible for the day to day running of the Nursery School with Ms. Lombardi. Ms. Englisch also teaches Pre K in our Summer Program and is a Head Teacher in our After School Program.

Isabelle Lombardi, Co-Director. Isabelle has been with the Junior Wonders family for over 12 years. She is a graduate of Iona College and the College of New Rochelle with a B.A. in English and a masters degree in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Lombardi is a veteran of the Westchester and New York City public school systems, a member of the Westchester Association for the Education of Young Children and the mother of a wonderful seven-year old boy.