About Us
Staff
Susan Parker, Director
AUCP Director Susan Parker came to AUCP in 1997 as a co-oping parent and a Panda teacher. Formerly the director of recruiting for a law firm, Susan became a teacher in 1997, served as AUCP’s assistant director in 2003 and 2004, and became director in 2005. Susan earned bachelor’s degrees in secondary education and English from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree in education from the University of Virginia. Susan and her husband have a 13-year-old daughter and twin 10-year-old boys. Susan encourages parents to “enjoy the journey with your child--the highs and as well as the lows. Help your children savor the few years they have to be self-directed learners and explorers. If you provide them with the tools to be life-long learners, you’ll never have to teach them anything else.”
Raylene Rozzi, Assistant Director
Since 2006, Raylene began her service to AUCP as a teacher and parent in 2000. Prior to joining staff at AUCP, Raylene worked as an elementary public school teacher in Northern California and Potomac, Maryland. Raylene holds a B.A. in Communicative Disorders, Education of the Deaf from California State University, Fresno and a M.A. Equivalency through Montgomery County Public School. A busy mom to four lovely children, Raylene’s passion for assisting in the physical, mental, and social growth of children throughout the school year is a gift to the AUCP community.
April Ege, Penguin teacher
April joined AUCP staff this year, but became an AUCP parent in 2008. With degrees in Foreign Affairs and American Government, International Finance, and Education, April brings a broad range of experiences into her classroom. An avid cook and sports fan, April seeks to encourage each child’s love of learning during their time at AUCP.
Taryn Roman, Kangaroo teacher
Taryn became an AUCP parent in 2005 before joining the teaching staff in 2007. Taryn spent 14 years working with and volunteering for non-profit organizations dedicated to serving children and youth before moving into the classroom. Taryn is augmenting her B.A. in English by pursuing a Masters in Early Childhood Education. Mother to two children, Taryn strives to establish a trusting environment where the children will have opportunities to discover, create, learn, and grow.
Peter Eisen, Koala teacher
Peter became an AUCP parent in 2004 and joined the teaching staff in 2005. A former college professor, chef and non-profit administrator, Peter is currently pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education at George Mason University. Father to a first grader, Peter believes the world is a classroom where you can learn from every experience.
Debbie Roeseler, Cheetah teacher
Debbie is new to the AUCP faculty and community. Bringing a wealth of business, education, and childcare experiences, Debbie is also pursuing an Early Childhood Education degree in Multidisciplinary Studies at Marymount University, with a Special Education focus. Mother to three active children, Debbie believes that learning should be safe, fun, and interesting.
Kathryn Gray, Eagle teacher
Kathryn joined AUCP as a parent and teacher in 2002. A former high school Spanish teacher, Kathryn holds degrees in Spanish and Sociology from Beloit College. Mother to three elementary aged children, Kathryn strives to individualize her lessons in order to engage all of the Eagle children in creative learning experiences.
Beth Green, Owl teacher
Beth is in her sixth year as an AUCP teacher and parent. After adding a Masters in Education to her existing degrees from University of California, San Diego and Harvard Law School, Beth spent three years teaching third and fourth grade in Fairfax County Public Schools. Beth is motivated by the energy and enthusiasm that children bring into her classroom to create meaningful, engaging, and fun educational experiences.
Asmaa Rosenberg, Dolphin teacher
Asmaa Rosenberg, Dolphin teacher, joined AUCP as a teacher and parent in 2008. Asmaa holds a Diploma in Childhood Education from the Croissant Rouge, Rabat, Morocco and is fluent in Arabic, French, and English. With this background, Asmaa has taught preschoolers from Rabat, Morocco to Arlington, Virginia. Asmaa draws inspiration from her father, also an educator and principal: learn one thing every day; have un with your friends, and believe in yourself.
Maruja Ubelaker, Lunch Bunch teacher
Hi. I am Maruja Ubelaker. I have enjoyed my affiliation with AUCP since 1994. I was the lead Dolphin teacher for nine years; I was the Owl class teacher for a few years as well. I found that the environment and quality of learning of AUCP were unique because it involves the entire community. I have been very happy to belong to this institution that promotes the involvement and participation of parents in the child’s growth and discovery.
I am from Ecuador and came to the USA after I married my husband Douglas whom I met in Ecuador while we were working on an archeological excavation. After many years we now have two grown children who are pursuing their PHDs and successfully entering the fields of academia and research.
I have been in the education field for a long time; first I taught Kindergarten in Ecuador at the Americano School in Quito Ecuador, then I came to the USA and got my BA from Marymount College. The following years I was a co-oping parent during almost ten years at Beverly Hills co-op and Sleepy Hollow co op preschool for my two kids.
After my younger child went to elementary school day at Fairfax County I worked as an assistant at Sleepy Hollow for about 5 years; then I had a year try out at the public schools and that was not my calling. Then I was lucky to come to AUCP and since then I have grown and learned a lot from this community. After a short break I came back to AUCP teaching art and being a lead teacher at the Lunch bunch class.
My philosophy is centered on promoting and exposing children and adults to discovering, experimenting and exploring different aspects of real life transferred to the class. What is important to me is to have children find out for themselves their best ways to express themselves. In regard to art and projects in general one can teach the techniques but all the projects should have lots of room for self expression. Play, play, experiment and explore are the core of learning in the preschool years.
Lindsey Berke, Dolphin Support Teacher
Lindsey joined AUCP in 2003 as the Dolphin teacher and became an AUCP parent in 2005. She earned her degree in Child Development from the University of Maine and prior to AUCP, worked in the Child Development program in the Arlington high schools. Lindsey recently studied Holistic Nutrition at the Washington Institute of Natural Health and became nationally certified as a Nutrition Consultant. She is motivated by the creativity and curiousity of children's minds and focuses her lesson plans on health and science.
Patricia Bullington-McGuire, Panda Teacher
Patricia became an AUCP parent in 2003. She has a B.A. in Philosophy and previously worked in the government relations field. Her time cooping in the classroom inspired her to further her education at the George Mason University Elementary Education PDS program, and she returned to AUCP as a teacher in 2006. Patricia has three children, all current or former AUCP students. She strives to build a classroom environment that meets each child where he or she is and supports children's development as they grow.
Joan Boswinkle, Panda Teacher (Wednesday,Friday)
Affiliation: Parent at AUCP from 2001 to 2006; paid co-op substitute/aide from 2007 to 2009; first year teacher.
Education: B.S. degree in Nutrition (University of North Carolina - Greensboro); B.S. degree in Hotel Restaurant Management (Virginia Tech).
Background: Worked with Marriott in its Health Care Division for 10 years; performed a variety of managerial duties.
Family: I have been married for 19 years. My husband, Bill, is a CPA and works for General Dynamics. Bill has just published his first novel “This Sane And Rocky Earth.” We have three children: Jackson, 12 years old; Kaleb, 10 years old; Willow, 7 1/2 years old. Kaleb and Willow are former AUCP graduates.
Hobbies: I enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, and cycling with my family. I like watching my children play soccer on the weekends. I am known as a “gym rat.” I also enjoy reading and relaxing with family and friends.
Philosophy: Provide opportunities for young children to explore, grow, and learn about themselves and the world around them.
Anna Bowman, Panda Teacher (Thursday)
Affiliation: This is my third year cooping and teaching Pandas.
Background: I taught 1st grade at Barrett Elementary in Arlington for 12 years. Before that I taught two years of pre-k in Buffalo, NY.
Education: I received a BS in Early Childhood Education (pre-k through 6) at Buffalo State College and have taken many graduate classes in reading and ESOL at GMU.
Children: one Dolphin in third year at AUCP.
Philosophy: Children are our world and we have so much to teach them and so much to learn from them. They are a wonder and I strive to provide them an environment where they feel safe, nurtured, loved, free to explore, excited to learn, confident and most definitely happy!
Alison Marino, Music Teacher and Panda Teacher (Tuesday)
Affiliation: I started at AUCP as a parent in 2000. I started teaching one day a week in the Panda class in 2003 when my oldest daughter started kindergarten just to discover that baby #3 was on the way. I went back to the co-oping parent role until another Panda teaching position opened in 2005. In 2007 I started doing the music program in addition to teaching the Pandas.
Background: I have been working with children in some capacity since 1988. I was a classroom assistant as a college student, have been head teacher in various pre-k programs and have been both an assistant director and director of child development centers. In 1997 I became a stay at home mom.
Education: I got my degree in ECC at Union College and studied Special Education at Kean University in NJ.
Children: I have 2 daughters, 12 years old and 9 years old, and a son who is 5 years old.
Philosophy: My philosophy is to create a safe, fun, and creative environment that the children are able to explore and experience while learning and having fun!
Erik Endo, Spanish Teacher
AUCP Address
4444 Arlington Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22204
703-892-3878
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