OUR SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

 

 

 

Ms. Esmeralda “Mama” D’Angelo – opened February 17, 1995

 

Esmeralda Messore D’Angelo was born and raised in New Haven, CT. She graduated from St. Mary’s High School (New Haven, CT) in 1963.

 

With close ties to Naples Italy, she was introduced to her future husband, Pasquale D’Angelo, by her brother, who was engaged to Pasquale’s sister. She was married in 1966 and is the proud mother of four children (Maria, Luisa, Tina & Nick) and grandmother of nine (Robbie, Karen, Kacey, Connor, Jessica, Samantha, Elaina, Mia & Jordan).  While her children attended school in West Haven and Wallingford, she served as a volunteer in their teacher’s classrooms.

 

Once her youngest children entered high school, she re-entered the workforce and began working as a fabricator at a local manufacturing company before her daughter, Maria, convinced her to work as her assistant in a home day care.  She was an integral part of the formation of Kinder-Garden Learning Center and one of the two original employees that opened the center in February 1995.

 

She is a professional caregiver with exceptional maternal instincts.  Many of our families come to her for advice during the infant years and she has been known to spend hours discussing the well-being of newborns to first-time parents who visit our center.

 

Ms Mama serves as KGLC’s infant teacher and supervises the infant/toddler areas of our family.  She enjoys gardening, arts & crafts, ceramics and floral arranging.  Mama serves as the surrogate grandmother for our family and is always willing to assist wherever help is needed. 

 

She is very proud and protective of the children and families in her program.  She is equally proud that the facility she helped create celebrates its 13th anniversary on February 27, 2008, and is always willing to impress others with tours of the center.  She is continually improving and refining her skills by attending continuing education classes in pursuit of her CDA degree through the State of Connecticut.

 

Over the years, Mama has proved to be one of KGLC’s greatest assets.  She has served in a variety of roles over the years and her dependability, leadership and compassion are beyond reproach.  KGLC would not be the warm, comfortable place it is without Mama.

 

Mama has been a child caregiver for over 40 years and has cared for hundreds of babies during her time as a childcare provider.  We thank you for your prayers that strengthened her through a difficult personal time and helped her decide to continue her work rather than retire from the business.  Mama continues to pray to God for ALL of her little ones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr. Pasquale “Papa” D’Angelo – employed since December 17, 2001

 

Pasquale D’Angelo was born in Amaroso, Italy, graduated from Our Lady of Mercy High School (Amaroso, Italy) and attended the University of Naples where he majored in business & mathematics before moving to New Haven, CT as a young man.

 

He was introduced to his future wife, Esmeralda D’Angelo, by his sister, who was engaged to Esmeralda’s brother. He was married in 1966 and is the proud father of four children (Maria, Luisa, Tina & Nick) and grandfather of nine (Robbie, Karen, Kacey, Connor, Jessica, Samantha, Elaina, Mia & Jordan).

 

Prior to working at KGLC, Pat was employed at Stone Safety (Wallingford, CT), Pratt & Whitney (North Haven, CT) and AGC (South Meriden, CT).  It was he that fronted the majority of the capital to get KGLC going back in 1995.  Without his trust that his daughter, Maria, would make this a successful business, Kinder-Garden Learning Center would not exist as it does today.  For this, we are eternally grateful.

 

Pasquale was coaxed out of early retirement by his wife and daughter when KGLC was looking for someone to work as a building maintenance and teacher’s aide supervisor.  With his years of experience as a machine manager and handyman, he was an obvious choice.

 

He enjoys gardening, John Wayne movies and small business ventures.  Papa serves as the surrogate grandfather for our family and is always willing to assist wherever help is needed.  The smiles on the children’s faces as they arrive each morning reinforce his importance at KGLC.

 

Over the years, Papa has proved to be one of KGLC’s greatest assets.  He has served in a variety of roles over the years and his dependability, leadership and compassion are beyond reproach.  KGLC would not be the warm, comfortable place it is without Papa.

 

 

 

 

 

“Ms. Colleen” Zona – employed since September 2, 2008. 

Colleen had served as KGLC's education consultant from 1995 - 2008.

 

Colleen Zona moved to Connecticut on 1980 after being born on Long Island and living in New York and Florida.  She has lived all over the state of Connecticut and now resides in Wallingford.  She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) in 1989 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education with a specialization in Early Childhood Education.  She holds a Connecticut Teaching Certificate and has worked in the Waterbury, North Haven and Wallingford school systems as a substitute teacher.

 

Colleen was married in 1990 and has two children, Ariel & Andrew.  After her son was born, she decided to go into the childcare profession.  In 1995, she purchased an established preschool/childcare facility and was the owner/director, as well as one of the teachers at the facility for 12 years.  She instituted the program’s infant and toddler groups as well as educational aspects of the entire school.

 

In the spring of 1996, Colleen returned to SCSU to continue her education in the Reading Department Masters Degree program and in 1998, she received her Master of Science Degree in Reading.

 

Colleen & Maria met while attending SCSU and have been friends ever since.  Colleen has the same love and passion as Maria for promoting literacy across all subjects in young children.  She is thrilled to have the opportunity to work the OUR FAMILY at KGLC and prepare OUR children for a successful school career.

 

KGLC is very lucky to have found such a highly qualified education to join OUR FAMILY.  Colleen is an active advocate for children’s rights and early childhood education services. She is constantly fighting for Early Childhood Education and has been outspoken in her support of funding for the State’s Care-4-Kids program.  KGLC would not be the same program without everything she does for the children and families of our community.