Our school and staff belong to various professional organizations including the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), Parent Cooperative Preschools International (PCPI), and the Potomac Association of Cooperative Teachers (PACT).
We are licensed by Maryland State Department of Education, Office of Child Care in accordance with the state and local regulations for educational standards and teacher qualifications.
All of our teachers and staff have four-year degrees, extensive experience, and many hours of continuing education training every year. They are a collaborative, collegial group, who enjoy working with each other and with parents in the uniquely open, welcoming format of a cooperative preschool.
Jade Mirzoyan (Director)
Mrs. Mirzoyan’s fun, collaborative approach disguises the depth of experience and knowledge she brings to interactions with teachers and parents. We all value her friendly, kind manner with a child who needs a little extra attention outside of the classroom, and the flexible way she works with parents to help us learn our tasks and complete them well. Her vision for our school, from curriculum to physical environment to community, and her consistent, conscientious way of taking care of mundane, but critical, needs of our school, are both indispensable to our school community.
Mrs. Mirzoyan has dedicated many years of service to the public school systems before joining RCNS in 2023.
She graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor’s in Speech Language Pathology and earned her Masters Degree in Special Education with a concentration in educating children from Birth-Grade 3 from Towson University. Prior to joining RCNS, Mrs. Mirzoyan taught as a Special Educator teacher in the Boston area and within Montgomery County Public Schools. She has two children of her own who both love attending RCNS!
Meghan Ufko (Assistant Director)
Ms. Meghan, with her friendly, humorous, and upbeat personality, is always willing to help the children, staff, and parents at RCNS. She ensures smooth operations each day of the school year and is Mrs. Mirzoyan’s right-hand gal.
Ms. Meghan has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Catholic University in Washington, DC. Prior to working at RCNS, Ms. Meghan taught first grade for DCPS.
Ms. Meghan joined the RCNS community in 2008 and has served both as a co-oper and substitute teacher. She became the Assistant Director in 2017. Ms. Meghan has three boys who are all RCNS graduates.
Elizabeth Moreno (2s)
Ms. Elizabeth’s passion for nurturing social emotional development and shaping young minds and hearts makes her the perfect teacher to guide our 2s in their transition into a classroom environment. Her understanding of the needs of two-year-old’s and the strategies necessary for their success ensures a positive first school experience.
Ms. Elizabeth has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Pedagogics from the National Pedagogic University in Columbia and the Early Childhood Education Certificate from the Early Childhood Institute. Ms. Elizabeth speaks Spanish as well as English.
Ms. Elizabeth has been a valued part of the RCNS team since 2014. She is familiar with the parent cooperative model both as a co-oper and a substitute teacher. Elizabeth has been teaching the 2’s and Parent Child Classes since 2017.
Sofya Samoylova (3s)
Ms. Sofya’s love of learning and enthusiasm for children, coupled with her age-appropriate child-centered activities will engage you and your child immediately. Ms. Sofya’s deep affection for the children she teaches, and her desire to provide a rich, varied experience for them, make her classroom an exciting place of learning. Like many of our children, she is bilingual, so she brings a strong understanding to the language development of children who come to us with more than one language at home.
Ms. Sofya has been teaching the RCNS 3-year-old program since September 2010.
She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Teaching Russian Language and Literature and an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Montgomery College.
Ms. Sofya has devoted nineteen years to the early childhood field.
Teacher (3/4s)
Coming Soon!
Marcia Levy (4s)
Mrs. Levy is a dynamic teacher whose warm and caring spirit permeates the classroom. Parents are thrilled watching their little ones grow and develop in her care. Children are always eager to greet her with a hug and a moment of one-on-one connection, whether they are her current students or one of her many special friends who have long since graduated from our school. Mrs Levy helps children in the 4s make the most of their last year of play-based preschool, while positioning them for a smooth transition into Kindergarten and beyond.
She speaks Portuguese as well as English, and often shares her love of her beautiful native language with her little charges.
Mrs. Levy has been teaching the 4-year-old program at RCNS since September 2007.
She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Sao Paulo Apostolo in Brazil and a certificate in Early Childhood Education from the Early Childhood Institute, Inc.
