Experienced, Passionate Educators

Ms. Stef brings passion, creativity, and over 15 years of experience inspiring young musicians. A graduate of the University of Maryland, College Park, she holds her 90-hour preschool, infant, and toddler certification in Child Development and Curriculum. Since 2005, she has led engaging preschool music and movement programs throughout the Washington, D.C. area.

A lifelong musician and mother of four, Ms. Stef also teaches piano, guitar, and voice in her private studio. Her classes blend classical, contemporary, and global influences to spark joy, curiosity, and creativity in every child.

Drama specialist with decades of experience putting on productions for all ages 

Brian “Mr. B” Waitzman is a passionate preschool music teacher with a 25-year career in music, education, and performance. He creates engaging classes that help young children develop language, listening, coordination, and confidence through interactive songs, rhythms, and instruments.

Mr. B teaches music enrichment at three preschools across the DMV and also runs a private lesson studio. When he’s not teaching, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children and performing with several bands—including a funk group and a fun yacht rock cover band.

Coach Jake has been teaching soccer and other sports for the last 5 years. In college, he worked at Soccer Shots, where he introduced the game to kids while also making sure they had as much fun as possible. Since he started coaching full time, he has worked with numerous preschools, daycares, and private groups, and ensures that every child has the best possible experience while learning new sports. We know that physical activity is essential for healthy development and Mr. Jake has made teaching PE and healthy movement habits not only his passion but also his career! 
 

Tanner Fant is a professional dancer, choreographer, and educator dedicated to inspiring creativity through movement. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Alabama with a degree in Dance and a minor in psychology, she has performed internationally and trained with renowned companies including Giordano Dance Chicago. Ms Tanner now teaches creative movement and beginner dance classes throughout the DMV and serves as adjunct faculty at George Mason University. She is passionate about making dance accessible to all ages and abilities, helping students build confidence, creativity, and self-expression.

Ms. LouAnn is a certified yoga instructor who brings mindfulness, movement, and joy to students of all ages. With a background in early elementary education and psychology, she combines her passion for teaching with yoga’s powerful mind–body connection. LouAnn is a 200-hour certified instructor and also holds a 140-hour certification in Warriors and Trauma-Sensitive Yoga. Her classes focus on flowing movement, breathing, and building strength together in a supportive community. She especially loves working with children, blending yoga, mindfulness, and playful exploration.

Ms. Gaby is a native Spanish speaker from Ecuador with over 10 years of experience working with preschool children in the United States. Before moving to the U.S., she owned and operated Humanitos Child Development Center, where she developed programs that nurtured early learning and curiosity. Ms. Gaby now shares her passion for language by teaching Spanish through playful, hands-on activities that introduce culture, vocabulary, and STEAM-inspired learning. She loves helping children discover how fun and natural learning a new language can be, often incorporating nature and outdoor exploration into her classes.

Things that are trendy in the college and career space are helping students explore who they are, what they care about, and what their real options are after high school. The college landscape has changed significantly post-covid and with AI in the mix. 

Hi from Ms. Kim! I can’t wait to be part of your Art Enrichment program. I love bringing in different elements to the art classroom, using outside the box materials and focusing on developing the confidence of the artist inside of all of us. As Bob Ross says, there are no mistakes in art, only happy accidents! And, I would add, lots of fun! That’s my philosophy to teaching art to my favorite age, preschoolers!

Alison Bawek is the owner and director of the Studio of Ballet Arts Ltd/SBADC. She started dance at the age of four training under the Royal Academy of Dance. As a young child, she performed in various ballet companies and studied with the Vienna State Opera Ballet Company in Austria. She attended Montgomery College and Corcoran College of Art and Design where her focus was dance, theatre and art. Alison began teaching dance in 1993. She dedicates herself to nurturing the love of dance with all her students and teachers. Alison creates an inspiring and supportive environment in the dance room and believes we were all born to dance.