Teachers & Staff
Our staff members are highly qualified and serve as positive role models and learning facilitators. All lead teachers have college degrees, including early childhood coursework. Additionally, all staff are required to attend continuing education training each year. Our assistants are experienced and educated in early childhood education. Teachers and assistants work together as teaching teams, facilitating a positive and rich learning environment.
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We have dedicated office staff who also serve as a positive part of the ECC experience. They take the time to get to know the children and parents, and assist the teachers as needed.
Bailey Falcone, Director
Bailey has been the Director of ECC since 2013 and is committed to the school’s play based philosophy. Bailey knows that for many of our students, coming to ECC is their first school experience and she strives to cultivate a nurturing school community. ECC’s small class sizes ensure that teachers and staff are able to get to know each child and foster their love of learning as they are continually challenged academically in developmentally appropriate ways. As Director, Bailey ensures that cognitive and social emotional learning is integrated into purposeful play activities throughout the day.
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As a school, ECC is fortunate to have families from diverse cultures and backgrounds and because of this Bailey believes we have the opportunity to foster cultural awareness in our young learners. Our school community embraces diversity, equity, inclusion and justice. Each individual's experiences are shaped by many factors and this variety of backgrounds allows us to grow stronger as a community.
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Bailey earned her degree in Elementary Education from Elon University with a certification in Early Childhood Administration. She began her career teaching Head Start and Kindergarten before moving into Early Childhood Administration. She lives in Rockville with her family including an exuberant dog.
Sarah Gilbert, Assistant Director
Sarah joined the ECC staff in 2022. She is a former ECC parent who loved the great sense of community, amazing school staff, and play-based philosophy at the school. She was happy to take on the roll of Assistant Director and again be a part of the community.
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Sarah graduated from Goucher College with a degree in Art. She worked for ten years in Development and Board Relations at the Baltimore Museum of Art before starting a family and deciding to spend time at home with her young daughters. She lives in Gaithersburg with her husband, daughters and puppy.
Pearl Chu, Lead Teacher
Pearl believes that every child deserves to feel heard, valued, and supported by both the adults in their lives and their peers. She creates a classroom environment where creativity and self-expression are part of everyday learning. Whether children are exploring materials, playing with language, or sharing their ideas, Pearl encourages curiosity and imagination in a nurturing space where they feel safe to take risks and grow.
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She holds a Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech as well as a degree in Early Childhood Education. Pearl brings over 25 years of experience working with young children in various settings. Her background includes roles at Gymboree Play and Music, teaching in Sunday school programs, and serving as both a preschool teacher and school administrator. Pearl lives with her husband, their two children, and a labradoodle. She enjoys thinking creatively and helping children do the same by sparking new ideas, building confidence, and inspiring a lifelong love of learning.
Denise Harvey, Lead Teacher
Denise started working at ECC in 2015 when her daughter entered first grade. She began as an Assistant Teacher in Afternoon Adventures and substituting in all of the classes. Over the years she has taught in all ages and is now in the 2's class and enjoying getting to know the children of all ages at ECC as they grow!
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With a BA in Psychology and MS in Counseling Education, Denise believes learning can only begin once a foundation of safety and comfortability is established. She strives to provide these important factors every day in the classroom.
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After growing up in upstate New York, Denise and her husband Todd moved to Phoenix. As they welcomed their daughter, they searched for a more diverse environment to raise her and have found Rockville to be the ideal place for them. Denise understands that love and understanding is the most important part of any family and wants all to feel welcome at ECC!
Stephanie Schaefer, Lead Teacher
Stephanie brings creativity and enthusiasm to her work with young children, designing activities that build on their interests and abilities to foster learning through exploration and play. She likes to get down on the floor to participate and engage with preschoolers, developing a warm teacher-child relationship. Stephanie works to support children’s positive social and emotional development and skill-building to manage their feelings and learn how to get along with their peers.
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Stephanie has twelve years of experience in early childhood classrooms, working with children aged two to five. She holds a B.A. in psychology from Drew University, as well as an M.S. and Ph.D. in human development and family studies from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. In addition to teaching, she provides professional support to early childhood educators through policy advocacy, training, and coaching. Stephanie lives in Silver Spring with her husband and their two sons, ages 17 and 22, who make her laugh daily and keep her updated on teen slang.
Marjorie Halbrook, Assistant Teacher
Marjorie is the newest member of ECC, having joined the staff in the Fall of 2025. Originally from Mexico, she is fluent in Spanish and has a conversational proficiency in French. Marjorie earned a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the University of Michigan and a Master’s degree in Book Arts from George Washington University’s Corcoran College of Art and Design.
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Prior to joining ECC, Marjorie practiced residential architecture in Washington, D.C., for five years. When she and her husband relocated out of the city, she chose to become a stay-at-home parent to focus on raising her children. Her involvement in early childhood education began when her son attended a co-op where she volunteered in the classroom.
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Since moving to Rockville a year ago, Marjorie has been excited to continue working in the early education environment. Outside of work, her hobbies include exercise, baking bread, reading, and being creative with arts and crafts. She lives at home with her husband, son, and daughter.
Kelly Lapides, Assistant Teacher
Kelly is a former ECC parent who joined the staff in 2024. She loved ECC’s play-based learning, wonderful staff and caring teachers and is excited to be a part of the community again. She believes in positive encouragement and helping the children learn and thrive in the classroom.
Kelly graduated from Denison University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in History. She worked for ten years in marketing and advertising before deciding to stay at home full time with her two children. She lives in Rockville with her husband, two kids and dog.
Alyce Troche, Assistant Teacher
Alyce joined ECC in the Spring of 2025. She witnessed children learning vital skills through play and guidance from teachers that wholeheartedly delighted in watching them grow. She could not be happier to be a part of the ECC staff!
She attended Central Michigan University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music. She taught music classes in a public middle school setting, privately as a flute instructor and led children’s ensembles in the community for several years. Alyce lives in Rockville with her husband and 8-year old son. Her favorite ways to lose track of time are through gardening, camping, hiking, biking, crafting and enjoying music.
Rashelle Woodson, Assistant Teacher
Rashelle is a former ECC parent who joined the staff in 2024. She first became acquainted with ECC during her son's preschool years, and being brand new to the area, she was impressed with the warmth and inclusion the school offered to her family. After such a welcoming experience, she furthered her school involvement; joining the board, becoming a substitute, and then becoming an Assistant Teacher.
Rashelle has over 20 years of experience in management and leadership. She spent many years with Estee Lauder Companies in management and education. After moving across the country and settling in Rockville, Rashelle enjoys time with her two young children, exploring Maryland and getting involved in the community through their schools and activities.
Laura Melia, Lead Teacher
Laura received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland, College Park and taught kindergarten for five years in the Archdiocese of Washington. After taking time at home to raise her own children, she worked as a substitute at the preschool where her children had gone. Laura very much enjoyed working with three- and four-year-old children and returned to part-time teaching in the Fall of 2021. She is excited to be working with the four-year-olds this year and is so happy to be a part of the ECC community.
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Laura lives in Germantown with her husband and three children, two teenage daughters (both in high school), and a ten-year-old son. They have two cats and a Bernese mountain dog. In her free time, she enjoys running, the outdoors, yoga, gardening, spending time at the beach, and being with her family and friends.