Saint Charles
Early Childhood Education Center
"Sharing in the Wonder of God's Creation"
Meet the Teachers
4 Year Old
Program
Junior Kindergarten
MRS. SIMMONS
Angels Lead
Mrs. Simmons is excited to begin her sixth year at St. Charles! She was raised in Arlington and is so happy to be teaching in the same Diocese where she was a student. Mrs. Simmons earned her Bachelor’s Degree from East Carolina University in Family Community Services with a concentration in Early Childhood Intervention. She then worked for the University in their Child Development Lab developing and implementing a new curriculum. Mrs. Simmons is truly in her element working with preschool children and can’t wait for a great year with the Angels!
MS. SPRATT
Angels Assistant
Ms. Spratt is excited to begin her third year at St. Charles! She welcomes every child every day with a caring and nurturing approach and brings 13 years of training and experience in early education in the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. Ms. Spratt loves to work with children. She’s originally from Pakistan, speaks Urdu and Hindi, and is the mother of two wonderful sons educated in the Diocese of Arlington schools. Ms. Spratt is glad to be a part of the St. Charles family.
MRS. NANDE
Turtles Lead
5 Day Class
Mrs. Nande is excited for her third year as the lead in the Turtles class! She moved to the USA with her husband and children sixteen years ago from India. She went to Catholic school and college. She has a degree in Economics (Honors) from Mumbai University. She obtained her CDA in 2006. She has been teaching for nineteen years, sixteen at St. Philip ECC as lead teacher, and extended day & summer camp director, and two years in Mumbai. She has taught both three and four year olds: "I like teaching this age group as they are so spontaneous in their response and genuine. There's a lot one can learn from them." She has two sons; one is an Engineer and the other a Scientist. She is looking forward to a great school year!
MS. SPRING
Turtles Assistant
5 Day Class
Mrs. Momayyez, known as Ms. Spring to our students, is beginning her 5th year here at St. Charles. She has enjoyed working with the children in Aftercare, and is so happy to be the Turtles' Classroom Assistant this year! The children benefit greatly from Ms. Spring's nurturing manner and sunny disposition!
4 Year Old Program
MS. DIAZ
Sunflowers Lead
5 Day Class
Ms. Diaz feels honored to join the St. Charles team as the Lead Teacher for the Sunflowers classroom. She has recently moved to Northern Virginia from New Jersey, and is excited to learn all there is about this state. Ms. Diaz was a Catholic school PreK teacher in Jersey City, NJ for the past 4 years and has been to Catholic school her whole life. She received her Masters in Elementary Education from Saint Peter’s University in May 2017, and is very passionate about teaching and creating a happy and nurturing environment for her students. Ms. Diaz loves to travel and create memories with her family. She is also fluent in both Spanish and English. She can’t wait to begin the new year!
MS. MA
Sunflowers Assistant
5 Day Class
Ms. Ma is a long time teacher's assistant at St. Charles and mother to an alum. She is looking forward to working with four-year-olds in the Sunflower class again. Ms. Ma loves the great experience of working with children and helping them learn and grow effectively in a safe and loving environment and is very grateful for the opportunity.
3 Year Old Program
MS. HELEN
Busy Bees Lead
5 Day Class
Ms. Helen is excited to join the St. Charles team as the Busy Bee Lead Teacher for the 2023-2024 school year. Growing up in Arlington and attending both Saint Agnes Catholic School and Bishop Denis J O'Connell High School, she is happy and looking forward to working in the same community. She has a bachelor's degree in History with a minor in Religious Studies from Randolph College. This will be her first year teaching and she is very excited to have the opportunity to provide a safe and nurturing environment for her students. When not in the classroom she loves to travel, spend time with friends and family, and enjoy the world around her.
MS. LUZ
Busy Bees Assistant
5 Day Class
Ms.Luz is originally from Colombia, and came to the USA in August 2019. She was part of the Colombian Army for more than 20 years and achieved a ranking of Colonel. She has a bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communications and a Master Degree in International Relations. During her time serving the Army she was especially close to children in need. Once in the US, she started working in one of the Montessori Schools in Arlington, and it’s her first year at Saint Charles. She believes that teaching with love and support can go a long way. She enjoys to exercise and read, and has 2 wonderful daughters, one is a Master Degree in Political Science, and working at a university in Munich, Germany. The other lives with her in the US and is in Middle School. Ms.Luz is very grateful with God for the opportunity to join the Saint Charles family.
MS. IRIARTE
Apples Co-Lead
5 Morning Class
Ms. Iriarte has spent many years teaching in the Happy Apples/Frogs classroom. She began as an assistant in the Busy Bees class, while earning her CDA. It is a joy for her to lead the 3-day and 2-day three-year-olds. She has two daughters, both of whom are St. Charles graduates.
MS. KATE
Apples Co-Lead
5 Morning Class
This is Ms. Kate's sixth year teaching at St. Charles. She grew up in Arlington and attended Mary Baldwin College, where she studied Early Childhood Education. Ms. Kate has been working with children for over fifteen years, and is excited to be back at St. Charles and working with the Apples. She is married with two boys at St. Agnes School.
MRS. LECKEY
Butterflies Lead
5 Morning Class
Mrs. Leckey is married with two wonderful daughters, both in college and both graduates of St. Charles. It is through her involvement and volunteer work in her children’s activities and schools that Mrs. Leckey entered the fun world of early childhood education. She taught science at another Arlington preschool for several years before coming to the Butterfly class when St. Charles first introduced the three-year-old program in 2007. She has been in the Butterfly classroom ever since, now in her fifteenth year. “I feel the spirit of St. Charles most,” Mrs. Leckey says, “when I am laughing out loud with the happy three-year-olds.”
MS. CHIARI
Butterflies Assistant
5 Morning Class
Ms. Chiari is in her fifteenth year as the assistant in the Butterfly class. She previously worked in a Montessori program, but St. Charles Preschool was blessed by her decision to come work with our children. Ms. Chiari has also been a teacher for the preschool summer camp for the past few years. She has three children, two of whom are graduates of St. Charles School.
2 Year Old Program
MS. SKARLET
Guppies Lead
2, 3, 5 Morning Class
Ms. Skarlet is very excited for her first year as a lead teacher. This will be her fourth year working at St.Charles, the past three years she has been an assistant teacher for the 2's and 3 year old classroom. Ms. Skarlet is a summer graduate from George Mason University. She received her B.A in psychology and is planning on going back to get her Masters in Social Work. She looks forward to creating beautiful memories with her students and can't wait to meet them. When not in the classroom Ms. Skarlet enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends.
MS. TATIANA
Guppies Assistant
2, 3, 5 Morning Class
Ms. Tatiana is excited to work her second year with the 2s. She is fluent in Spanish and English. She attended Catholic school her whole life. Ms. Tatiana is a college student attending Trinity Washington University. Majoring in criminal justice and minoring in psychology. After graduating she will like to attend law school. She is thrilled to be able to learn and grow with the children. She likes working with the 2s because they develop their personalities and start to grasp the understanding of their feelings and others. She loves traveling, trying new food, and spending time with family and friends. She can’t wait to meet each and everyone of you!
MS. LYNETTE
Ducklings Lead
5 Day Class
Ms. Lynette was born and raised in Washington, DC. She received both her Associates and Bachelors degrees in Biblical Studies. She has had extensive experience working with children at Lasalle Middle School in DC and at Reid Temple Christian Academy, and she is thrilled to begin her third year at St. Charles. She strives to provide a professional environment for her students and families, and most of all she loves teaching the word of God.
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MS. JUHEI
Ducklings Assistant
5 Day Class
Ms. Juhei is so excited to begin her second year at St. Charles and first year as the Ducklings class assistant! She is excited to welcome in the 2s with lots of love and support for their developmental growth. She is currently a full time student at George Mason University, majoring in Early Childhood Education and completing a Master’s of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Early Childhood. She loves the community of St. Charles and all the love and fun that it is filled with by the children.
MS. JUANA
Hummingbirds Lead
5 Day Class
Mrs. Juana was born and raised in Bogota, Colombia. She graduated from the Universidad Sergio Arboleda (Bogota) with a degree in Business. She has been working at St. Charles since October 2019. She began as a teacher assistant to the Penguins and Owls class for the 2’s for 3 years. Last year, she began her new role as the lead teacher for the Hummingbirds class and has loved every second of it. She enjoys playing an active role during the most precious/pivotal years of tremendous growth of a child. Mrs. Juana is compassionate, driven, and believes that a child thrives best in a caring and nurturing environment. She currently lives in Falls Church with her husband and daughter (who is a graduate of St. Charles). Mrs. Juana enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her friends and family. She is excited to start her second year as a lead teacher!
MS.KIM
Hummingbirds Assistant
5 Day Class
Ms. Kim is originally from Vietnam, and came to the United States in March of 1998. She has one son (who graduated from St. Charles). She has 18 years of experience working with children of all ages. She began working at St. Charles School in the Extended Day program in 2006 and we are delighted to have her continue with us in our preschool program. She loves working with children because "they bring me a lot of love, peace, laughter, joy and happiness."