In this small group of 12 children with 4 primary teachers and a part-time afternoon teacher, our children receive lots of individual attention! As the first experience in a school setting for most of our children, the children work on developing friendships, building a sense of community, and learning to say goodbye to parents and reunite with them at the end of the day. Children this age are learning who they are as separate from the adults in their lives. They are interested in interacting with others but are most interested in pleasing themselves and have a hard time understanding other children’s perspectives. They spend most of their time engaged in parallel play—when they work with a similar material or activity alongside another child without necessarily cooperating in their play together. Towards the end of the year, children begin to play cooperatively more often. The teachers work to create a calm, interesting, and fun classroom where routines help children feel safe and nurtured. This is also the room where children work on becoming fully potty-trained, which is a big step towards independence!
Bluebirds Teachers
Susan Carney earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development: Early Childhood Education and Administration and has 31 years of experience working with children not only as a teacher, but also as a nanny, curriculum specialist, and in administration.
For as long as she can remember, she wanted to work with young children. In her own words: “Over the years, I have gained valuable experience through exposure to a variety of curricula, educational philosophies, and approaches to play-based learning. I believe that children learn best through play and meaningful experiences, and I am especially inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, which encourages curiosity, creativity, and exploration.
“One of the most rewarding parts of teaching is being a part of each child’s learning journey and watching them make connections as they discover more about themselves and the world around them.”
Rachel Egen previously worked as a research and education policy analyst and as an environmental education instructor at an outdoor education center in Massachusetts before joining the TCS staff 2 years ago.
She calls teaching at TCS “a joy” and explains why: “We all grow and change throughout our lives, but I think essential aspects of our personalities emerge very early. TCS’ (and Reggio’s) respect for individuality, and for the central importance of play and experimentation, allows us, as teachers, the incredible freedom to get to know each student as a person with their own interests and ideas.”
She holds a BA in History from Vassar College and completed some Master’s coursework in History at University of Delaware. When she’s not teaching, she’s playing ultimate frisbee and trying to learn the banjo.
Natashia Hagans has 27 years of teaching experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Sojourner Douglass College.
She says, “I love exploring with children their growth in social, physical, and emotional development. Watching children learn to think of others’ needs and work together as a classroom community gives me hope for our world.”
Stefany Jarquin earned her Bachelor’s degree in Family & Human Services from Towson University, interned at Johns Hopkins Hospital’s Pediatric Oncology Unit, and worked as a sports camp counselor before starting at TCS 2 years ago.
She cites the “abundance of materials available both in the classroom and on the playground, which allows children to explore, create, and express themselves” as one of the things she loves most about teaching at TCS. “Having access to these open-ended materials encourages them to showcase their individuality, creativity, and innovative thinking every day.”
Floater/Bluebirds Closer
John Appiah-Duffell is a community organizer, facilitator, activist, and artist based in Greenbelt, MD. Prior to joining TCS in 2026, he taught elementary school students in Zomba, Malawi and worked as a Child Development Associate through DC’s Southeast Children’s Fund.
He loves working at TCS for the ability to “join the children’s joyful interrogation of the world around us! Children possess a deep desire to understand their world, and I get to walk with them at the beginning of a lifelong journey of discovery. One of the treasures in that journey is humor, which at its best is rooted in observation and thoughtful questioning; as an educator, I take so much joy in sharing and amplifying the laughter that children find in the unexpected.”
In addition to being a proud papa of a fifth grader in Prince George’s County Public Schools, John has more than a decade of experience making gourmet ice cream. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies/Comparative Religion from the University of Washington.