Meet our staff

Our Director

Dear Parents, Welcome to Serendipity Learning Center. My name is Jenn Contreras. I am the Director of Serendipity Learning Center. For your children, every experience is a learning opportunity. They learn from everything they see, hear, smell, feel and taste in addition to what they’re exposed to and who they interact with. One of the positive effects of working with children is that they have ample opportunities to interact with their peers who have different abilities and interests.

I have an extensive background in Early Childhood Education and interacting with young children. I believe that it is best to maintain a positive outlook and focusing on areas of improvement and future goals rather than the challenges we face. I strongly believe that positivity goes a long way and tends to influence others so you may also make the children, peers, and coworkers happier as well. I have always felt an overwhelming amount of joy being around children.

It is my distinct honor to have the opportunity to serve you and your child. My personal belief is that every child can learn. As educators, it is our responsibility to provide each of them with an equal opportunity to succeed in school and to fully prepare them for kindergarten. Our success is based on your child’s success. I am fully committed to this role and will continue to work collaboratively with my staff to ensure each family and child has a positive early educational experience.

Collaboration and communication are very important aspects of school success and teamwork. I believe in open communication, and I will always leave my door open for you. I am fully committed to quality education and will continue to dedicate my time to serve the children and families here in Montclair and surrounding towns.

I look forward to meeting and getting to know you and your child~

Sincerely,

Jenn Contreras

Ms. Flaudia Tavarez

Ms. Flaudia has over 20 years of experience in Child care.

“As a proud mother and a fun grandmother, it is extremely rewarding to work with kids. Especially working with kids 8 weeks to 18 months, I get to see them hit the important milestones in early childhood development such as walking, talking, teething, eating solid food, etc. Working with children and watching them grow will always be something I love doing.”

Ms. Ayda Correa

Ms. Ayda has over 18 years of experience working as a child care educator.

“I enjoy working with kids because they are so sweet and honest. They need guidance from adults who can care for them, understand them and be patient while they learn and discover. I enjoy teaching them different ways to look and experience the word.”

Ms. Rebecca Esteva (Ms. Becca)

Ms. Becca is currently a student at Rutgers University in Newark; currently enrolled in two majors; Anthropology and Social Work. She has been working with kids for 2+ years

“I love working with children because they are so positive, funny and creative. Being able to be a part of their lives and to see them grow is what makes teaching worth it. From potty training to learning the alphabet, seeing kids get excited over learning something new is why I love working with kids. I plan to continue working with children, families and other communities.”

Ms Gigi

Lead Teacher of the 2-3 year old (Busy bees) Classroom.

Ms. Gigi received a Child Development Associate in 2008 and has been working with kids for over 13 years.

OUR STAFF

Our talented and caring teachers bring rich experience, professional expertise and inspiring dedication to Serendipity Learning Center. We are fortunate to have some of the brightest and best teachers from the New Jersey area. All prospective lead teachers must have an Associates, Bachelors, Master’s degree or CDA (Child Development Associate). Serendipity also offers an Internship and C.I.T Program. We partner with local and surrounding colleges in hiring students in the field of education. Our C.I.T program is offered to Senior High School students during the summer. They are shadowed by our Teachers and it gives them an insight into becoming future teachers if they are considering this as a profession.

At Serendipity, we believe it is essential to build on our teachers’ extensive formal training with ongoing professional development. Our teachers are engaged in workshops and team building throughout the year. Serendipity's goal is to create a cohesive relationship amongst parents, co-workers and administrators for the wellbeing of our little ones.

Learning in partnership is essential in what makes for an excellent early childhood teacher. It allows for shared experiences, growth and quality care in and around the center. All teachers are CPR, First Aid and AED Infant/Child Certified. Prospective teachers MUST meet the required background check set forth by Children and Families Services of New Jersey Licensing, which includes Fingerprint, (C.A.R.I) Child Abuse, Physical & TB test, and Drug test.

Parent Contact

We are thrilled you have chosen Serendipity for your childcare needs. Everything you need to get started can be found on this page. We encourage you to reach out to us via email or phone to set up a time for you to come tour one of our childcare centers. This will give you an opportunity to see our classrooms, meet our awesome director and the incredible staff. We will answer any and all questions you may have, discuss availability and, of course, how we can meet your family’s needs. Please bring your children along as we would love to meet them!

If any of the information included is unclear or if you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.

Ms. Jasmine Edge

Lead teacher of our 3–5 year old (Fantastic 4) Classroom.

Ms. Jasmine has a Child Development Associate and has been an early child educator for 5 ½ years.

“I am the proud mother of a 10 year old. One of the things I enjoy about teaching is watching my students grow and learn along the way. We truly teach each other”