Chloe Amore Kaplan is a fourth generation Washingtonian who launched Amore Learning in 2016 to bring a love of learning to children, families, and educators in the DC area. With a Bachelor's in Child Development from Tufts University and a Master’s in Childhood Education from NYU, Chloe began to create after-school programs in high school at Sidwell Friends. She then went on to become an Omidyar/Tisch Scholar, bringing similar programs to the Boston area. A former Kindergarten teacher, Chloe is the daughter of a small business owner, and brought together her passion for education with an entrepreneurial spirit to create Amore!

Lizzie Pichowicz is a dynamic special education teacher who makes learning accessible, fresh, and inspiring for her students. She graduated from the University of Maryland with her B.S. in Elementary & Middle Special Education, where she taught at The Center For Young Children. Currently, Lizzie is a Fien Reading Fellow at the University of Florida as she pursues her M.Ed in Reading & Dyslexia Education. Lizzie’s known to cultivate “all the good vibes'' with her learners and their families! You can find her on Instagram @the.good.vibes.teacher.

Alli Sattler grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and is currently studying mathematics and secondary education at American University. Alli has spent the past five summers at a day camp working with seven and eight-year-olds. In addition, she has tutored both high school and college students in various math subjects. In her spare time, she loves playing tennis, reading, cooking, baking, and exploring DC. Alli is extremely passionate about education and working with kids, and she’s very excited to join the Amore team!

Coach Michael Johnson is a DC native who received a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science and Fitness Management from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and he has taught Physical Education in Washington, DC for more than 5 years. He has a tremendous passion for teaching children how to actively engage in learning different sporting activities, and for encouraging men of color to stay in the classroom. You can catch Coach Mike on the courts and fields at Volta Park coaching basketball and soccer!

Colleen Reilly, a NJ native, received a BA in Fine Art from West Virginia University. Her love of art led her into the field of visual merchandising and hospitality, allowing her to explore living in Philadelphia, NYC, and, for the past six years, DC. During the pandemic, Colleen decided to pursue a career in early childhood development. Earning her Masters in Early Childhood Education from American University and teaching preschool. Colleen brings her love of art, creative thinking, and exploring the unknown to her classroom. In her free time, you can find Colleen practicing yoga, exploring DC on her bike, and spending time wandering museums for inspiration to bring into the classroom.

Emily (Emi) Erickson is an actor, teaching artist, voice coach, and multi-instrumentalist new to the Washington, DC area after nearly a decade in New York. She received her BFA in Drama and a BS in Mathematics from NYU before completing her MFA in Classical Acting at GWU. Emily has worked as a teacher and tutor with a variety of organizations specializing in standardized test preparation, theater arts, sports and athletics, music, and more. This fall, she can be seen performing in People, Places, & Things at Studio Theatre.

Helena Dramm is from Upstate New York and is currently a rising junior at American University, studying to earn her degree in Elementary Education. She is especially passionate about working with students and helping them achieve their goals and find their strengths. Helena is constantly filled with joy and gratitude every time she enters a classroom and gets to be surrounded by the young and brilliant minds within it. Building a community is incredibly valuable to her and she is thrilled to become a part of the Amore team. In her free time, you can find Helena exploring the DMV area, going on hikes, attending concerts, learning new languages, creating art, picking up a new sport, and playing music.

Karen Bralove, a native Washingtonian, is a graduate of Holton-Arms School and Vassar College. She created the Drama Dept. in the Upper School at Sidwell Friends and taught there for 24 years. For the past several years she has been substitute teaching at Sidwell in both the Lower School and Middle School. She feels energized working with the youngest kids. What could be more fun than finding things in the classroom that begin with the letter "B?" She lives in Bethesda with her dog, Bellina, and luckily, lives 10 minutes away from all 4 of her grandkids.

Keisha Henderson is an alumna of Howard University, where she studied education. After graduating, she embarked on a fulfilling career in teaching, which has spanned over 26 years. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., she has always had a deep connection to this vibrant city and its diverse communities. She strongly believes in the power of education to empower students and shape their futures. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to fostering strong community relationships that support and uplift her students. By creating a nurturing and inclusive environment, she strives to help each student reach their full potential and achieve success.

Khail Toi Bryant discovered her love for acting and the arts at age four, and is committed to inspiring a love of learning in kids at a young age. She has performed at both the White House and in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with the Alvin Ailey School and starred in over 50 national commercials––one of which she received an Emmy for at the age of 6. Bryant has also starred in films such as “The Perfect Holiday,” “Alex Strangelove,” and “See You Yesterday,” as well as The Lion King on Broadway for 3 years. Khail also graduated Magna Cum Laude from Brown University, and she now joins us as a Broadway teacher!

Maura Barry is an experienced elementary teacher with a love of incorporating mindfulness into her teaching. Maura graduated from Miami University with a degree in Early Childhood Education and a certificate in Teaching English Language Learners in 2013. Maura taught as a classroom teacher in Kindergarten, First, Second grade, ESL, special education resource teacher. Maura is the proud new mom to baby Connor and loves spending time with her dog Sonny!

Sarah Watkins is a senior at American University studying Biochemistry. She is from Central Pennsylvania, where she spent time tutoring students and volunteering in her community. Sarah is passionate about the outdoors, science, and creating art. In her free time, Sarah loves to go caving, hiking, listen to podcasts, and study chemistry. By creating a cohesive and enjoyable learning environment, she hopes to foster students to reach their full potential and inspire future learning.

David Shepard is a national sports talk radio host, educator, and coach in the NYC area. He has worked at Spence, Calhoun, Goddard Community Center, Spruce Street School, City School For the Arts, Goddard Riverside Community School, and for Teach for America in Memphis, TN. David became the first in his profession to host a national terrestrial radio show (CBS Sports Radio), league-sponsored station show (SiriusXM NBA Radio), largest local sports market in the country (WFAN), and has been a writer for a national sports website. He currently hosts a weekly national radio show on CBS Sports Radio which has become the largest major market sports radio channel in the world.

Kora Quintana is a recent graduate of the Gallatin School of Individualized Study at New York University, where she studied the process of growing up through the lens of psychology, early education, and storytelling. Throughout her studies, she worked with children in a variety of settings including a non-profit early education center, a governmental agency, a clinical treatment group, and a public elementary school. Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, she is now looking to incorporate those foundational influences into her work with children through nature therapy and education.

Saige Kratenstein grew up in New Jersey and currently resides in New York City working in the financial field. She graduated from the University of Maryland, specializing in marketing and minoring in professional writing. She tutored writing in college, and also worked as a teaching assistant. In her free time, she loves to read, run, try new restaurants, and travel to new places.

Emmaline Dewitt is a native of Savannah, Georgia and currently lives in Austin, TX. She has a Masters in Elementary Education from American University and has more than eight years of experience working with children. Having taught in DC at Jewish Day School, in California at Oakland Hebrew Academy Day School, and now in Austin at Tamim Academy, Emmaline is thrilled to launch Amore Austin!

Abby Maslin is a passionate and seasoned educator with a remarkable 15-year career in public schools, focused on elementary and special education. Her forte lies in crafting engaging language arts curricula and fostering the growth of young writers. As an accomplished author, Abby's belief in empowering students to become active partners in their learning journey is evident through her dedication to building strong relationships and nurturing their unique strengths. She holds a bachelor's degree from St. Mary's College of Maryland and master's degrees in creative arts therapy from Drexel University and elementary education from American University. You can read more about Abby at abbymaslin.com.

Cristina Wurster has been in the education field for seventeen years, working with public and private schools in the DC area. Cristina is currently a Math Interventionist at Murch Elementary and taught third grade at Horace Mann Elementary for many years. Cristina developed a love for helping parents to select the best school fit for their children while helping with outplacement at Mann. She has also served as a Pre-K-8 Math Coordinator at Lowell School and helped and led seminars with parents in order to facilitate their own child's next steps after Lowell. She is excited to lend her expertise to the Amore team and work with DC families!

Casey is a Virginia native and teacher of six years. She started her teaching career in Harlan, Kentucky, where she taught 6-8 grade language arts for three years with Teach For America. Casey then moved to D.C. and earned a master's in Education and Human Development from George Washington University. She strives to cultivate a love of reading in all her students and is so happy to have found a home here at Amore!

Rowan Drant is a junior at Sidwell Friends School. He has played on his varsity tennis team for the last two years, and as a sophomore was elected captain. He has played tennis from a young age with his family and later competitively and loves helping others find their passion for tennis.

Courtney Wyatt is from Atlanta, Georgia and has a degree in Chemical Engineering and a minor in Mathematics from Howard University. Courtney is currently working toward a graduate degree in Public Health, and she will attend medical school in the fall. Her aspiration is to become a pediatric cardiologist. Courtney has always been passionate about teaching students, and encourages her students to learn through innovative and creative ideas.

Grace Buchanan is currently a student at American University studying International Relations. Originally from the suburbs of Detroit, Grace spent much of her middle and high school years tutoring students. Last summer, Grace worked in the education department of a small farm in Long Island teaching children of all ages about environmental and food systems. Grace, a fluent Spanish speaker, is excited to bring her passion for education to the Amore team!

Jakob Moberly was born and raised in the Chicagoland area and finished his education at the University of Kansas, studying music therapy and musicology. As a multi-instrumentalist, he focuses on the importance of studying the music elements and their impact on learning about sound, music, and the functional organization of music skills that cross over into other parts of life: teamwork, listening, cooperation, confidence, independence, and more. Jakob continues to pursue his career working as a music clinician and mentor, while also applying his skills in orchestral performances, compositional writing, and music research.

Katherine Randolph is a graduate of Georgetown University and holds a degree in American Studies with a thesis speciality in Children’s Literature. She started her career working in communications at Beauvoir, the National Cathedral Elementary School and currently works as a kindergarten partner teacher in DCPS. A Texas native, Katherine loves writing, snuggling with her cats, and playing softball with friends. As a teacher, she finds joy in helping students improve their writing, giving children tools to process their emotions, and meeting young learners where they are for engaging and exciting instruction.

Kelly Paton has been teaching in DCPS since 2016, and has taught first grade, kindergarten, and preschool. Kelly’s dream to work with kids all began in kindergarten, where she was inspired by her joyful classroom and teacher! Kelly graduated from Pepperdine University with a degree in Elementary Education and received her Masters in Early Childhood from the Relay Graduate School of Education. Kelly is originally from San Francisco, California and loves traveling the world, going to workout classes, and being an auntie of twelve!

Leila Antakly is a native Washingtonian, and she graduated from Communications at A.U. before earning a Master's degree in Fashion & Luxury Management from Bocconi in Milan, Italy. Leila has produced editorial shoots for Italian Vogue Magazine, films for HBO and National Lampoon, and taught English at Aziza's Place, a grassroots organization in Cambodia. She has worked with several small nonprofits supporting children all over the world including Sunflower Children Organization and Casita de Belen in Colombia. She also speaks fluent Spanish and Italian!

Mostafa Darban has over ten years of experience as a teacher and educational consultant. Mostafa has lived in Iran, Malaysia, Singapore, the UK, and now the US for the past decade. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering and is fluent in Persian. Now he teaches K-9 math, science, English, and social studies, specializing in comprehension, retention, and test-taking. He also supports students with special needs such as dyslexia, ADHD, and ASD.

Will Phillips is from Washington DC and is currently a junior at Georgetown University majoring in Math and Economics with a minor in Spanish. He attended Horace Mann Elementary School and graduated from Sidwell Friends School where he played varsity baseball and soccer. At Georgetown he is a math tutor for all levels, leads the club baseball team, works with the Special Olympics, and continues coaching and mentoring children with disabilities in the Northwest Little League Challenger program. He is happy to be on the team at Amore to share his love of math with his students!

Jill Levy is excited to be tutoring students in NYC! She completed her undergraduate degree at UT Austin, and two years ago she moved to New York to pursue a Masters in Childhood/Special Education at NYU. She currently teaches in Gramercy at Learning Spring School as a first grade teacher for students with autism. She is extremely passionate about teaching and strives to support her students' growth in academics and social emotional learning.

Lauren Messina was born and raised in the Westchester County, NY. She started working with children twenty years ago when her first child entered kindergarten. She is a certified Teaching Assistant registered with NYS Department of Education and works with kids from kindergarten through high school in all different capacities. She has also taught Arts & Crafts, Cheerleading, Fashion Club, Theatre & Movement, Woodworking, Building & Robotics, and more.

Bella Tartaglia is a student at the University of Connecticut studying Human Development and Family Sciences. Bella's passion for yoga goes beyond the physical postures; it encompasses mindfulness, self-awareness, and emotional well-being. Through age-appropriate practices, her goal is to foster self-confidence, promote relaxation, and encourage a love for movement and self-expression. She believes that introducing yoga to young minds can empower them to navigate life's challenges with grace and resilience. With a deep understanding of child development, Bella brings a holistic approach to her teaching.

Liz Rosenberg comes to Amore with over a decade of experience teaching in DC charter schools. She has a Masters in Early Childhood Teaching and is a Phi Beta Kappa member from her undergraduate experience at Oberlin College where she studied Sociology. Liz is fluent in Spanish and Italian, and continues her work as a polyglot studying French, Hebrew, and ASL. In her free time, you can find Liz deepening her yoga practice as a certified instructor or fiercely cheering on the Washington Nationals with her husband Mike and daughter Rose.

Meghan Bracewell, a native New Englander, has called Washington D.C. home for almost 20 years. A graduate from Amherst College, Meghan worked in state politics in Massachusetts before moving to DC to attend law school at Georgetown. Community involvement is very important to Meghan, and he has served as a Girls on the Run coach, on the Board of the DC Library Foundation, PTA President Horace Mann Elementary, Chair of the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) at Congressional, and lots more.

Lise Sanchez is a junior at Sidwell Friends which she has attended since kindergarten. She is on the varsity Sidwell Friends tennis team which is nationally ranked. She was a tennis teacher at St. Albans tennis camp during the summer. In her free time she enjoys baking, writing and tutoring elementary school students.

Starr Foster received her first tennis racket from the late great Arthur Ashe when she was four years old, and has had a passion for the game ever since. She teaches kids how to crush it on the courts and also the importance of being a true "Starr Player" through a curriculum developed in honor of Ashe, which combines on-court tennis skills and drills with court-side journaling and conversation about bravery, sportsmanship, respect, and kindness. Starr is also the co-founder of StarrMark Academy.

Ellen Walker, a native of Akron, OH, has lived and worked in the Washington, DC area for over 10 years. She received her Masters in Public Health, concentrating on Physical Activity in the Public Health Context and Epidemiology, from GWU in 2014. Ellen currently works as a mixed methods researcher who focuses on leveraging community voices for health equity and systems change. She conducts most of her research and evaluation in the areas of maternal and child health, health disparities, and reproductive health.

Graciela Rey is a Helen Hayes nominated actor, dancer, and educator who has performed in 13 professional productions since the pandemic. She has held a residency with DC Public Schools, led a masterclass workshop for the DC commission on the Arts and Humanities (DC CAH) and was a teacher on Harvard Project Zero’s ‘Children are Citizens’ initiative. She has choreographed or directed over 15 educational productions and has served as a grant panelist for the (DC CAH) dance fellowship. Graciela has instructional experience in elementary, secondary, and collegiate settings and is passionate about arts education!

Janel Hofmeister, a veteran educator, holds a Masters degree in Education and certifications in both Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education. In her 15 years of experience, she has taught in both public and private Montessori settings in cities across the US, including St. Louis, Detroit, Redmond (Washington), and Washington DC. Janel especially loves working with primary-aged students and is borderline obsessed with helping students unlock the magic that is reading! Outside of teaching, Janel enjoys reading voraciously, baking, crafting (especially crochet and embroidery), and hiking and camping with her partner and pup!

Kavita Maharajh-Ali is a rising senior at American University in the School of International Service. Her primary thematic area is International Development, and her secondary is Comparative Governance. She has a certificate in Global Human Rights from the University of Pennsylvania’s Carey School of Law, and a certificate in Implementing Sustainable Development Goals from Foundation for Environmental Stewardship. Kavita is proficient in Chinese, Spanish, and English, and is taking on her fourth language, Czech. She has worked with NGOs centered around helping youth in a developmental capacity and loves inspiring children through teaching.

Khadija Sahib was born in Morocco and raised between France and Morocco. She is a native speaker of French and Arabic. She has 8 years of teaching experience. Ms. Khadija is an AP/IB French literature teacher, and French1, French2, French3 teacher with MCPS. She studied Physics and Chemistry at University Abdelmalek Essaadi at Tetouan Morocco and also studied la littérature française at University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg VA. Ms Khadija is a lifelong learner and is pursuing her M.Ed at George Mason University.

Marti Jo Jackson is delighted to join the Amore team supporting children and their families. With decades of experience working in education, including teacher and school based administration, Marti Jo is eager to continue working with students. Her work experiences include elementary, secondary and university level education. Marti Jo earned a Master’s in K-12 Special Education, as well as a Master’s in Education Leadership.

Rachael Rabinovitz is originally from Massachusetts, and has lived in Virginia for just over a year. She has been teaching young children for fifteen years, and has her Masters Degree in Elementary Education. She is an actress in theatre and film, and has an enormous love and passion for the arts. She loves helping children become confident in their skills, and curious, engaged learners.

Originally from Maryland, Zubair Potter is a student at Capitol Technology University and is very passionate about teaching and learning. Zubair has been teaching coding and robotics in Baltimore for two years and is excited for the opportunity to teach in the nations capitol. Currently pursuing a B.S in Cyber Security, Zubair is very enthusiastic about all things tech and loves to start new projects every weekend. Zubair wishes to give children the opportunity to develop a love of learning tech in this digital age. By bringing creativity into the classroom, she believes that children are inspired to learn in their own unique ways.

Juliette Fratto grew up in Washington, DC and is now based in New York City. Juliette studied graphic design at Paris College of Art, but completed her degree in Textiles and Costume History at Parsons School of Design in New York. During the pandemic she discovered an interest in knitting and fiber arts after spending time in the Pennsylvania countryside. Despite being new to teaching, Juliette is extremely excited to join the Amore team to run Fashion Design classes!

Leo Canty is a graduate of the New School with honors in Anthropology and Religious Studies. He is a lifelong fan of literature. Ever since he was a child, he has loved reading and writing fiction of all genres, and his favorite thing to do is share that excitement and passion with students. Leo lives in New York and also plays in a band which just toured Europe. 

Sophia Jacobs, a recent graduate of American University, grew up in the suburbs of Connecticut and is now launching Amore CT! She found her passion for education through her work with the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI) where she was awarded the Angela R. Anderson Award by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. Sophia strongly believes that education is power, and allowing students to get excited about it is the first step to success! She is so excited to bring Amore to children and families in the Fairfield Country area.