Primrose School of Florham Park

Hello, my name is Desrae Howell.

I am 26 years old. My favorite color is green. My hobbies are singing, dancing and drawing. I also love to cook and bake.

I've worked with children for almost 6 years. I've worked as a preschool teacher and a head teachers, where I worked as a liason between teaching staff and administrative staff. I obtained both my Associates and Bachelor's degree from the University of Hartford. My Associates is in Liberal Arts with a Business Administration concentration and my Bachelor's is in Psychology with an emphasis in Infant and Child Development. 

My name is Marissa Faillace!

Some things that I enjoy doing outside of work include baking, knitting, watching tv, and playing with my dog. I have a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and am currently working on a Master's Degree in Elementary Educaion. I have been working with children for over 3 years and I love watching children get excited about new learning opportunities. 

I look forward to working with all of you! 

Ms. Lauren Trinh is part of our School Support Team! We are so happy to have her help our school in any way possible.

Ms.Trihn’s education is very important to her since she came from a war torn country where education wasn’t possible. Ms.Trihn graduated from Elizabeth High School then continued her education In Cranford NJ, earning her Associates in Applied Science.

In her fifteen years of working with middle and high school aged children, she has always encouraged them to be successful in their education.

We are excited to have Ms.Trihn as a part of the Primrose Family and look forward to having her grow with us!

Ms. Mary Basnayake is the Lead Infant I Teacher, at The Primrose School of Florham Park!

Ms. Basnayake has been teaching children of all ages for over 20 years. She moved to The United States from Sri Lanka, where she lead the Social Sciences department and taught grades 9-12. Since moving to the United States in 2008, Ms. Basnayake has worked at a Preschool as both a Teacher’s Assistant and Lead Teacher.

She has a Bachelor’s Degree in the Arts and obtained an Early Childhood Education Degree from the College of Staten Island. What Ms. Basnayake enjoys most about working with children is watching them learn and grow. Children are full of positive energy and she truly loves being around them! Ms. Basnayake is so excited to see her students meet new milestones each day. She said, "Working in a field I truly love, allows me to be a better mother and wife to my family because working with children makes me happy!"

She is looking forward to continuing her journey with The Primrose School of Florham Park. Ms. Basnayake can’t wait to see her young students learn and grow with her help and assistance.

In her spare time, Ms. Basnayake likes to cook her family's favorite dishes and decorate her home!

My name is Ebony and I have recently graduated from the College of New Rochelle with a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts.

Working with children has always been a passion of mine and I really enjoy watching their growth & seeing them become excited about school!

For the past few years I have enjoyed gaining experience with children through working as an assistant teacher in a NYC charter school, summer camp programs and most recently as a lead teacher for infants and toddlers.

I am so excited to join the Primrose School of Florham Park as a Teacher for Infant 1!

We are so happy to welcome Ms. Yolanda to our Primrose family! She comes to us with over 25 years’ experience in childcare!

She absolutely loves working with children! She is passionate about helping them reach their milestone & building long lasting relationships with their parents.

My name is Tanya Wallace. 

I am a loving wife, mother of 4 and grandmother of 3. I love to spend my quality time with my family, taking vacations and exploring other countries.  

I have been in the Education field for over 30 years. I have worked in the Newark Public School system as a Lead in the kitchen where I later went on to become a Special Education teacher’s Assistant/Paraprofessional. I also have experience as a Kindergarten teacher. Within the last 17 years, I have worked in Early Childhood education at the YMCA/ECC in Maplewood, NJ.  

I enjoy working with children because of the challenges that come with the job but the reward of helping a child succeed warms my heart and makes the work I do even more worthwhile. In doing the work as an Early Childhood educator, I get the chance to provide children with the necessary resources to move throughout their life even at very young age. Working with children has always been a passion of mine and I find an immense amount of joy in watching the students I’ve had reach their milestones throughout educating them.  

I am looking forward to continuing my journey as an educator here with the Primrose School of Florham Park. 

Ms. Jackie is SO excited to join our Infant 2 classroom! She comes with many years of experience; working at multiple summer camps and helping her mom run a successful babysitting business.

After graduating from Essex County College with an associate’s degree in business administration she realized her passion was helping children grow and learn!

We are excited to have Ms. Jackie part of our Primrose Family & can’t wait to see all the positive qualities she brings to Infant 2.

Ms.Theresa Samuel is one of our Lead Young Toddler Teachers. She has earned her B.A. from the College of New Rochelle while working for the New York City Board of Education. She has over 10 years of experience in the Early Childhood Education field. Ms. Samuel has a passion for working with children and feels she could never have enough time with them. Ms. Samuel has completed the New Jersey First Steps statewide Infant/Toddler Initiative course.

Ms. Samuel is a loving wife and a mother to two teenage boys. She enjoys traveling to Santorini and Aruba. They are here favorite places! Ms.Samuel loves to read a good novel and also enjoys expanding her knowledge and education in the Early Childhood field.

She is excited to be apart of the Primrose family and looks forward to delivering the best and most trusted Early Childhood Education experience and child care services to all families.

Ms.Fennell is our newest Associate Young Toddler Teacher. She is currently planning to attend school to specialize in "Special Education" and has spent years volunteering at several childcare centers. Ms. Fennell is known as a inspiring mentor for here peers and is also known for being a nurturing childcare educator. She has spent the last year as a teacher for the United Neighbors Childcare Center and is so excited to start her new chapter at the Primrose School of Florham Park. Since joining the Primrose School of Florham Park family in August of this year, Ms.Fennell has developed wonderful relationships with the children and families in her care and has been a team player for our school. She is always willing to go the extra mile for her students, our families, and our staff. We are so lucky to have Ms. Fennell as one of our Primrose teachers!

Ms. Janice White is our Lead Toddler Teacher. Ms. White graduated from Weeguahic High School and is a proud mother to her 3 wonderful sons: Bruce, Damian, and Jalen. Ms. White has worked in the Early Childhood Educationfield for over 10 years. She worked at the YMCA of Maplewood for 5 years where she worked with children from Infancy to Preschool. Ms. White also ran her own daycare at her home for the past 4 years where she gained a lot of experience in customer service, teaching, and all aspects of the education and childcare service industry.

Ms. White has a passion for teaching and caring for young children. She enjoys watching them learn and grow. We are looking forward to having her as a part of our Primrose School of Florham Park Family!

Ms. Santana is so excited to join our Toddler Classroom. She comes to us with many years of experience, working in a classroom as an assistant teacher.

She loves to help her students grow and learn new things everyday.

Ms. Santana has a true passion for working with children; They definitely bring a smile to her face all day long!

We are so excited to have her as part of our Primrose School of Florham Park Team!

Ms. Rashonda Johnson is our Lead Early Preschool I Teacher, at the Primrose School of Florham Park. She has been working in the Early Childhood Education Field for over 10 years with children of all ages.

She loves being a part of a child’s learning process. She enjoys seeing them smile when they learn something new. Ms. Johnson thinks it is such a joy to be around children and enjoys knowing she is a part of their learning process. Ms.Johnson takes pride in her students accomplishments especially when they meet their many milestones and grow socially, academically, and emotionally.

We are so happy to have Ms. Johnson at The Primrose School of Florham Park! She is a great addition to our school!

Ms LaQuaglia is the Lead Preschool Pathways Teacher at the Primrose School of Florham Park. She is a graduate of Seton Hall University, and also holds her national Child Development Associate Certification. She has worked with children up to 5 years of age, including children with special needs. She has joined our school with over 22 years of experience working with children in same age group.

During her spare time she loves spending quality time with her family, creating home décor projects and reading. Her family loves sports particularly basket ball.

Ms. LaQuaglia had this to say about her experience with children, “I love the time I spend with my students. It is great to see them learning and mastering new skills each day, and guiding them as they grow to become independent is an incredibly satisfying experience for me.”

Ms. Rashanna is our Associate teacher in the Preschool Pathways 2 classroom.

She has recently graduate from Kean University and has over 5 years of experience working with children.

Ms. Hampton has worked with children aging from infancy to preschoolers, and also comes from a big family!

“Children are so pure and innocent, I love the experience of working with them and watching them grow.”

MS. Hampton is so happy to be part of your child’s educational journey, and we are so grateful to have her on our team!

Ms. Essence Negron is one of our Preschool Pathways Teachers.

Ms. Negron attended West Caldwell Tech High School. During her Senior year of High school she started working at a daycare in Roseland NJ as a Assistant teacher, and continued on for three years.

Ms. Negron also spent time volunteering atschool called Stepping Stones. She has a ton of experience working with all age groups.

Ms. Negron loves working with children because she feels like she is making a difference in their lives, and appreciates that she has the ability to witness their growth and development; that’s what makes her love life.

We’re so grateful to have Ms. Negron be a part of our team!

Ms. Claudia is our newest Associate Early Preschool Teacher & we are SO excited for her to join our Primrose Family!

She is currently working towards a Liberal Arts degree at Rutgers University Newark and hopes to one day work in a school setting within her community as a way to give back.

Ms. Claudia has been working in childcare for a year & has really come to enjoy being able to create a safe and nurturing environment for children of all ages.

We are excited to see all the positive qualities Ms. Claudia brings to Early Preschool!

Ms. Phyllis Maglione is one of our School Support teachers, and loves helping wherever needed!

She has been caring for children from the Infant to Preschool Age Group for over 8 years.

Her teaching and experience with young children has been an asset to our school and beneficial to the children in her care.

Ms. Maglione brings her fun and loving personality to Primrose every day!

She enjoys spending time with all the children and it is apparent through the smile on her face, and theirs!

Hello! My name is Ms. Cheryl

Some fun facts about me, I love to bake and I lvoe going on walks. I am attending an online school and studying to obtain my Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education. After completing that, I intend to go for my Bachelor's and then my Master's so i can achieve my life long dream of becoming an Early Childhood Educator.

I have experience working with children from ages 6 weeks to 10 years old. I have been working with children on and off for the last 15 years. I am also CPR/First Aid certified!

Hello, my name is Erika Blackley and I have proudly been a member of the Primrose Schools family for almost 7 years. I have always loved working with young children, encouraging them, guiding them and watching them grow.

After attending Kutztown University I have been teaching in some capacity; as an assistant or a lead, including being a staff/classroom/supplies manager and a department supervisor of a babysitting service.

I am looking forward to being a part of you and your child's positive and rewarding experiences here at the Primrose School of Florham Park.

Hello! My name is Shirley Loly. 

I'm 43 years old, and I was born in Peru, where I lived for about 27 years that I spent with a great family with whom I have had wonderful times with and have learned great values from. Honesty, responsibility, organization, integrity, respect, empathy, kindness and love are core values I grew up with, as well as working as a team, being dependable, having a positive attitude, and a very strong work ethic, which are all part of my daily life. 

Even though I studied system engineering for 5 years, and obtained my Bachelor's degree, I always felt that it wasn't what I really wanted in life. Education is my passion and coming to work every day is not a routine, it is part of my life. I consider myself as a lifelong student because I keep myself updated in this field to give my very best to children that bring joy to my life. 

Learning through my students keeps me on the right path, the one I love, education. 

Ms. Jennifer Joseph is our Lead Prekindergarten Teacher, at The Primrose School of Florham Park.

Ms. Joseph graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a Bachelor’s Degrees in Criminal Justice along with a minor in Forensic Psychology.

Ms. Joseph has previously worked with children with disabilities, ranging from early childhood through middle school age. She loves working with children and teaching them because she truly believes they are the face and future of tomorrow. Ms. Joseph finds working with children to be a privilege, not a job.

She truly enjoys watching her young students learn and grow. She feels you must be dedicated, passionate, and patient to be a teacher of young children. Ms. Joseph enjoys being a teacher and role model to our students, at The Primrose School of Florham Park!

We are grateful to have her on our team!

Hello! My name is Ms. Maria Cocuzza

I have always had a passion and love for children. I have been working with preschool children for about a year now. I find it to be a very rewarding experience to be a part of their everyday lives to encourage and help them to grow emotionally and academically.

I have also volunteered for over twenty years for a nonprofit working with and fundraising for children with special needs.

Best part of my day is when one of your children comes up to me and asks for a hug, puts a big smile on my face. It is truly an exchange of love and kindness.

Ms. Delon has been teaching for over 26 years in the Catholic and Private School sector.

She has taught from grades pre-kindergarten to eighth grade. Ms. Delon has a Bachelor's Degree in Fine arts and Education from Kean University. Additionally, she has a degree in fashion design and illustration and an associates degree from Brooks College in Long Beach, California.

She was honored for her dedication and commitment to Catholic Education in 2012, by the Archdiocese of Newark, NJ.

During 2013-2014 she was chosen to serve on two Middles States Teams. They were responsible for the accreditation of schools.

Ms. Delon was honored to be part of the accreditation protocol to achieve the improvement of two schools.

The Middle States Commission of Elementary and Secondary Schools has provided her with important knowledge, that can be helpful to others.

Ms. Delon is also a member and participant of the "City without Walls Gallery" in Newark, NJ.

Her mission is to teach children to learn, and to keep them motivated to want to learn.

Ms. Lauria is our experienced Associate Kindergarten Teacher, at the Primrose School of Florham Park. Ms. Lauria has been teaching children of this age group for over 30 years and loves to be a part of the children’s early learning experiences.

Ms. Lauria joins us with a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from William Paterson University. Ms. Lauria is excited to share her knowledge, experience, and love for learning with her new students and is happy to be a new member of the Primrose School of Florham Park Family.

Ms. Lauria enjoys catching up on her reading, cooking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends in her spare time.

Ms. Christie Beaucejour is one of our School Support Teachers and has been working with young children for 3 years. She enjoys watching children grow and reach new milestones. She started with the Primrose family in May and has been a wonderful addition to all of the classrooms.

Ms. Beaucejour is also attending Montclair State University, majoring in Animation/Illustration

We are so happy to have Ms. Beaucejour as part of our growing Primrose of Florham Park Family.

Hi! My name is Kayla Liger; I am currently a junior at Fairleigh Dickinson University attending on a full scholarship.

For the last 8 years I have enjoyed gaining experience with children through Nanning and teaching at multiple schools with children of all ages. My favorite part about working with children is getting to be around their infectious energy & creativity. I learn SO much from them!

I had the opportunity to work with the same family for 8 years. I watched their daughter grow up & gained experience working with special needs children during my time with them.

I am so excited to be a part of Preschool 1 & can’t wait to watch my new class grow!