about

Lindsay Karr has spent more than two decades doing what she does best: teaching. She holds a B.S. in English Education from Boston University, a Master's in Educational Psychology from the University of Virginia, and post-graduate coursework in Administration and Supervision from Johns Hopkins University.

For over 20 years, she has been working in education. She taught in public school classrooms, where she took pride in building meaningful relationships with her students. Today she supervises college seniors through their student teaching year, mentoring the next generation of educators as they take charge of their first classrooms.

She founded Mindful Beginnings on a simple conviction: safety is a teachable skill, and when it matters most, knowing what to do saves lives.

Katy Greenberg is a community leader and market research professional who serves as Community Partnerships Liaison. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Indiana University of PA and previously coordinated outreach for seniors and people with disabilities. She has led PTSA and booster-club work in local schools and brings those family relationships to Mindful Beginnings.

Mary Parks brings more than a decade of elementary classroom experience to Mindful Beginnings. She taught third and fourth grade in Montgomery County Public Schools and began her career with gifted and talented students in grades four through seven. She also coordinated a hands-on science program for elementary students. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Bachelor of Arts in French from the College of Charleston.

Yesmina Battle is a District of Columbia Public Schools elementary teacher with a Master of Arts in Teaching and over nine years of classroom experience in pre-K through fourth grade. She is pursuing a doctorate in Curriculum, Instruction, and Policy. She has led youth programs, family engagement, and summer enrichment, and she brings a warm, student-centered approach to every course.

Kelsey Gaston is an educator with over 16 years of experience teaching middle and high school English Language Arts and Special Education. She holds a Master of Education in Special Education and has trained new educators in classroom management and instructional strategies. She also supervises student teachers and teaches middle school English in MCPS.

Jessica Katz is a second-year medical student at Georgetown University School of Medicine with a Bachelor of Science in Physiological Science from UCLA. Her clinical work includes dermatology, surgical care, community health outreach, and coordinating care for an underserved island community. She is a Georgetown Clinical Research Scholar and focuses on making health information clear for families.

Jennie Stroup brings community engagement, event management, and childcare experience to the curriculum team. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies and Business Administration from Colorado State University. She leads volunteer recruitment for Voices for Children Montgomery (CASA), serves as PTA President for Belmont Elementary, and has worked as a live-in au pair in Madrid.

Daniela Flores is a registered nurse with more than eight years of experience in neonatal intensive care. She cares for critically ill and premature newborns in the Level IV NICUs at Children's National Hospital and Georgetown University Hospital, and she has also served as a school nurse at an international school in Frankfurt, Germany. A five-time DAISY Award nominee, she precepts new nurses and spends much of her work teaching families how to care for their babies and keep them safe. Fluent in English and Spanish and certified in Basic Life Support, the Neonatal Resuscitation Program, and S.T.A.B.L.E., she brings calm, expert newborn and infant care to the families she teaches.

Bronwen Kennedy is Red Cross CPR/First Aid certified and an educator with over 20 years of experience in youth leadership and mentoring. She has run a marketing agency, guest-lectured at the University of Maryland, and taught programs from Girl Scouts and Sea Scouts to the Parent Encouragement Program. She helps children build confidence, independence, and safety skills.

Ashira Lavine is a trauma-informed educator and founder of Mind Body Fusion, LLC, with over a decade of experience teaching mindfulness and life skills in the DC area. She holds a Master of Arts from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Science from Towson University, and she is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-500). She helps young learners build confidence and practical skills with a grounded, reassuring approach.

Kimberly Sinkford is a registered nurse and clinical leader with three decades of healthcare experience at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from George Mason University and holds RN licenses in DC and Maryland, along with BLS certification. She has served as Nursing Director, Clinical Resource Manager, and Senior Nurse Talent Acquisition Partner.

Kim Varner is a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Michigan. She has been Head Nurse at the German International School Washington D.C., a school nurse at Sheppard Pratt, and a newborn and mother nurse at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center. A former preschool lead teacher, she makes health and safety concepts clear for young learners.

Kate Allen is a retired elementary/middle school teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools. She holds a Master of Education in Special Education from the University of Maryland. She has three decades of classroom experience, in grades 1-8. She supports children at every learning level, including English language learners and students with IEPs.

Brandi Beers is an elementary school teacher with over two decades of experience in early literacy in Washington, DC public and charter schools. She holds a master’s in early literacy instruction and a bachelor’s in elementary education from SUNY Cortland, and she is a trained Reading Recovery specialist. She uses behavior management and differentiated instruction so each child gets the support they need.

Marcie Berul is an early childhood specialist and former preschool director with over 20 years of experience in early education and social-emotional development. She holds a master’s in early childhood education from Boston University and certifications as a Lead Teacher and Director II. She helps children practice relationships and safety through pre-literacy and social-emotional teaching.

Chyna Brodie teaches for Swing Education across K-12 schools in the DC area. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in African American Studies from American University. She has mentored children as a summer camp counselor and brings that energy to every course she teaches.

Miryam Buchler is an early childhood specialist with nearly two decades of experience in special education, behavior therapy, and program leadership. She holds a Master of Science in General and Special Education from Touro University and a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women. She teaches special education at SELA Hebrew Public Charter School and brings a nurturing approach to every course.

Kelley Butler is certified in Red Cross CPR/First Aid and works as a community educator, mentor, and student advocate. She holds a bachelor’s degree from James Madison University and has guided youth through fitness instruction, studio management, and K-12 tutoring. She builds inclusive rooms where young learners practice confidence and emotional regulation.

Helena Carboy is a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The Catholic University of America’s Conway School of Nursing. Her clinical background includes pediatric care at Inova Fairfax, community health at Unity Health Care Clinic, and training in psychiatric mental health and surgery at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She is certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and brings a compassionate approach to teaching.

Michelle Cha is a registered nurse with a Master of Science in Quality Improvement and Healthcare Management from Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Boston College. Since 2019 she has been a Nurse Coordinator at Georgetown University’s Centers for Blood Disorders, teaching patients and families about treatment, medications, and safe follow-up care. She is certified in Basic Life Support (BLS) and licensed in DC and Maryland.

Monique DeFrees is an elementary school teacher in Montgomery County Public Schools with a Master of Education in Mathematics Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Maryland. She has nearly a decade of classroom experience, plus years as a paraeducator, tutor, and Girl Scout troop leader. She supports children at every learning level, including English language learners and students with IEPs.

Ingrid Froehner is a speech-language pathologist who supports children’s developmental needs. She earned her master’s in speech pathology from the University of Texas at Austin and her bachelor’s in communication sciences and disorders from the University of Maryland. Fluent in English and Spanish, she has provided speech therapy, home-based pediatric evaluations, and school-based interpretation.

Bailey Goldart is a pediatric nurse with a Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University, where she specialized as a Pediatric Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and graduated summa cum laude. A Certified Pediatric Nurse, she has cared for children at Texas Children’s Hospital, including its cardiovascular and special isolation units, and has served as a lead triage nurse and a pediatric nurse manager. She also holds a degree in human development and family sciences with a focus on early childhood development, and she is certified in Basic Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support.

Gaby Hodor is pursuing a dual degree in Human Development and Animal Sciences at the University of Maryland. She has more than six years of experience teaching children, including horseback riding for ages 7 to 12 and after-school STEM in Montgomery County. She uses a patient, hands-on approach to help young learners build confidence.

Abigail Plaza is a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The Catholic University of America. Her clinical background spans pediatrics, women’s health, medical-surgical care, and post-anesthesia recovery at hospitals including INOVA Fairfax, Holy Cross, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She teaches the skills caregivers need to keep children safe.

Jasmine Rhodes is a pediatric registered nurse with more than six years of experience in neonatal and pediatric critical care at Children’s National Hospital, Sibley Memorial Hospital, and Howard University Hospital. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Trinity Washington University and is certified in Basic Life Support and the Neonatal Resuscitation Program. She has taught families newborn care, safe sleep, and emergency response.

Kiera Shanahan is a neonatal intensive care nurse at Children’s National Hospital and a registered nurse with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from The Catholic University of America. Her clinical experience includes pediatrics at INOVA Fairfax, community health, women’s health, and adult medical-surgical care. She is certified in CPR, BLS, AED, and the Neonatal Resuscitation Program.

Bela Shah Spooner is an education leader and language educator with over 20 years of experience in youth development. She holds a master’s in sociology and education policy from Columbia University’s Teachers College and a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. The founder of Bela’s Velas, she teaches Spanish and helps young learners build confidence and life skills.

Jessica Trzeciak is a registered nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, where she cares for critically ill and premature newborns in a Level IV NICU. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and she previously cared for children at Children First Pediatrics in Rockville and worked one on one with infant twins as a childcare provider. Certified in Basic Life Support, the Neonatal Resuscitation Program, and the S.T.A.B.L.E. Program, she brings deep newborn and infant expertise to the families she teaches.