Lynn Kulik, Director/Head Teacher
Lynn has been in education for the past 25 years. She holds a B.S. in Early and Middle Education from Radford University and graduated from New Jersey’s Directors Academy in the fall of 2013. Lynn joined the Union Cong Community in 1998 as a parent, served on our Nursery School Leadership team, and later joined our faculty in 2008. She has taught Kindergarten and a multi-age loop classroom of Kindergarten/1st grade at a progressive public school in Chapel Hill, NC. Lynn serves on the Board of the NJEEPRE and is actively involved in the Montclair Directors Network. She is passionate about how children construct knowledge and the Reggio Philosophy Approach to educating children.
Catherine Sweeney, Communications/Technology
Catherine rejoined the office staff in January 2015 with an emphasis on admissions, marketing, and communications. She has a B.F.A. in photography from Syracuse University and over 20 years of experience working in school settings. In addition, both of her children attended Union Cong.
Susanne Cantalupo,
Office Admin
Susanne has a B.S. in Elementary Education from Trenton State College. She has worked as an elementary educator for over ten years in the surrounding area. Her children attended Union Cong, and she is an active volunteer in the community.
Susan McIntosh, School Nurse/Support Teacher
Susan joined our faculty in 2000 and has her L.P.N. from Overlook Hospital School of Nursing. Susan is our School Nurse, a Support Teacher, the Lead teacher for the 3’s Explorers Club, and Camp Teacher. She received her C.D.A. from Montclair State University in 2004.
Ginger Nufrio, Studio Teacher
Ginger joined Union Cong in 2008. She has a B.A. in Advertising Design from Trenton State College (now known as The College of New Jersey). She was an American delegate for the Reggio Emilia Study Tour in 2018. Ginger has extensive experience as a Graphics Designer and does mural work for children’s rooms. Ginger has worked with children as a counselor and has used her creative skills and graphic arts experience to teach specialty classes. In addition, she has studied puppet production and performed shows for children ages 3 to 7.
Anne Marie DeMasi, Lead Teacher
Anne Marie has a B.A. in Liberal and Performing Arts from Brooklyn College and an M.A. in Early Childhood Education from Kent State University. She was an American delegate for the Reggio Emilia Study Tour in 2003, funded by a Geraldine R. Dodge Teaching Fellowship. She taught as Lead Kindergarten Teacher in the School District of the Chathams for 26 years. Anne Marie holds N.J. State Certification – Nursery through Elementary School and joined Union Cong in 2015
Jennifer Galati,
Lead Teacher
Jennifer holds her B.A. from Montclair State University, where she concentrated on Family/Child Studies. Jennifer also has her N.J. State certification in Elementary Education. In addition, she has nearly 20 years of teaching experience in various public and private school settings.
Cathy Grupper, Lead Teacher
Cathy has a B.A. in Art History from Cornell University and an M.S. from Bank Street College in Museum Education. She has worked in Central Park, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, and Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Cathy was an American delegate for the Reggio Emilia Study Tour in 2016. She joined the Union Cong faculty in 2008.
Emma Hellman, Lead Teacher
Emma joined our faculty in 2004 and received her M.S. in Educational Psychology from Montclair State University. She has also studied at William Paterson University and was an American delegate for the Reggio Emilia Study Tour in 2016. She was first acquainted with Union Cong as a parent when her daughter started attending the Young Three program.
Sarah Geiger, Lead Teacher
Sarah returned to Union Cong in 2021 after working in various early childhood area schools. She has a B.A. in American Studies from Colby College and an M.S. in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Montclair State University.
Judith Leporati, Support Teacher
Judith earned a B.F.A. in Theatre from Montclair State University with a minor in Mathematics. She joined the Union Cong staff in 2008 and is pursuing the Alternate Route Preschool-3rd grade teacher certificate program at William Patterson.
Ailis Groves, Support Teacher
Ailis holds a B.A. from Montclair State University. Ailis taught middle school in N.J. Schools and was a permanent sub for our school for many years before joining our faculty in 2015. In the community, Ailis has coordinated service learning projects and is an avid volunteer for the Montclair Public Schools
Eileen Sammon, Support Teacher
Eileen has been on the staff at Union Cong since 1995, when her children attended the school. In May 2003, she received her C.D.A. from Montclair State University and completed Recreation Therapy coursework.
Liz Rivera, Support Teacher
Liz has a B.A. from Goddard College and Graduate coursework in Special Education from New Jersey City State University. She joined our school in 2015. She is bilingual and was the Spanish teacher for the Montclair Cooperative School for many years. Her progressive teaching techniques align beautifully with the Reggio Emilia approach.
Vera Roebuck, Support Teacher
Vera joined Union Cong in 2001 and studied psychology at Rutgers University. She has 13 years of experience in special education classes in the Verona school system and area preschools. She received her C.D.A. from Montclair State University in 2004
Patsy Andall, support Teacher
Patsy joined the Union Cong faculty in 2022. She has over 30 years of experience with young children as a family daycare owner, preschool teacher, and professional R.E.I. Nanny. Patsy studied Early Childhood Education at Woolwich College, London, England, and Child Development at the State University of New York. In addition to being a certified Music Together Teacher, she is pursuing a Birth/Postpartum Doula certification. Patsy has been involved with our school since 2012, leading Kid Chats and coordinating caregiver connections