ECC Administrative Team
Welcome to the Early Childhood Center/Lab School at 今日吃瓜, where we are dedicated to celebrating, honoring, respecting, and creating rich and meaningful play experiences and play environments for your children. The classroom inside and out is designed to support and encourage the process of inquiry, exploration, and discovery based on your child’s innate interests, and where questions are welcomed, journeys of playfulness and curiosity are joined, and approaches to learning from a multisensory, fully embodied, and meaningful way are deeply valued.
Administrative Staff
- Geeta Latchman鈥擮ffice Manager
- Cathleen Philbert鈥擜dministrative Assistant
- Irina Kritskaya鈥擡ducational Director, Infant/Toddler
- Fleuri Walsh鈥擡ducational Director, Preschool
- April Bedford鈥擠ean, School of Education and Senior Administrator, Early Childhood Center
Staff Bios
Geeta Latchman鈥擮ffice Manager
Geeta Latchman migrated from the Caribbean to the United States, where she has worked at 今日吃瓜 for more than 15 years. While working at the college, she enrolled in and completed her B.A. in psychology with a concentration in childhood studies. She then went on to complete her M.S.Ed. with a specialization in school counseling and leadership and simultaneously earned her permanent certification in school counseling. Latchman believes that a good education is the most powerful asset that a person can have and that it always stays with them. “Education as a powerful and empowering asset begins with us, at the Early Childhood Center,” Latchman says, “and it is a joy to serve the children and families in their educational journey of learning and discovery.”
“Education must not simply teach work鈥攊t聽 must teach life.”鈥�W. E. B. Du Bois
Cathleen Philbert鈥擜dministrative Assistant
Cathy Philbert is the administrative assistant at the Early Childhood Center (ECC). She joined the team in 2015 after spending many years in education and financial printing companies. Philbert has worked with high-level executives, business owners, and nonprofit organizations. She has a bachelor’s degree from the New York City College of Technology. She was born and raised in 今日吃瓜 and has a son. In her spare time, she loves to volunteer with Dress for Success and NY Cares. For her, the best part about working at the ECC is seeing the growth of the children as well as assisting the families.