our staff
meet our leaders
Norda Overpeck M.Ed.LBS
Director at Huntingdon Valley
I have 15 years of childcare experience, a Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in Special Education, and a Graduate Certificate in Autism. I am also a licensed behavior specialist in Pennsylvania and serve on the Board of Directors for the Victim Services Center of Montgomery County (VSC). I have taught workshops for PA Head Start and PA Early Childhood Summit on how to implement STEM in the early years. I also serve on the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care (SAC) Subcommittee on Physical, Behavioral, and Mental Health. During my Master’s in Education, I completed a class in STEM education. I was so amazed with the hands-on learning aspect of it and how all four areas were connected to help understand one concept. I wanted to learn more about STEM education, so I conducted my master’s thesis to further research and identify: The benefits of STEM education in preschools. What are the challenges early childhood education teachers face when implementing STEM education in the classroom? What is the relationship between early childhood teachers’ beliefs about readiness for teaching STEM and their teaching experience? While conducting her research and Masters program, I implemented a STEM curriculum for two years to assess the impact and benefits of STEM education in the early years. Introducing STEM concepts early helps children become familiar with fundamental ideas in science, technology, engineering, and math, laying a strong foundation for future learning. The STEM activities enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Virginia Ruschelle Lindsay
Director at Elkins Park
My name is Virginia Ruschelle Lindsay, known to the children as Ms. Ruschelle, which I prefer. I have been working with and truly enjoying teaching children from infants to school age for 19 years. I attended Community College of Philadelphia with a major in early childhood education and will be furthering my education this coming spring 2024 school year in ECE. I am the mother of two wonderful boys, ages 8 and 6, who attend Cheltenham Elementary School with my youngest, who formerly attended IEP. I have lived in the Elkins Park/Cheltenham community for 27 years and have
enjoyed everything this close-knit, well-diversified, growing community has to offer. My passions are spending quality time with my children and my husband, caring for my mother, traveling, reading, cooking, interior decorating, and teaching. Innovation and exploration Stem Early Learning Center is a wonderful program here in the Elkins Park area that brings an excellent, creative, hands-on, new, modern, and exciting way of learning for young children. Each day, we strive to give the children a good foundation in the STEM areas. It is a caring and loving environment that I am happy to be a part of, and I truly look forward to working with your children and our dedicated staff.
Jennifer Moser
Director at Warrington
Hi, I’m Jennifer Moser, but the kids know me as Miss Jen! I’ve dedicated three years to this incredible company, transitioning from a classroom teacher to the assistant director and now serving as the director. I’m passionate about my role and everything I contribute to our school. This program has brought out the best in me as a teacher, especially in teaching students through STEM. Witnessing the impact of STEM education on our students is truly rewarding, and our program is amazing. With over a decade of experience in childcare, I earned my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and special education from Temple University in spring 2020. Apart from teaching, I babysit and tutor, cherishing every moment with the children. My passion for teaching reflects in the classroom. Outside of work, I love adventures, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends. Spending meaningful time with friends and family holds great importance in my life. Their unwavering support for my fulfilling career reflects their recognition of the positive impact I bring to the lives of the children I work with. Ensuring our students thrive is my top priority. The success of each student, both within the confines of the classroom and in their broader lives, stands as my paramount objective. I am committed to fostering an environment that goes beyond academic achievements, aiming to equip our students with the skills, confidence, and resilience needed for success in various facets of their lives. This involves not only academic support but also nurturing their personal growth, instilling values, and encouraging a holistic development that extends beyond traditional educational boundaries.
meet our teachers
Robyn Hilliard
Lead Teacher
Hi everyone, I am Robyn, and I am so happy to be a Pre-K teacher at the Innovation and Exploration STEM Early Learning Center! I actually began my career with a degree in Marine Biology and Chemistry; however, I come from a long line of teachers, and when I began teaching, I realized that I have a passion for education, especially STEM education. Over the years, thanks to my husband’s military service and moving around frequently, I have gained experience with all grades, from pre-K to high school. After piloting a STEM program at a preschool through 5th grade elementary school in California, I went back to school and earned my Masters in STEM Education, with my thesis focusing on the real-world application of skills and classroom concepts. I love finding ways to bring interdisciplinary learning and 21st-century skills into the classroom! In my spare time, I enjoy spending time outdoors hiking, climbing, and exploring our National Parks with my family, as well as watching my 3 boys with their hobbies of musical instruments (we could start a band with a drummer, guitarist, pianist, saxophone player, and clarinetist), soccer, basketball, Scouts BSA, and wrestling. You will often see my boys around our school helping out on their days off. They love sharing their knowledge with others, and Mason, my middle, has even become CPR and First Aid certified, so he can babysit! We love being part of the IE family and can’t wait to see your children grow throughout the year with the help of our dedicated and awesome IE staff!
Janice Lelis-Petrenko
Lead Teacher
Janice earned her degree in Bachelor of Secondary Education in 2010. She has seven years of teaching experience. She loves to see and hear the sense of achievement in children as they showcase what they are able to form and build from toys, papers and other materials and unleash their imagination and creativity when they draw or paint. Janice enjoys gardening and planting vegetables during the summer, she also likes cooking and baking. She enjoys reading and walking in the park with her husband and daughter.
Lindsay Bello
Assistant Director in Huntingdon Valley
Hi everyone! My name is Lindsay, and I am currently going for my bachelor’s degree in elementary education, which will be done in May. I also have a degree in respiratory therapy. I was recently a special education TA in the council rock school district at the middle school for about 2 years, and before that, I was a preschool teacher for 2 years. I am originally from New Jersey, so I am a huge NY Giants and Yankees fan. In my free time, I love to read and spend time with my family and friends. The beach is my favorite place to travel to, and I try to go as much as I can over the summer. I am also a huge animal lover. Right before COVID, I traveled to Africa with a volunteer group and worked on an animal reservation. It was an amazing experience.
Cindy
Lead Teacher
My name is Cindy, and I live in Southampton with my family. I have one daughter, and I am the proud grandma of a beautiful granddaughter. I have been teaching for over 25 years, and I am a Child Development Associate (CDA). In my free time, I love to go to the library and take pictures. I am looking forward to working with your children.
Regina Agrusa
Hello everyone! My name is Regina! You can call me Miss Gina, Miss G, or Miss Gigi! I cannot express how excited I am to join the Innovation and Exploration family. Caring for children has always been a major part of my life. At a young age, I started volunteering as a counselor at my local camp, which led to my first “real” job as a counselor there. In high school, I attended Middle Bucks Institute of Technology for the childcare program. After graduating, I gained an associate degree in social work. I have almost nine amazing years of experience working in a childcare center! Through that experience, I was able to work as both an assistant teacher and quickly move to head teacher for infants. For the last four years, I have taken a step out of the classroom to help raise my nephew and nanny. When I am not spending time with my nephew or nannying, I enjoy hanging out with my family, friends, and my six dogs! My family, friends, and pets mean the world to me! I also love to travel and always try new things. I look forward to spending time with you all and dedicating my days to not only your child’s care and education but also building connections with each individual family and helping I and E grow! I want every child to be not only seen but also heard. I am thrilled to be a part of the I & E family and share my passion throughout the school. I find that children not only learn from what you teach but also from who you are, and that it is so important to lead by example. “Teachers who love teaching teach children to love learning” (unknown)
Rezika Ait Mohammed
I have been teaching for the last 10 years, and I really enjoy it. I am married and originally from Algeria. I moved to America nine years ago. Teaching has always been my passion, ever since I was in elementary school. I have a bachelor’s degree in teaching foreign languages, and I am fluent in French, Arabic, English, and Berber, which is my native language (also known as Tamazight). I am also looking forward to continuing my education and pursuing my master’s degree.
Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to work with students of different age groups. In Algeria, I taught French and science to high school and middle school students for four years. After moving to Philadelphia, I spent almost seven years working with younger children aged 3-5 in a childcare center. It was a truly rewarding experience. During the pandemic, I worked as an interpreter for early intervention agencies and helped non-English-speaking parents and their children from diverse backgrounds. I assisted early intervention specialists and provided verbal interpretation through online sessions.
I genuinely enjoy helping children grow and believe in making learning a fun and engaging experience. Currently, I work full time as a paraprofessional at Wyncote Academy, a special education high school, and part time at Innovation & Exploration STEM Early Learning Center. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, listening to music, and taking nature walks. I am thrilled to be a part of the Innovation & Exploration STEM Early Learning Center.
Nayana Puttaswamy
I am Nayana Puttaswamy, the mother of a wonderful toddler. Professionally, I am an actor, a social media influencer, and a teacher. I am enthusiastic about traveling and love painting, singing, videography, and photography. I absolutely love kids, and I am thrilled to be a preschool teacher.
