BOARD MEMBER- Jeffrey Gander -Continuous Improvement Officer, DC Government
Jeffrey (Jeff) Gander has 16 years of experience leading transformational initiatives that focus on enterprise change. His current role is the Continuous Improvement Officer for the Washington, DC Govt (OCFO). He is working in the areas of Strategic Vision and Planning, Performance Improvement and Change Management.
VICE PRESIDENT- Jennafer Miller -Principal of Community Engagement, Evans Incorporated
Jennafer Miller, is the Principal for Community Engagement at Evans Consulting. She has a personal and professional commitment to effecting positive change and has over 25 years of combined experience as an educator, facilitator, administrator, and program manager.
SECRETARY- Leslie La Croix -Assistant Professor, Early Childhood Dev. George Mason University
Dr. Leslie La Croix is an Assistant Professor at George Mason University in the College of Education and Human Development in the Early Childhood Education Program. Dr. La Croix’s areas of expertise are grounded in curriculum and instruction for young learners, birth through age 8, and in teacher education and professional development for early childhood educators.
TREASURER- Lisa Lough -General Manager, Individual & Family Plans, Cigna Healthcare
Lisa Lough is the General Manager for the Individual & Family Plans and the Medicaid businesses at Cigna Healthcare. She is accountable for the P&L, strategy development and all business operations of these businesses. Lisa brings over 20 years of experience in the areas of business P&L leadership, strategy development, risk management, business operations, sales leadership and consumer marketing expertise.
BOARD MEMBER- Andrea Martinez -President, Marketing & Business Solutions
Andrea Martinez is a first generation American, native Spanish speaker, and a mom to a wonderful little boy. Professionally she is a Program Manager at Stand Together Fellowships, a nonprofit supporting social entrepreneurs across society working in education, communities, business, and government. Prior to joining the Stand Together Community, Andrea was at the American Association of University Women working on issues of pay equity and economic security and delivering AAUW’s economic security and leadership programs, including Work Smart, Money Smart, and Empower with partners across the U.S. including, Women.NYC and the City of Pittsburgh.
She is passionate about closing the gap for women in salary, leadership, and wealth and providing opportunities for individuals to leverage their passions and skills to improve society’s biggest problems. She is a graduate of Leadership Fairfax 2023 class, and she holds a BA in Religious Studies from Florida International University and an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration from Georgia Southern University.
BOARD MEMBER- Christine Schull -Professor, Early Childhood Education Program, Northern Virginia Community College
Christine Schull is a professor in the Early Childhood Education program at Northern Virginia Community College where she trains students who are currently in the early childhood field, or looking to enter it. Prior to her work at NOVA, she was a research fellow for the Rural Poverty Research Institute, where she examined school readiness and physical health. At various points, she has taught infants, toddlers and preschoolers in child care settings. She also taught first grade in the Spanish immersion program in Fairfax County Public Schools. Christine believes that a crucial part of addressing children's school readiness is by supporting the workforce through professional development. Her most recent work has focused on professional development pathways. She also recently coauthored a textbook on language and literacy from birth to age 5, and along with Dr. La Croix and other colleagues, published it in a free online repository: https://viva.pressbooks.pub/earlychildhoodliteracy/ Christine attained her MA in Child Development at Michigan State University and her PhD at the University of Maryland. She served as a member of Virginia School Readiness Committee from 2016-2020.
BOARD MEMBER- Suzanne Thompson -ESOL Teacher, Fairfax County Public Schools
Suzy Thompson is a blessed parent of twins who attended Main Street. She has been a teacher of ESOL for over 24 years with Fairfax County Public Schools. She is invested in education and reading in her community.
Tricia Wilcox is a Vice President at PNC Bank. With over 15 years in commercial banking, she helps businesses and nonprofits achieve their financial goals and pursue their corporate missions. She also has experience with process improvement projects, strategic planning, and sales development. She holds a BS in Marketing and a BA in Hispanic Languages and Literatures from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as an MBA from George Washington University. With three young children of her own, she is personally invested in early childhood education.
Carol Lieske has been the Director of Main Street Child Development Center since 2013. She has been in the early childhood education profession for 25 years. Carol has been a preschool teacher and assistant director. Prior to joining Main Street, Carol was the director of early childhood programs and curriculum designer at Ideaventions, a STEM enrichment center where she has created and taught science, technology, engineering, and math programs for children, ages 3-12.
Madhushree and her husband have lived in northern VA for 25 years. Her twins (son and daughter) are headed off to college this fall, and she is looking forward to immersing herself in the Main Street community!
Prior to joining Main Street, Madhushree was the assistant director at another nonprofit, NAEYC-accredited preschool in Reston. She has over 20 years of early childhood experience working with children and families from culturally, linguistically, and ability diverse backgrounds. Madhushree attained a M. Ed with endorsements in ESL and early childhood special education from George Mason University. Her professional and personal commitment is to help empower and include all children and their families in their path to success.
Madhushree has traveled to five continents with her family and someday hopes to check the others off her bucket list! She is also a foodie and gravitates toward new culinary adventures. Her other interests include swimming and going to the movies.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION- Katherine Pardo Polo -
Katherine Pardo Polo was promoted to Office Manager in fall 2015, became the Director of Finance & Administration in 2019, and stepped into her role as Assistant Director in 2022. In her current position, Katherine oversees the organization’s financials and daily operations.
Susan Rismiller comes to Main Street after 25 years teaching young primary aged students in Fairfax County Public Schools’ special education classes. Susan founded and led her school’s first collegial support program, mentored over 12 pre-service and new teachers, and for over 7 years, collaborated as clinical faculty with George Mason University’s Special Education cohort. Susan served as Education Director at Main Street before taking on the new role of Teacher Mentor & Coach.
Christi Schwarten joined Main Street in 2018. She earned her Grants Professional Certification (GPC) in 2022. Prior to joining Main Street, Ms. Christi was the Cultural Arts and Marketing Specialist for the City of Fairfax for 2 years, and the Executive Director of the Fairfax Choral Society for nearly 8 years. Ms. Christi’s passion for children started early, through volunteerism in a preschool for children with disabilities while in college. She has taught theatre to kindergarten students, as well as vacation bible school and Sunday school.
Ruth Martinez joined Main Street Child Development Center in 2014 with over 30 years as an Administrative Assistant. Originally from El Salvador, Ms. Ruth graduated as a Bilingual Secretary in Public Relations. Before Main Street, she worked as the Administrative Assistant of the Presidency for ALDECA, an American company in El Salvador.
Melany Hearin joined Main Street, first as a volunteer, then as an Assistant Teacher and now as an Office Assistant. A native of Bolivia, she is a bilingual speaker who loves interacting with children.
Aymee Robles is originally from El Salvador and has lived in the United States for over 23 years. Ms. Aymee has a Northern Virginia Food Manager Certificate and is taking early childhood classes so she may spend more time in a classroom with the children. Ms. Aymee has worked with children for many years and has always enjoyed being a part of their lives.
Mark Gardner has been part of the Main St. community since 2005, serving as its Mental Health Consultant. Mark’s main job, by working closely with staff and parents, is to ensure that each child has all the social, emotional and cognitive skills he or she needs to be successful in the classroom and in life. These include the abilities to understand and manage his/her feelings and behavior in order to learn well, participate in classroom activities and get along with his/her teachers and classmates.Licensed by the state of Virginia as a Clinical Social Worker, Mark has been helping young children and their families for over 20 years.
A native of Nicaragua. Karla is a bilingual licensed clinical social worker whose career spans over 30 years and has involved working with children ages 2 through 12 years old and their families. Past practice settings include the Health Department, Woodburn Center for Community Mental Health, and a public school preschool. I am currently in private practice in Fairfax.
Karla is a big proponent of early intervention using a biopsychosocial framework. It makes perfect sense to get the families back on track so they may live optimally.
Karla uses multiple treatment modalities including talk, play and sand therapy. It is a pleasure to be working with preschool children again.
Diana Perales came to Main Street in 2016 after being a nanny for 2 ½ years. She has completed a STEM certification course and is currently working on her Early Childhood Education Certificate.
Lupita Quiroz Vasquez, a former MSCDC preschooler, has been working at Main Street since 2015. Once a volunteer, Lupita became co-lead teacher in 2019 and lead teacher in 2021. She is currently enrolled in early childhood education at Northern Virginia Community College where she is earning her Associates Degree.
Veronica Ruanova first came to Main Street as a student when she was a small child. She volunteered at Main Street in 2012 for two years before becoming an Assistant Teacher. She became Lead Teacher for the Sunshines in 2019. Ms. Veronica is working on her Associates Degree in Child Development from Northern Virginia Community College.
LEAD TEACHER- Pilar Arayai is a highly qualified teacher with a B.S. in Education, a Professional Degree in Preschool Teacan hing, an M.the S. in the Development of Curricula, and 10+ years of experience in education management and program design.
Ali Mahmuti joined Main Street in 2024. He graduated from the Academy of Arts Drama in Prishtine, Kosovo in 2006. He started working in education in 2015 as an Assistant Teacher in a day care in Fairfax County. Ali likes to educate children through art, sports, crafts, acting, playing soccer, or painting.
Heather Alba started at Main Street in 2021 as an Assistant Teacher. A recent graduate of George Mason University, Heather is a previous student at Main Street!
Hana Park joined Main Street in 2020. She has previously worked for more than 10 years as an assistant Preschool and Pre-K teacher in the early childhood field. Her love of working with children came at a young age and has always had a passion in making a difference in a child’s early education.
Virginia Susano started at Main Street in 2016. She has her Early Childhod Education Certificate from The Early Childhood Institute as well as a Northern Virginia Food Handler Certificate.
Ruma Afrose joined Main Street in 2024. Ruma is originally from Bangladesh, Dhaka and recently moved to the USA. Previously, she worked as an assistant professor in Dhaka. She worked in early childhood education in Toronto for over seven years. He enjoys working with children because they are a joy.
Jacqueline Schulze joined Main Street first as a substitute teacher in 2013, and more recently as an all around project assistant in 2017. She is a teacher with the Fairfax County Public Schools (Early literacy, family literacy, global program, and Head Start program), and has been the Granata Group Outreach Coordinator (Relationships and Fatherhood Programs). Jacqueline has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and two Master’s Degrees: Business Management and Strategies Management.
