Meet our team!

  • Dr. Veronika Laughlin

    CO FOUNDER

    Veronika holds a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics/TESOL. She is a senior researcher at Educational Testing Service (ETS) in Princeton, New Jersey, where she explores how to support effective and engaging approaches to language learning, teaching, and assessment. Her work also draws on a background in educational leadership, with a particular interest in how schools, programs, and educational leaders can create environments that foster multilingual learning.

  • Dr. Lorraine Sova

    CO FOUNDER

    Lorraine has a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and has been a test developer at Educational Testing Service, developing English language proficiency assessments for young learners as well as teaching and learning content for English language educators and their students.

  • Kylie Peslak

    EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT

    Kylie holds a BA degree in Family and Child Studies, and is certified to teach grades P-3. For the last 10 years, Kylie has been teaching Pre-K at a leading nonprofit early education center in Northern New Jersey.

  • Marianna Lordou

    WESBSITE DESIGNER

    Marianna is a recent graduate from Bentley University, and currently works as a UX researcher.

  • Sabrina Silverstein

    EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT

    Sabrina, a National Board Certified Teacher, is an independent educational consultant who owns her own firm, SWS Consulting, LLC. She has been a professional in the early childhood field for over 30 years.

  • Dr. Sousan Arafeh

    POLICY SPECIALIST

    Sousan is Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Southern Connecticut State University and Principal of Research Images LLC. Her teaching and research focus on educational policy, culture, and leadership. She explores how communication, interpersonal dynamics, and inclusive practices foster children's learning by  strengthening families, schools, communities, and organizations.

Our values and beliefs

Build

on educational research

Let’s ensure that support is evidence-based and grounded in high-quality research, so children’s learning and development is truly effective.

Respect

the uniqueness of every child, family and classroom

Let’s do this together, with families and in early educational settings, building on the unique language and cultural strengths and assets that every child naturally has.

Learn

through diversity and inclusion

Let’s work to create a world in which all languages, cultures, and people are cherished and appreciated.

Create

a solid foundation for life

Let’s start with children because childhood is an important learning period, and support them in understanding all the wonders that different languages and cultures have to offer us, and how they enrich us.

Nurture

the whole child

Let’s provide that support in ways that are playful, engaging, developmentally appropriate, and meaningful to children, so that their learning experiences are positive and lasting.