Our Team

Brynmor Early Education & Preschool is thrilled to announce our Brynmor Lorton’s first employee and Executive Director, Rob Blakely. Rob joins Brynmor after serving for the past seven years at the YMCA of Metropolitan Washington in Loudon County, Virginia. During his time with the YMCA, his roles included Senior Program Director and Associate Executive Director. In these roles he oversaw all youth development programs including early learning, school age and summer camps for the region as well as the complete oversight and management of all the business operations.

Rob’s life work is dedicated to young people and ensuring their healthy growth and development. His extensive leadership experience includes managing large scale programs, opening new early childhood centers and successfully leading teams in creating an inclusive environment for educators, children and families. He prides himself on his ability to create and cultivate a positive, nurturing and inclusive environment for staff, children and families alike. His passion for outreach and creating meaningful connections reaches further than his programs but to everyone in the community, creating relationships for the betterment of all involved. 

Rob holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Fredonia along with several certifications in the health, safety and development of young children. Rob loves to spend his free time playing & watching soccer, fishing, hiking and enjoying the great outdoors with his wife Caitlyn and their two children Rhett and Olivia. Brynmor is excited to have Rob leading our Lorton team.

Haya has been in the early childhood education world for over five years and has been in the classroom for about a year. She has always loved being around children and knows there is something really special about watching them learn and seeing them grow. The most satisfying part of her work is to know that children feel seen and valued as people. When children move on from Brynmor, she wants them to feel like someone cared about them and believed in them.

After spending most of her adult life in Massachusetts, Haya moved to Virginia over the summer. Her husband is in the Marine Corps. They have three adorable fluffy cats. She loves baking cookies, knitting, and painting at home.

Donovan comes to Brynmor with experience in the restaurant industry and brings high standards of food service to his role. He has a personal goal of putting a smile on the face of everyone he interacts with. Donovan is studying social sciences in college and plans to pursue a career in the education field. His mother’s career as an elementary school teacher has greatly influenced his professional aspirations.

Donovan has two older brothers and his father is in the Navy. This has allowed him to live in many different states including California, Hawaii, and Maryland before moving to Virginia. Outside of work, he enjoys graphic design and spending time at the gym.

Mireily has been in the early childhood education profession for 23 years. She loves the connections with children and their families. Mireily feels honored to see children grow and learn, and values being a part of their development. She feels rewarded when children and families feel safe with her care and when they all have built a trusting relationship.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Mireily came to the States when she was 12. She lives with her beautiful ten-year-old son Jr and their two cats, Milo and Nia. In her free time, Mireily loves to dance with her son, play baseball and watch her son play baseball. She loves anything to do with K-Pop music and is a fan of BTS, Stray Kids, NCT and Ateeez, to name a few.

Mireily looks forward to growing her career with Brynmor and hopes that everyone sees her passion for working with children and their families.

Courtney is attending Liberty University pursuing her degree in elementary education. Growing up, she volunteered in the infant and toddler rooms at her church whenever she could. During her senior year of high school, she had an internship in an elementary classroom, where her plans to be a teacher were solidified.

The opportunity to see firsthand the development that takes place in the beginning years of life is something that amazes and inspires Courtney. She is motivated to serve others and she hopes to be a positive and impactful person in every child’s life while contributing to Brynmor’s mission of helping every child meet his or her full potential. Further, she hopes that every child feels loved and valued in her care and that they develop into lifelong learners.

Courtney’s family consists of her three sisters and parents. She played soccer in college and enjoys staying active and working out regularly. Her mom and dad also played soccer in college, so she grew up in a competitive household. Outside of the classroom, Courtney plans on becoming a personal trainer, with a focus on elderly clients. She enjoys baking and spending time with friends. Her dog Dash is a lab and golden retriever mix, so probably the friendliest dog ever!

Tracey brings a tremendous amount of experience to the Brynmor Team. She has been in the early childhood education field for over 25 year and was drawn to this work by her love for children and her passion for seeing them grow and flourish.

The most satisfying part of her job is seeing children achieve new milestones and Tracey is excited to be a part of our brand-new team at Brynmor. She knows that she will contribute patience, love, and a willingness to help her team members and families.

Tracey is from Alexandria, Virginia and has a 22-year-old daughter who resides in Richmond. She enjoys home decorating, reading, and spending time with her daughter.

Shea has been a member of the early childhood profession for 16 years. She got her start babysitting and as a Sunday School teacher at her local church. Her career progressed to being a nanny, working in after school care, and eventually becoming a preschool teacher. Shea loves seeing children grow and learn and observing how they see their world. Her experiences have shown her that children are great teachers of life.

Born and raised in Virginia, Shea lives with her father, brother, sister, and grandparents. Her family is from Egypt, Greece, and Sudan. In her spare time, she loves to babysit, color, and go to the movies.

Shea’s goals for her time at Brynmor is to help her students form social bonds and grow in their independence and self-confidence. She is deeply passionate about ensuring children’s well-being and helping them get the right start in life, while supporting strong, healthy families.

Chenelle has been in early childhood education for more than 20 years. She is a Registered Behavioral Therapist and has worked extensively supporting children with special needs and their families. She has worked with children for as long as she can remember, including babysitting when she was younger.

After graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BS in Psychology, Chenelle immediately moved into a toddler educator role. Over the years, she has taught children from toddlers to ten-year-olds. She decided to make a change from her nine-year career in the world of ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) to join Brynmor. At Brynmor, she is excited to utilize her background to make all children feel welcomed and cared for on their educational journey.

Chenelle is the mother of a two-year-old little girl and a four-year-old little boy. They have a five-year-old puppy named Niko. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching YouTube and crocheting.

Michelle has been in the early childhood education field for over eight years and is drawn to this work because she wants to be a voice for children to ensure that their words are heard. The most satisfying part of her job is being able to play and connect with these marvelous children, and she feels so fortunate to learn more from them every single day.

Michelle was born in Falls Church, Virginia but her father is from El Salvador and her mother is from Bolivia. She currently resides in Dumfries, Virginia. Michelle is the oldest of her siblings and has a younger brother named Christopher and a younger sister named Lizeth. She has a one year old puppy named Toby Benito. In her free time, she loves to binge watch shows on Netflix and spend time with her family.

Irene has been in the early childhood education field for the past ten years and calls this time period the best of her professional career. In high school, she was an assistant teacher in a kindergarten classroom and that’s when her interest in child development began. When she became the mother of twins, she realized that thier best learning happened through play.

Believing that a hands on, positive and curious mindset is critical in our field, Irene gains satisfaction from knowing that she is a part of a loving, healthy, and safe environment where all children can explore and use their imaginations to learn about the world around them. Her goal as an Educator at Brynmor is to create lifelong relationships with the children and families that she serves. She will encourage curiosity, and self-expression which will allow each child to discover their unique personalities.

Irene is a proud Hispanic and was born in Massachusetts. She’s been married for 29 years. Both of her sons serve in the military and Irene is looking forward to having grandbabies. In 2019, she completed her Associates degree in Early Childhood Education from Northern Virginia Community College.

Alisha has been in the field of early childhood education for the last 25 years and was drawn to this work to elevate the level of early childhood educators. She derives great satisfaction from seeing the growth and development of children through their early years. Alisha is committed to providing high quality education for every child and family at Brynmor. She hopes to help families understand what their children need and deserve in these critical developmental years.

Alisha is from Washington, D.C. and is happily married to her husband of 18 years. They have 4 children and 4 (almost 5) grandchildren. Alisha has a turtle name Tyrone, and during her free time, you’ll find her with her family, enjoying time outdoors, going to the movies, and creating DIY projects.

Yumi has been in the early childhood education field for 18 plus years and finds it so rewarding. She believes that all successful careers are the product of great early learning. The most satisfying part of her work is building relationships with students and families. Yumi looks forward to strong partnerships with her team as well.

Yumi is from Pohnpei State in Micronesia. She moved to Virginia to help take care of her granddaughter, Ilana. Yumi has three children, Ginette, Ginero and Graven. In her free time, she likes to visit with friends and family.

Liz has been in early childhood education for 16 years, most recently helping children as a family support specialist. She has her associate’s degree and is pursing her bachelor’s degree in child and adolescent psychology. Liz values being a trusted caregiver to support children’s developmental journeys. Accessibility is very important to her, and she is committed to allowing families to experience early childhood development at Brynmor.

After her time as a Family Support Worker for DC families and children, Liz
transitioned to a role as a Child Find outreach specialist for the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in DC. She worked with families throughout the District by assessing child development and providing developmental and inclusivity training to childcare centers. Liz established strong partnerships with community-based organizations and medical facilities in DC that support families with infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities.

As a Team Lead, Liz is committed to supporting her fellow educators to achieve the goal of providing high quality care to early learners. Liz’s son Adrian is a toddler and brings constant joy to her life. During her free time, she enjoys spas, reading, and writing.

Nika has been in the early childhood education field for more than 16 years. She started her professional life in retail management and initially joined the ECE profession for a change. Soon after, Nika realized that she had found her passion in a career that allowed her to watch children learn and grow. She has experience helping centers with the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accreditation process.

The most satisfying part of her job is to watch children be their authentic selves. At school, they can be bold, quiet, adventurous, shy, messy, artistic, and so may other combinations. Nika likes getting to know children and catering her teaching to meet their specific needs. She thrives on meeting each child where they are and watching them blossom.

Nika is originally from North Carolina, though she was raised in Northern Virginia. Her daughter Samia is 21 and in her senior year at Howard University, where she works with special needs children. Her son Sam is 13 and goes to Lake Braddock. He plays AAU basketball. The family has a bulldog Rayne. In their free time, they love to hike, watch movies, visit new places and enjoy time with their loved ones.

Since 2008, June has been committed to the field of early childhood education. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BA in Early and Elementary Education and is currently pursuing her Masters in Education.

June comes from a family of educators and respect for children runs deep in her upbringing. She is excited to be a part of Brynmor because her personal beliefs align with our genuine approach to educating young learners. Bringing her creativity and joie de vivre to Brynmor, she is committed to cultivating bright experiences and memories with her early learners.

Although she has lived in Virginia for 23 years, June is originally from South Carolina and enjoys going home to visit her relatives. In her free time, she also has fun exploring the DMV area for the amazing food, events, and nature trails. June loves having freshly made treats from the Dutch Farmers Markets.