Dana Cavanaugh

Dana is the Director of Prospect Preschool and teaches the AM 4s class. Dana attended the University of Scranton, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with a minor in Studio Art. She then earned a Master of Science in Curriculum and Teaching from Fordham University. Dana lives in Maplewood with her husband and three children, all of whom attended Prospect. She has been a member of the Prospect community for 12 years. Prior to taking on the roles of Director and Head Teacher, she was an active parent, worked as a substitute teacher, and also ran Prospect’s very popular lunch bunch program.

Ashley Blossom

Ashley teaches the AM 4s class. Ashley has a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Master's degree in Literacy and Language Instruction from Michigan State University. She spent 7 years teaching kindergarten and teaching kids to read and write is her bread and butter. Ashley has two young children who are both Prospect alum. She served on the Prospect Preschool Board for many years and decided that parting from Prospect Preschool officially was not something she wanted to do simply because she loves it so much. Ashley is passionate about play-based learning and bringing warmth and joy to the classroom.

Kristy Lynch

Kristy teaches the long-day 4s class. She is delighted to be a part of the Prospect family. Originally from California, Kristy has a Masters degree in Education from the University of La Verne, and a Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies from California State University Northridge. She received her teaching credential in California and taught at the elementary school level. She has also been a child care director and assistant director for school aged children in both California and Colorado. After moving to Maplewood, her twins both attended Prospect and Kristy met the amazing staff she now works with. When shes’s not traveling, helping with the school PTA, playing with her dog Wally, or singing show tunes, you will find her entertaining the neighborhood on her front lawn with her husband and three kids.

Janet Trzaska

Janet teaches the long-day 4s class. Janet attended Susquehanna University, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations with a minor in Broadcasting. Prior to joining Prospect, Janet held similar roles in Chatham and South Orange. She currently resides in Maplewood along with her husband, their cat, and two children occasionally home from college for laundry and a home-cooked meal. In her free time, she enjoys a good book, attending theater and dance performances and, when her knees allow it, a spin around the nearest ice rink. Janet is glad to be a part of the Prospect community.

Janine Marks

Janine teaches the long-day 4’s class, and has been teaching at Prospect Preschool for the past 6 years in both 3’s and 4’s classrooms. Janine has a BA of Communications from Fordham University, and earned her CDA through Penn State University. Prior to her time at Prospect, Janine worked in the ad industry on the agency and then sales side. She lives in Maplewood with her husband and two children, both of whom attended Prospect.

Sara Knutsen

Sara teaches the M-F 3s class. Sara has a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and Education from Colgate University. Sara lives in Maplewood and has three children. She is a former Administrator of the Prospect Board and is also the Director of Camp Prospect.

Jennifer Dannheisser

Jennifer teaches the M-F 3s class. She received her BA in Literature from Empire State College. In her previous career, she was a dancer performing in musicals on Broadway, in Europe and touring the US. She lives with her family in Maplewood and both of her sons went to Prospect Preschool. She is so happy to be a part of the Prospect community!

Andrea Erickson

Andrea teaches teaches the M/W/F 3s class. Andrea has a Bachelor of Science in computer science from Lehigh University and a Master of Arts in early childhood education from Johns Hopkins University. Andrea is a local mom to four kids. She absolutely adores children and has been working with kids for many years. Andrea is really proud to be a part of the Prospect community and has been teaching at Prospect since 2015.

Meredith Brehm

Meredith Brehm teaches the M/W/F 3s class. She is so thrilled to officially be part of the Prospect community after helping with Lunch Bunch and Enrichment for the last two years. Meredith received a Bachelor's degree in Marketing with a Minor in French from Fordham University. She spent 16 years working in the jewelry industry doing product development before pivoting down a more meaningful path of working with children. Meredith is currently working on her CDA certification through Penn State University. Meredith resides in Maplewood with her husband, two daughters and two Tibetan terriers. When she's not at Prospect, she's served on the Tuscan PTA and is an active member of the Tuscan community, she volunteers with her therapy dog, Mochi and she loves to watch her daughters light up the stage.

Ally Cherins

Ally teaches the Tu/Th and M/W 2s classes. She earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Hunter College in NYC. She has worked with infants and children of all abilities in a variety of settings. Ally has lived in Maplewood for 19 years. She and her husband Jon have three children: Maya, 21, Jesse, 18 and Sam, 14. She also has two fur-babies, Zoe, a Bernedoodle and Frankie, a French Mastiff. Ally is happiest when she is cooking, traveling, hiking and spending time with her family and friends. She is grateful to be a part of the Prospect Preschool Community.

Melanie Sim

Melanie teaches the Tu/Th 2s class. Melanie is a history graduate of the University of London. She has worked in a variety of settings including the Royal Acadmy of Dancing, the Inns of Court in London and Goldman Sachs. She has three children aged 22, 20 and 17, all graduates of Prospect Preschool who all remain best friends with the children they met at Prospect at age 2 and 3! While a Prospect parent, she served on the board for several years as well as the Tuscan PTA and the SOMSD Special Education Parents Advisory Committee. She considers the mom friends she made through Prospect to still be very much part of her 'village' and she is looking forward to returning to teach at Prospect after a break of a couple of years.

Terry DeMonte

Terry teaches the M/W 2s class. Terry earned her Bachelor's degree in Communications at Penn State University and worked in advertising for several years until she realized she wanted something different. With the support of her husband, she went back to school and received her Master's in Education at Rutgers University. Terry has never looked back, and has taught in Hoboken, then at another SOMA preschool since 2017, and is very excited to join the Prospect community. Both her children attended Prospect and most recently her son graduated from the looping class—so she's very happy to keep Prospect in her life. You might see her walking her two doodles around (Snuffy and Ruby), winning costume contests at the Prospect fundraiser, or her giant Penn State flag outside her house on game day.

Courtney Weckesser

Courtney earned her Bachelors degree in Psychology from Montclair State University. She has worked as Lead Teacher in a child development center with infants and toddlers and as a Nanny to young children in Manhattan. Courtney has lived in Maplewood for 9 years with her husband and 3 kids. While being home with her kids, she has been a substitute teacher at Prospect and at a local art school. She has served on the Prospect Board for years, as all 3 of her children have gone to Prospect. Courtney is a huge fan of messy sensory play and is eager to bring that joy to Prospect!

Katie Rumley

Katie works with our Prospect Bunnies (new in fall 2024!). Katie graduated with a BFA in Music and Theater from the University of Buffalo and earned a CDA through Penn State University. She is also a certified Music Together teacher. Katie is a Maplewood resident whose children both attended Prospect. She has served on various local PTA boards and acts as a liaison for the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee in the South Orange/Maplewood school district.

Our Teachers