Grow With Us
Owner and Founder Since 2015
I am the Lead Teacher at Berkys Day Care with 40 years of experience working with children. I have a passion working with children and I believe that we are changing education as well as our communities understanding of how children learn best. I believe these years are critical to a whole child’s development which directly effects their entire future. I believe there is nothing more important than the work we do with young children and families. Everything we do directly affects the outcomes.
Curriculum Advisor
Stephanie Duran is the Owner and Director at Berkys Early Development located in Valley Stream, NY. She is the Curriculum Advisor for Berkys Schools. Stephanie is an Early Childhood Educator who has over 15 years of experience and an educational background in the field of Childhood Development. She has received an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Nassau Community College, and later received a Bachelor’s degree in history with an understudy in Early Childhood Education from Queens College. She continues to study the latest developments in Early Childhood Education (ECE) to ensure that the best educational experience for all my students at Berkys Schools is provided.
Our safe, nurturing learning environment is filled with unconditional love and acceptance. We strive to develop a family feeling within each class. Our school is a place where children desire to be and will never forget, a place that will positively influence them for years to come.
Each child is a special person with unique gifts and talents. Through a holistic approach to child development, we set high expectations and goals for each child by stimulating and encouraging physical, social, emotional, and intellectual development.
Our children are given the opportunity to create, solve problems and develop deeper thinking skills in an environment designed to engage without over-stimulation. We work closely with the children to develop rich learning spaces that balance play and structure in a format that develops creativity and self-awareness within each child.
Communication is critical and comes in many forms. We teach the children how to communicate respectfully in order to get their needs met; make lasting friendships; and solve problems by leading through example. We seek to establish a collaborative relation between parents and teachers, sharing information and ideas to create a supportive partnership for each child.
These energetic little ones are growing and learning, so we channel their energy into positive learning moments by giving them ample room to move and explore. Here, toddlers receive encouragement and guidance toward the growth of their physical skills and emerging milestones: Stimulating classroom environments, exclusive milestone-based curriculum, immersive learning experiences and educational toys and activities.
The Preschool and Pre-K Program offers a wide variety of experiences. Through weekly themes, the children learn new concepts, allowing them to expand their play and to share individual interest and ideas. This warm, nurturing classroom environment encourages collaboration and individual growth. In a playful space, filled with fun and friendship, children get a jumpstart on the essential readiness skills to begin their academic career in kindergarten: Problem solving, implementing language in learning and collaborative social skills.
In the morning, we set your child up for success during the school day by offering a consistent morning routine with opportunities for calming activities, free play, and a whole group activity designed to encourage students to set a goal for their day ahead.