our family

Carol earned a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education and is licensed in special education and nursery through eighth grade general education studies by the State of New Jersey. Her career in education began over four decades ago when she taught nursery school, and then fourth and fifth grade students, ESL, and students with special needs. In 1985 when Carol's third child was eighteen months old and it was time to go back to her teaching position she was dissatisfied with her child care option. She decided to open her own childcare in her home. Within a few months she had outgrown her house and took her waiting list and moved into a nearby facility and began a high-quality, nurturing child care center. By 1988 she had outgrown that first facility and luckily found TMH's current location in Leonia, NJ where she has made a happy home for all the TMH families.

Michele has taught in every classroom at Take My Hand and now spends her days working with teachers tailoring TMH’s developmental curriculum to inspire and encourage learning at every age. She looks to the children’s interests to foster connections between the classroom, home and community. Her goal is to make play meaningful by infusing favorite children’s books, seasonal happenings and conversation topics that arise in the classroom into circle time, art projects, sensory play and science exploration. You are just as likely to find Michele on the floor, building a castle or reading a story with the children as you are talking with a parent.

Michele’s educational background includes a B.S. in Family and Women’s Studies as well as Social Policy. Her work and volunteer experience have always centered on the needs of families looking to improve the quality of life for women and children in the community and through public policy.  Her knowledge, warmth and love of children and learning can be felt throughout the school.

Jonathan grew up at TMH and he was in the first class of graduates from the TMH preschool. Many years later, after getting a B.S. in Business and working in a corporate office for a few years he decided he is better suited for the playground life. He returned to TMH in 2010 to join the family business. On the playground he's always ready for a game of duck-duck-goose, a scavenger hunt or soccer. Inside, he can be found building with legos, helping with a puzzle and making sure all the toys work and the teachers  and classrooms have everything they need or a successful day of learning.