Julie Averill, a mom herself, has been working with babies and young children through age 5 for the last fourteen years.
Working with young children and their families is Julie’s passion – from witnessing a baby’s first steps to seeing a toddler’s eyes light up at the sight of a new discovery, to helping a young child conquer separation anxiety.
You will see Julie in the classroom on the floor with children in our Toddle Around, Mess it Up, and Gentle Separation classes. All new clients are sure to receive a personal email from her welcoming them to Kids at Work!
Julie’s formal education includes a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Hartford. In addition to her hands-on experience with babies and young children, she has also completed The RIE I: Theory and Observation course in infant and toddler development and care.
Julie works to curate an amazingly compassionate and mature team of early childhood professionals to work with the children at Kids at Work. Julie also holds a masters in orchestral flute from Manhattan School of Music.
Julie and her husband Dmitry have two sons born in 2011 and 2014, and live on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Samantha General Manager
Samantha earned her Bachelor’s degree in Film Production from Brooklyn College. She has a strong interest in early childhood development and a passion for creativity and storytelling. With experience supporting young children and their families, she brings warmth, enthusiasm, and a creative spirit to her role at Kids at Work. Samantha has been a team member at Kids at Work since August 2025. Samantha is American Red Cross Certified in First Aid and CPR/AED for infant - adults.
Teacher Nicole Preschool Prep Gentle Separation, Lead Teacher
Nicole holds a Master’s Degree from NYU’s School of Global Public Health, where she studied an array of public health topics and completed early childhood development courses. These courses deepened her understanding of child development and family health. Prior to embarking on her masters degree at NYU, Nicole worked for over 10 years as a teacher for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers at a preschool on the Upper West Side. She holds a BA from John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
Alongside her academic background, she has completed extensive maternal and postpartum care training, she has earned a Provisional Doula Certificate from Ancient Song Doula Service. She has also done narrative medicine coursework, human rights workshops, and public-health education that strengthens her holistic perspective on the transition from birth through early childhood.
Nicole also brings a strong foundation in safety and emergency preparedness, with infant–adult First Aid/CPR/AED certification. She also has multiple FEMA courses certifications focused on communication, inclusive care, and family-centered disaster response, along with NYU’s Advanced Certification in Disaster Science, Policy, and Practice. These experiences inform her calm, empathetic, and supportive approach to caring for children and families at Kids at Work. Nicole has been with Kids at Work since May of 2022 and was promoted to lead teacher of our Preschool Prep Program in Fall of 2024. Outside of work, Nicole loves art, books, cooking, museums, traveling, and exploring the city. She is also the proud mom of a middle schooler, navigating the teen years with openness, curiosity, and enthusiasm.
Teacher Sophie Lead Teacher, Summer Camp
Sophie is an actor, singer, and songwriter with a BFA in Musical Theatre from The Hartt School. Sophie is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from City College, and has worked as an Associate Lead Teacher of children ages 2-4 on the Upper East Side, since 2023. Since 2015, she has been teaching music, drama, and songwriting to kids of all ages and she’s so excited to join the team at Kids at Work! You can check out Sophie's "grown-up" music here! https://www.sophiadeleo.com
Teacher Mia Lead Teacher, Cooking
Mia is a dancer and performer from Phoenix, Arizona. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Brigham Young University and has years of experience teaching dance to toddlers and teens, as well as working as a substitute teacher and nanny. Mia is passionate about creating a fun, caring environment where children can learn, grow, and build confidence. She also has a love for cooking and baking, with experience working in café and restaurant environments, and is excited to share that passion by creating engaging, hands-on cooking experiences for young chefs. Mia has been with Kids at Work since July of 2026.
Teacher Kevin Lead Teacher and Facilities Manager
Kevin is a NYC native and has been with KAW for over 5 years. Kevin holds an Associate degree in Digital Arts and came to KAW with creativity in arts. His passion of working with children evolved from his mother who’s now a retired middle school teacher. Kevin’s interests are arts, sports, music, traveling, and cooking. Kevin is also knowledgeable about the Kids At Work facility. His friendly, talkative, calm and confident demeanor are a wonderful addition to the workplace. Kevin has been a team member at Kids at Work since June 2019.
Teacher Sam Assistant Teacher & Facilities
Sam earned his Bachelor’s degree in Television and Media Production from Ithaca College. He has a strong interest in creative projects and child-centered learning, and brings a thoughtful, imaginative approach to supporting young children. Sam has experience working as a teacher’s assistant in both high school and college, where he enjoyed helping create engaging and supportive learning environments.
Originally from New Jersey, Sam now lives in West Harlem. An avid reader and writer, he also loves to cook and experiment in the kitchen. Sam is excited to assist in Cooking classes and Mess It Up!, supporting children as they explore creativity, curiosity, and hands-on fun. Sam has been a team member at Kids at Work since March 2025.
Teacher Hannah Lead Teacher Dance, Music
Hannah has been teaching music to young learners for four years, specializing in voice, guitar, and beginner musicianship. She holds a Bachelor of the Arts in Theatre & Film Production with an interdisciplinary focus in Business and Classical Voice from Louisiana State University. Hannah brings professional experience as a working musician and actress across folk, musical theatre, classical, and cabaret. Hannah is also a performer and recording artist based in Manhattan - check her out at hannahpapizan.com. With her warm, confident personality and versatile musical background, she creates an engaging and supportive environment that inspires children to explore and enjoy music. She has been with Kids at Work since March of 2025.
Teacher Jill Lead Teacher, Music
Jillian has been working in childhood education & teaching the performing arts including teaching voice and directing children's theatre since 2016. With experience working with children ages 2 months to teens, Jillian is excited to be a part of the Kids At Work team! Jillian is an actor and singer, graduating from the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in 2022, who has performed regionally and throughout the city. Additionally, she is pursuing her own music, directing, and work in accessibility advocacy. Jillian has been a part of the Kids at Work team since January 2025.
Teacher Jake Lead Teacher, Music and Toddle Around
Jake Slater is a multi-disciplined musician originally from Rochester, NY. He holds a BM in Music Theatre from Baldwin Wallace University. Before college, he developed a love for early childhood education by working at the NYS School for the Blind as a music teacher. In his free time, Jake enjoys performing his own original compositions and working as a freelance producer. You can also find him jamming at many of the venues around Bushwick, Brooklyn, where he lives. Jake is so excited to be part of the Kids at Work team, and has been on staff since 2022!
Teacher Marlena Lead Teacher, Music
Marlena is a singer and composer living in Brooklyn. She worked professionally as a theatre artist and musician in New York City for six years. She is currently an active member of the NYC Sacred Harp community and in the choir of St. Brigid's Roman Catholic Church in Bushwick. She has also worked in education and visitor engagement for the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Central Park and Prospect Park Zoos. She performs and writes in English and Spanish, and (some of) her original music can be found at marlenaospina.bandcamp.com Marlena has been a team member at Kids at Work since August 2022.
Sandra holds a certification as an Assistant Teacher and worked for over 20 years as a private teacher and caregiver. She is currently continuing her education in Criminal Justice. Sandra is also a fluent Spanish speaker. Sandra has three children and an infant grandson, she lives in NYC with her husband and two teens. She is a member of the Parent Teacher Association at her children's school. Sandra also holds certifications in CPR Pro and First Aid: Responding to Emergencies. Sandra is an Assistant Teacher in Preschool Prep Separation and KAW Summer Camp. She has been a part of the Kids at Work team since June 2023.
Teacher Erin Social Media Manager, Preschool Prep Assistant Teacher
Erin has been an employee with Kids at Work since 2022. Erin has worn many hats at Kids at Work, and her job has grown from facilities manager to assistant teacher to administrative manager to social media manager. Prior to KAW Erin taught cooking classes with Tastebuds Kitchen and Curated Care. She is a graduate of NYU and is super excited to continue her work in Early Childhood Education.
Teacher Kelcie Summer Camp, Assistant Teacher
Front Desk and Party Manager
Kelcie has worked extensively with a variety of ages over the years, with children and families from all backgrounds. She has worked with the founder's personal family for over 5 years. She is extremely passionate about her job, and acknowledges and cherishes the impact she can have on a child, and the joy that they can create together. Kelcie is energetic, patient, and a constant source of encouragement for all the children she has the pleasure of working with. Kelcie has been a team member at Kids at Work since January 2024.
Teacher Lyric Lead Teacher, Dance
Lyric is a Performer, Teaching Artist, and Choreographer originally from Seattle Washington. She holds a bachelor's degree in Dance education K-12 from Brigham Young University. With more than 5 years of professional experience teaching children, Lyric is excited to be a part of the Kids at Work team here in NYC. She is passionate about sharing her love of creativity and play with youth and the world! Lyric has been a team member at Kids at Work since September 2023.
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