Our Teachers

THERESE RAGGHIANTI, Head Teacher/Director. Therese graduated from Brooklyn College with a Masters in Education in 1998. Her undergraduate studies were in Fashion Design and Merchandising from the American College for the Applied Arts in Atlanta and London. Therese began teaching at Old First in 1997 as an assistant. After several years as Head Teacher/Director, she left to have her own preschooler and returned as a parent. During that time she stayed on as Educational Director and then Educational Consultant. Therese believes that important life skills are being taught every day in preschool and is excited to be part of that process. Making learning fun while fostering self-esteem is one of her primary goals. She accomplishes this through song, dance, play and playdough. During her spare time, Therese enjoys sewing and playing the Alfaia with a Brazilian marching band.

ALLI O’DONNELL, Assistant Teacher. Alli came to New York in 2012 to attend The King's College as a Media, Culture, and the Arts major. Hailing from a small town in Louisiana and begrudgingly moving with her family to Las Vegas at the age of 9, Alli did not see herself as a city person and could not imagine staying in New York beyond her four years of schooling. After taking a nannying job with a family in Carroll Gardens, her heart slowly thawed and warmed to the city because of the beautiful families she met through her network of childcare. She moved from babysitting, to babysitting shares, to teaching at several homeschool co-ops. While still pursuing creative writing and songwriting/performance, Alli grew more and more passionate about early childhood education with its focus on emotional and language development and conflict resolution. Growing up homeschooled with 3 siblings, she found the Old First cooperative a natural fit. She is considering formal study in early childhood education to continue her professional career working with children.

KAY GORDON, Educational Consultant