Teachers

Each of our staff continually updates her own early childhood education through various programs and seminars.

Barbara Illingworth, Director, was also a teacher at MMPS for over 30 years. Barbara lives in South Orange with her husband, Donald, and has two grown sons and three grandchildren. She has a BS degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood from Seton Hall University.	Cynthia Hicks, Head Teacher, begins her seventh year at MMPS teaching the morning and afternoon 3-year–old class. She lives in Springfield with her husband, Brian, and three sons. Cynthia has her BS degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut.
Nancy O’Connell begins her eighth year at MMPS as a teacher for the morning and afternoon 4-year-old classes. She lives in Maplewood with her husband, Rob, and three children. Nancy has her MS in Rehabilitation Counseling from Springfield College, Springfield, MA and has her Child Development credentials from Montclair State University.	Margaret Gray, our afternoon 4-year-old teacher and former assistant teacher, lives in Maplewood with her husband, Tim, and five children. She has her BS degree in Psychology from Mt. Saint Mary’s College in Newburgh, NY and her MA in Special Education from Brooklyn, NY.
Lynn Sands, teacher for a 2 1/2-year-old class was a co-op parent for the past five years and is a former MMPS Board Vice President. She lives in Maplewood with her husband, Henry and two children. Lynn has her BS degree in Early Childhood Education from East Stroudsburg University, East Stroudsburg, PA and her MA degree in Computer Technology in the Elementary classroom from Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA.	Terrie Brodie teaches a 2 1/2-year-old class and a 3-year-old class. She was a co-op parent at MMPS for five years and served on the Board as the Registrar for two years. She lives in Maplewood with her husband, Tom, and two children. Terrie attended College of the Mainland, Texas City, TX and has her New Jersey CDA credential.