staff

Susan Roscigno 

I hold a BA in Elementary Education and a MS in Human Development and Family Sciences. I taught grade school in NC for a few years, stayed home with my children  for a bit, and have been at SYC since 1993. Outside of SYC, I love to knit, travel and read. I am honored to share in the leadership of SYC as a co-director with Amy, and look forward to maintaining the special combination of play, joy, and learning that has come to mean “SYC”. 

Little known fact: My favorite number is 87.

Amy Rudawsky

I’m a graduate of The Ohio State University with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and Development. Since, 2000 I have been involved in the early childhood field, as a teacher and administrator, research assistant, contributing writer to Ohio’s Infant and Toddler’s Guidelines, a consultant to Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Agency (O.C.C.R.R.A.) and as Mom to Nate and Natalie (both SYC Alums).

Little known fact: I’m a level 3 CrossFit coach and enjoy competing in local masters CrossFit competitions

Kate Blake

I grew up near Fort Wayne, IN and received my undergraduate degree from Denison University in Granville, OH in Environmental Studies with a concentration in Sociology/Anthropology. I worked in the sustainable agriculture field for 8 years before staying home with my children. I also have a background in dance and have found joy in teaching creative movement and ballet to a variety of age groups at BalletMet throughout my adult life. My husband, Jake, and I live with our children in Worthington. I became an SYC parent in 2019 and have two SYC graduates: Stedman (10) and Alden (6). I also have an amazing stepdaughter, Anna (16), who has been a teen helper at play camp. I enjoy traveling, being outdoors, writing, reading, making and listening to music, working at and going to the farmer’s market, and attending performances (particularly the spontaneous ones my children put on in our basement). I am thrilled to be growing alongside the children in the SYC classroom, a truly special place.

Little known fact: I studied abroad in New Zealand and researched the impacts of tourism on yellow-eyed penguins. I loved being abroad and struggled with missing my family (both things at the same time)—not so different from being at preschool

Jenifer Bojanowski

I was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio.  I obtained my Bachelors of Science from Bethany College, in West Virginia.  I have been teaching at SYC since 1992 (with the exception of the 6 years I was living and doing graduate work in California).  SYC has been a part of my life since I was a child, because my mother also taught here.  Over the years this place has been such a place of growing and nurturance.  And, it grounds me in play.  I love to get out in nature, read, do yoga and Tai Chi, and chill out with our cat and dog.

Little known fact: When I am not at SYC I can be found amongst my many beads creating jewelry.

Debbie Crawford

I was born in Guatemala City (my parents were in the missionary field) and moved to Columbus when I was 5 years old. I have lived here ever since!

I have been working as a private nanny for 10 years with a focus on babies and toddlers. I love learning about childhood development in my free time and briefly studied Early Childhood Education at Columbus State Community College. I found traditional schooling to be too restrictive and prefer to study in my spare time and at my own pace. Perhaps my learning style is play based as well!

I truly believe children are whole beings that are here to learn from us as guides and can even teach their grown ups a thing or two! I interned at SYC through the Graham School over 20 years ago for a semester and really knew there was a special energy here and am so honored to be part of the official staff. The respect that the team at SYC holds for children’s natural development is so important and I really treasure being a part of that positive shift in early childhood learning that traditional schooling lacks.

My husband (Carlo), daughter (Tilly, SYC grad ’24), and I live in Clinton Estates. We have 2 cats (Georgie and Cashew).

In my free time I enjoy connecting in nature, exercising, practicing yoga, crocheting, reading, playing guitar, singing, and helping animals in need.

Little known fact: I study spiders and bugs for fun! My favorite is the regal jumping spider. 

Alicia DiMarco

Also serves as Child Development Consultant

I received my undergraduate degrees from the University of Dayton in Special Education. After doing a year of service at a women’s homeless shelter in Boston I realized that Social Work was my true calling. I received a Masters of Science in Child Development from the Erikson Institute and a Masters of Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. After graduation, I moved back to Columbus and worked as a Social Worker at Nationwide Children’s Hospital before becoming a Therapeutic Preschool Clinician at St. Vincent Family Center. I left this organization to be a stay-at-home parent. I live in Clintonville with my husband (Greg), kids (Leo & Vivi) and pup (Nazza). In my free time (whatever that is 🙂 ) I enjoy traveling, eating delicious foods, listening to podcasts, and spending time with friends and family.

Little known fact: I was a coxswain for the University of Dayton’s Women’s Rowing team during undergrad.

Chinatsu Glass

Hi, my name is Chinatsu. I am originally from Japan, but have lived in Ohio for many years now. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Japanese language and literature from Jogakuin Woman’s University in Hiroshima. I met my husband Josh ( who is from Clintonville ) in Japan and married there, had my oldest Jack, then middle kid Atticus there.

I worked as a tour guide at Yamato War Ship Museum while in Japan. When we moved to the USA, we had our youngest Olivia. During this time, I worked as a 1st and 2nd grade teacher at The Columbus Japanese School and taught for 6 years. I discovered my passion for teaching there as children are the light of my life. I learned of SYC after my husband read “the SYC book” , It’s ok not to Share. A couple years later our neighbor mentioned that her children attended and had such amazing things to say about about the program. As I learned about the process and philosophy, I fell in love with SYC community. Both Atticus and Olivia are SYC alumni but Jack ( the one who didn’t come to SYC ) still lets us know how upset he is that he couldn’t attend. I am so excited to return for another year! I enjoy gardening, eating sweets and relaxing with my dog, Ruby and cat, Pippy.

Little known fact : A lot of people tell me that I am good at drawing pictures! I dreamed of becoming a Manga artist when I was young.

Laura Hansen

I am a certified trauma-informed specialist, educator trainer and parent coach. I am also a certified Wunderled educator. I have four children and 6 grandchildren. I am an avid researcher and love to learn. I am passionate about mental health, play based learning, child development, advocating for children, and nature. The early years are my favorite and I enjoy being a co-learner/co-traveler on the children’s journey. I learned of SYC while reading the book, “It’s OK Not to Share.” I knew immediately that it was the school for me. I am grateful to work with and learn from such incredible educators! I love our SYC community!

Little known fact: I am a licensed cosmetologist and worked at Cookie Cutters for 5 years 

Katie Hanson

My name is Katie, and I am a ’96 SYC Alum! I grew up in Clintonville and now live in Gables with my husband Phil and our 3 boys, Arlo (K) Kit (in the MWF 4s), and Ellis (in the F 2s). I am a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, a Certified Child Life Specialist, and hold a Master’s of Education from the University of Cincinnati and a Master’s of Science in Developmental Disabilities from Nova Southeastern University. I have spent most of my career working with autistic adults and children at Ohio State, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and for several private companies.

SYC is truly a special place and I am so thankful that my children are able to spend their preschool years in this wonderful community. The focus on play, relationships, and solving conflict through communication is so important to early childhood development. I am so honored to teach at SYC!

In my free time, I am a stay-at-home mom, a very part-time behavior analyst, a HOBY volunteer, and an outdoor enthusiast. Phil and I love to travel and hike with our boys. We also try to manage one backpacking trip a year, and look forward to bringing the boys along when they are older. I love to read, cross stitch, and dabble in videography.

Little known fact: While an undergrad at Ohio University, I was on a sketch comedy show on public access TV called Fridays Live!

Gudrun Herzog

I was born in Graz, Austria, a city about a 2 hour drive from Vienna, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy and the Alps. This is also where I spent the first 28 years of my life, graduated from college with a masters degree in botany and met my husband Rudy. Both of our now adult children are SYC alumni. I have met more wonderful people than can be named at SYC, both children and adults. At SYC we help children grow, but it is also a place where children, parents and teachers help me learn new things every day!

Little known fact: I once studied law and worked for IBM and liked neither one of them! 

Kim Jannetti

I am a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa with a BBA in Marketing. I lived in Hawaii for 18 years and moved to Ohio in 2007. I really enjoyed growing up in Hawaii and miss many things, but I especially miss the Korean food and fresh seafood! My husband Aaron and I have 2 children, Maverick and Laney, both SYC alumni. I found SYC while I was pregnant with my son and knew I wanted to be a part of this amazing school. My appreciation for SYC’s approach to childhood learning also prompted me to pursue my studies in Early Childhood Education. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, strength training, reading, and traveling.

Little known fact: I was a competitive horseback rider for many years and traveled all over southern California competing before moving to Hawaii. 

Nancy Jesser

I grew up in New Jersey, went to college in NYC, lived for a while in Portlandia, then made my way to North Carolina where I lived in a cabin in the woods while attending Grad school. After graduation, I got a job at Ohio State where met my husband and taught Science and Technology Studies for many years. . We had a kid. That kid went to SYC and the rest is history. SYC had a huge impact on my life—not only did my child spend some wonderful years, but I met lifelong friends and some of my current colleagues. Because the community of young children, parents and teachers was so wonderful, I knew that if I ever stopped teaching the young adults I would want to be back at SYC teaching the young children. When I’m not at SYC, I spend lots of time in the woods, sometimes in Vermont. . I also enjoy cold water for swimming and kayaking. In addition to my kid and spouse, my family includes dog Kitsu, cat Hobi, and puppy Shashi.

Little known fact: My first language was Spanish because I lived my first 5 years in Bolivia. I still love to watch Netflix in Spanish and when I get a chance I love to listen to and chat with people

Sophie Lanfear

Hello SYC families! I’m Sophie. I am originally from the UK. I have an Undergraduate degree in History and Politics, a Masters of Education; Culture, Language and Identity, and a Masters of Primary Education, all from Goldsmiths College, University of London.

Before arriving in Columbus in 2019, I taught primary school in London for 5 years, and then moved to Lisbon, Portugal, to teach English at an international school.

Both of my children came through SYC and are now attending Clintonville public schools. We live nearby with our Portuguese street dog, Alan, and enjoy making the most of living near the Olentangy Trail, Whetstone Park and various creeks in the neighborhood.

SYC values a lot of the things that I as a parent and teacher value; time spent outside, child-led and free play, and most importantly, an emphasis placed on caring and respectful relationships. I’m so happy to be part of this special community!

Little known fact: I used to work in a fish and chip shop

Jordan Main

I graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Environmental Science and from the University of Maine with a Masters in Elementary Education. I taught elementary school for 7 years and then stayed home with my two kids, both of whom are SYC alumni. I am thrilled to be at SYC, playing and learning with children and their families! I enjoy biking, walking, gardening, reading, hiking, and spending time with my family – Steve, Naomi, and Alec.

Little known fact: I was a lifeguard during high school and college!

Nicole Mullineaux-Seletzky

I was born in Los Angeles, California, spent most of my childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, and moved to Columbus before starting high school. Coming from the equator to Ohio as a teenager was major culture shock and created a special spot in my heart for refugees, immigrants, and Third Culture Kids.

I took a gap year after high school doing service projects around the U.S. with AmeriCorps NCCC and deepened my childhood passion for ecological preservation while working with the Nevada Conservation Corps. I received my Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Science with a specialization in Ecosystem Restoration from OSU. My husband, Vanya, and I worked together on small, sustainable farms in California before moving to Boston, Massachusetts, and I developed a sustainable farm program for refugee and immigrant youth with a local non-profit organization.

We moved back to Columbus when I was pregnant with our second child thinking it would be a temporary stop, but SYC and the community we found here has kept us in Columbus longer than we could have ever imagined. I’m so thankful to have stumbled into this incredible place that’s had such a positive impact on our entire family. I now have four SYC grads: Jubilee (12), Quinn (10), Mira (8), and Aliza (6).

Little known fact: I narrowly missed being trampled by a herd of Cape buffalo as a child

Dawn Nauman

I have lived in Clintonville for the last 30 years. I came to SYC as a student 15 years ago while studying for my Associates of Sciences Degree in Early Childhood Education and I never left!

I love being a preschool teacher. I love meeting all kinds of kids and finding ways to connect with them and their families. I love helping kids overcome challenges by supporting them through hard things. I love sharing stories, songs and laughter with little people and my co- teachers. My goal as a teacher is to provide a safe space for kids to discover and explore what interests them.

In my spare time, I love spending time with my two adult children, my husband,and my extended family. I am an avid reader, puzzler and music fan (live and on the turntable). I also enjoy the theatre, cooking, yoga, the gym, running, traveling and long walks. My husband and love checking out breweries and fancy cocktail places in our spare time as semi-empty-nesters. We have two giant cats.

Little known fact: My last career was in local government. I am reminded each day that City Council members and preschoolers can be surprisingly alike!

Jen Steele

I grew up in rural northeast Ohio, and graduated from Ohio University with a BS in Human and Consumer Sciences, majoring in Early Childhood Education. While in my twenties, I waited tables in NYC for a while and later participated in a summer teaching program in Swaziland, Southern Africa. I taught K and 1st grade for ten years in Columbus City Schools and became a stay-at-home-mom after the birth of my second
child. My husband, Tyler, and I now have three kids—Paisley (17), Finley (13), and River (9), and our younger two were lucky enough to attend SYC. I stay very busy with the kids’ marching band, soccer, and other activities, but I also enjoy audiobooks,
traveling the US and internationally with my family, planning Disney trips for myself and others, and snuggling on the couch with my dogs, Ozzie, and Emmett.
I look forward to working with the SYC staff and families each year because I am certain that it will make me a better teacher, parent, partner, and human!

Little known fact: My first concert was to see New Kids on the Block, where I went up to the stage and gave the security guard a necklace to give to Joey.

Brette Swider

I attended SYC as a child, and that’s when the spell was cast… I may never leave! I have three children: Stella (age 8 – SYC alum), Stan (age 4 – one more year at SYC to go), and Scott (age 3 – two more years at SYC to go). I was born and raised in Clintonville and later in Worthington. I left home in 2005 for college and didn’t return to central Ohio to live until 2019. My husband, Matt, and I currently live in Plain City with our kids. My educational background is in Psychology (Child Life) from Utica College of Syracuse University and Marriage and Family Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. However, I’ve primarily been a stay-at-home mom since 2017. I’m excited and grateful that things have come full circle, and I now have the opportunity to work with children in a place that holds so many of my cherished childhood memories—SYC!

Little known fact: I owned and operated a successful interior design firm with my friend Dave when we lived in NYC and Westchester County, NY. I love working with color, patterns and textures to design spaces!

Kate Troyer

Also serves as Assistant Co-Director

I grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and received my undergraduate degree in mathematics and masters degree in education from OSU. I taught middle-school math and nannied before becoming a stay at home mom to my three children. In my free time I enjoy running, jigsaw puzzles, Buckeye football, fun cocktails, great restaurants, and, most especially, spending time with my friends and family.

Little known fact: I lived in Mozambique for two months while my husband volunteered during medical residency.

Holly Adams

I’m a classically trained musician (flute & piano) with a BA in Music from The Ohio State University. I’ve worked as an assistant manager for a housewares store and as a medical claims processor and premium collector for a major insurance company. My family includes two grown children and a husband of 30 years. I was an SYC parent for 6 years before working at SYC. Getting to know the families at SYC and watching the children grow is my favorite part of my job. I really do have the best job at SYC.

Little known fact: In the fall of 2019, I played The Stars and Stripes Forever March with 80 other piccolos and the OSU Marching Band in the ‘Shoe during a halftime show.