Located in the VA/New York Harbor Health Care System, Vets Kids has four joyful, child-centered classrooms and a state of the art playground with age-appropriate play areas for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
Our classroom curriculum is enhanced by classes with local musicians, yoga instructors, and soccer coaches. The children explore the surrounding community by visiting local vendors, and playgrounds and sprinkler parks in the warmer months.
Please contact us for more information about part time and drop-in rates
Marina Velez graduated from Herbert Lehman College in 2007 with a Master’s in Early Childhood Education. She holds over 15 years of experience working with young children. Marina is passionate about the development of the whole child and emotionally responsive practices, as well as developing a partnership with parents, teachers and staff to ensure a cooperative center community and positive learning experience for the children.
Kayleen Carrillo-Velez earned her BA in Childhood Education at Brooklyn College. She is pursuing her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood General/Special Education at Bank Street School of Education. She holds an NYS teacher certification in Childhood Education. Kayleen has worked in the field of Education for seven years. She began working for Imagine in 2022 as an Infant co-head teacher and later became a preschool teacher. Kayleen loves engaging children in rich creative art activities and enjoys watching them learn through exploration.
Jessica Cha has a B.S. and two masters degrees in Early Childhood Special Education (M.A.) and School Building Leadership (M.A.), all from NYU. She began her career working with children with special needs in various early childhood programs throughout New York City, as well as providing Early Intervention and Committee on Preschool Special Education services. Most recently, Jessica spent 7 years with the Division of Early Childhood in the NYC DOE assessing program quality and support throughout NYC. She is certified in the Environmental Rating Scales (FCCERS; ITERS; ECERS) in both New York and New Jersey, as well as Teachstone’s CLASS Toddler Assessment Tool. While supporting Vets Kids as the Associate Director, Jessica is also the Special Development Coordinator for several other Imagine sites.
Address : 250 423 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010
Phone : 212-951-3435
Email : [email protected]
Fax : 212-951-6827
If you are interested in the program, please call to schedule a tour. There is a $30 wait list fee, which is a tax deductible donation to our Imagine Kids for Kids foundation.
The center is licensed by the NYC DOHMH/Bureau of Child Care, accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).