Staff
School Administration
James Clay, Director
Jim has been director since 1984 and taught at Quaker House 1981-1984 and in the Blue Room 1984-1989. Before that he worked in a Head Start Program and as a teacher at Capitol East Children's Center.
Jim took course work in Day Care at Prince George's Community College. He has published several articles on early childhood education. Since 1983 he has led workshops on family diversity, administration, and staff development at the annual conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). He received an M.S. in day care administration from Bank Street College of Education in New York in 1988. Since 1988 he has taught an annual "parenting" class at School for Friends. Email Jim.
Clare Coppel, Office Administrator and Database Manager
Clare Coppel was born in Ascot, a small town in England. She relocated to America with her husband, and lived in California from 2001 before moving to DC in 2008. While in England, Clare worked for a world wide corporate conferencing company, the National Health Service, which included two very interesting years working at Broadmoor, an infamous top security psychiatric hospital. Upon arrival in America Clare's career focused on the field of Film and Video Post Production. Since January 2009 she has enjoyed working as the Office Administrator and Database Manager at School for Friends and getting to know everyone involved with the school.
BLUE ROOM, Two Year Olds
Staci Bauer, Lead Teacher
Staci is the lead teacher and this is her first school year at School for Friends. She was born and raised in Oregon and moved to Washington D.C. 2 years ago upon graduating college. Staci went to college at The University of Oregon where she studied Sociology and Special Education. She worked as a Co-Teacher for 2 years at a child development center in D.C. before coming to School for Friends. Staci started working with children 10 years ago coaching volleyball for 8-9 year olds and working as teacher assistants throughout school. She also worked as a live-in nanny for a summer in college. Her niece and nephews are her favorite people in her family and she is the only person in her family with red hair.
Cyana Chamberlain, Assistant Teacher
Cyana is one of the assistant teachers and she previously worked at School for Friends for two years as a classroom aide. She was born and raised in Washington, D.C. and attended George Washington University where she received a B.A. in Sociology. Prior to full-time employment at School for Friends, Cyana worked at several different centers in the Washington area. She enjoys walks in the parks and her favorite flowers are sunflowers.
Tanya Green, Assistant Teacher
Tanya is an assistant teacher and this is her first year at School for Friends. She was born and raised in Washington, D.C. and attends Montgomery Community College. Prior to employment at School for Friends, Tanya was Assistant Director/Toddler Teacher at Shiloh Child Development Center. Tanya started working with kids in 1993 at D.C. Public Schools at McGogney Elementary School where she served as a special education teaching assistant until her school closed in 2006. She also worked with Special Needs children at St. Coletta of Greater Washington for two years. Tanya enjoys spending time with her two Yorkshire Terriers, Denim & DeZigner.
Shivani Gogna, Teacher's Aid (PM)
GREEN ROOM, Two and Three Year Olds
Jacqueline Whiting, Lead Teacher
Jackie was an assistant teacher in the Blue Room from 1984 to 1991. Between 1991 and 1993 she worked at Just Us Kids as a floater and as a teacher coordinator. She also was a certified childcare provider in her home for 11 months. She completed her Child Development Associate credential in 1991. She worked at First Baptist Church Child Care Center during the 1983-1984 school year. She holds a certification in childcare from the Logan Community School.
She earned her AA Degree in early childhood education May 13, 2006.
Margaret Edwards, Assistant Teacher
Margaret Edwards started working with young children as a Sunday school teacher at the age of fourteen. She considers teaching/nurturing as one of the important purposes of her life. Her working experience includes four years as a sewing teacher at an elementary school, school-teaching children 8-12 years old. She joined the SFF staff in September 1999 she worked as a teacher's aide in the Rainbow Room and as an assistant teacher at Quaker House. Margaret left SFF to study full time at UDC for her B.A in Early Childhood Education; she graduated in 2009, and returned to full time teaching at School for Friends.
Alice Akinyele, Teacher's Aid (PM))
RAINBOW ROOM, Three Year Olds
Makai Kellogg, Lead Teacher
Makai Kellogg graduated from Trinity University with a Masters of Art in Early Childhood Education in December, 2010. She completed her student teaching requirements in the Quaker House classroom. She also completed Trinity University's undergraduate program with a B.A. in History. Makai attended D.C. Public Schools until she began high school at Sidwell Friends School. She also provided childcare at Friends Meeting of Washington for seven years.
LaJuan Celey, Assistant Teacher
LaJuan was born and raised in Washington, DC and attended DC public schools. After High School, she completed nearly two years of education at the University of the District of Columbia with a concentration in the nursing department. She worked at First Baptist Child Care Center for two years. LaJuan accepted the position at School for Friends in 1986. She would like to pursue further education in the teaching field. She has also participated in multiple workshops over the years and she received her CDA certificate. LaJuan is married and is the proud mother of three children, Jamar, Daevon and Jacqueline.
Jasmin Hayward, Teacher's Aid (PM)
QUAKER HOUSE CLASSROOM, Three and Four Year Olds
Sabina Zeffler
Sabina is from the coastal town of Bremen, Germany, where she lived most of her life. She was born in Calcutta, India, where she spent her early childhood. She studied in Germany and received a degree in occupational therapy. She has worked with children with special needs, ages three to ten years old in private practice and in preschools. Sabina joined the School for Friends staff in Spring of 2003. She has earned her CDA credential. In her spare time, she loves to spend lots of time with her son Laurence and enjoys literature and yoga as well as art and painting.
Elsy Blanco, Assistant Teacher (floater)
Elsy was born in El Salvador. She came to the US at age fifteen, and finished high school here. After that, she took English and Computer courses to polish her skills. In 2002, she took the 90 hour course in early childhood education. Two years later, she received her child development associate (CDA) bilingual credential. She started working with RCIS (Rock Creek International School) in 2001 as a bus driver, assistant teacher and summer school Spanish teacher until 2007. She is married and has two beautiful daughters, Emily and Valeria. She loves to spend time with her family. Her hobbies include fishing and reading a good book.
Abriance Baker-Lawrence, Assistant Teacher
Thomas Russell, Teacher's Aid (PM)