ABOUT
US
ABOUT US
Playful Families
Playful Schools
Playful World
Playful Learning is a method of early childhood education that artfully weaves together play with learning.
We bring education to life through our in-person preschool studio, online teacher and parent lounges, and hands-on learning materials—carefully curated for the youngest learners—and the families, teachers, and schools who care for them.
OUR
STORY
Playful Learning was founded by award-winning educator and author, Mariah Bruehl in 2008, as an online resource for children, parents, and teachers.
With the goal of bridging research and practice, Playful Learning Studio opened its doors in the spring of 2015 in the village of East Hampton, New York. We provide young learners with engaging in-person preschool programs utilizing our proprietary, play-based curriculum and methods.
Our innovative early childhood curriculum and hands-on experiences are developed in-house by our team of educators and implemented daily in our highly-curated early childhood classrooms and gardens.
Once curriculum has been vetted in our studio it’s made available to teachers and schools worldwide through our online membership, professional development, and hands-on classroom materials.
Having merged both in-person and online worlds, Playful Learning shares the curriculum, research, and development taking place in our preschool studio with teachers, schools, and community organizations, interested in creating play-based programs, through our online membership and materials.
This process creates an ongoing cycle of teaching and learning where educators are consistently collaborating on, improving, and reflecting on their practice—as well as how to adapt it to meet the needs of individual students and communities.
Learn more about our research-based approach to teaching and learning, here.
Our Team
Mariah Bruehl
Mariah Bruehl
Founder & CEO
Mariah Bruhel is an educator, founder, and author of the books, Playful Learning: Develop Your Child’s Sense of Joy and Wonder and Real Life Rules: A Young Person’s Guide to Self-Discovery, Big Ideas, and Healthy Habits. She has been in education as a teacher and leader for over thirty years with a master of science degree in education from Bank Street College.
In 2008 she brought her expertise online creating, Playful Learning—a website for educators and parents with access to play-based curriculum and hands-on experiences.
Playful Learning Studio opened its doors in the spring of 2015 and provides preschool programs for local children ages 18 months to 6 years.
Bridging the world of research and practice, Playful Learning shares curriculum, professional development, and support with teachers, schools, and families worldwide seeking to implement guided-play programs.
Growing up, Mariah was always that girl sitting in class, thinking about how she would do things differently. Now, she is happily working with a team of gifted educators to bring life-changing lessons around the world.
Nicole Clevenger
Nicole Clevenger
Curriculum Director
Nicole has over 20 years of experience in the field of education as a classroom teacher, teaching artist, and curriculum writer. With a Master of Education from The Ohio State University, she spent 16 years teaching at a progressive, arts integrated K-8 school, two years at a private preschool, and three years at a fine art, process-based art studio teaching toddler, kindergarten, and elementary classes. She now works exclusively for Playful Learning where she has been part of the team since 2014.
With a passion for children’s literature and process art, Nicole encourages children of all ages to play, use their imaginations, think critically, and always get a little messy. She lives in Columbus, Ohio with her husband, two daughters, and two crazy cats. During her free time, you can find Nicole reading from an ever-growing book stack, watching ice hockey, chauffeuring her girls to after school activities, or volunteering at a local cat shelter.
Jacki Schulze
Studio Director
Jacki Schulze
Studio Director
Jacki has been working in the field of education for over 15 years. She is an experienced elementary and early childhood teacher, private tutor, and curriculum writer. Jacki is an East Hampton native and is raising her own family here on the South Fork. Through her love of exploring, experimenting, and creating she strives to help facilitate the natural ways children learn every day. Jacki has a B.A. in Art History, an M.A. in Childhood Education, and a New York State Certification in Elementary Education. She previously worked as an Elementary Teacher and Learning Specialist at Ross School in Bridgehampton. After having her own children, she worked as a Head Teacher at It Takes A Village, a nature based preschool in Hampton Bays. When not working with students at Playful Learning you can find Jacki gardening, cooking, walking her dog, and trying to keep up with her active and creative family.
Mary Brady
Studio Associate Director
Mary Brady
Studio Associate Director
Mary earned her M.A. in Infant/Toddler Early Childhood Special Education from Saint Joseph’s College, and is NYS certified in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. She has worked with students of diverse needs and is passionate about differentiating learning experiences to accommodate all learning styles. Mary attended Siena College where she received her B.A. in Environmental Studies. She enjoys incorporating environmental learning into early childhood education. Mary has spent several years as a classroom leader where she embraced each child’s uniqueness and explored their abilities within the classroom. She finds motivation by having a strong inspirational team that allows children to explore their natural curiosity and skills. In her free time Mary enjoys relaxing and spending time with her dog, family, and friends!
Miranda Edwards
Creative Director
Miranda Edwards
Creative Director
Randi lives in Arizona where she loves to hike, cook and garden with her husband, three children and two dogs.
Casey Arden
Graphic Designer
Casey Arden
Graphic Designer
Casey studied Graphic Design and 2-Dimensional Arts while at Old Dominion University, before graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BA in Psychology and has been working in the Graphic Design field since 2012. She is also a commissioned artist, mostly in watercolor and intricate line work with the occasional mural. She is most fascinated with nature and science, making Playful Learning such a fun and wonderful company to work with. Casey is currently living her dream of getting a little homestead started in the small mountain town of Floyd, Virginia with her husband, Mike, and their two pugs, Biscuit and Eggo. When not working, she enjoys hiking the local trails, baking, painting, reading science fiction books, and watching her excessive number of houseplants sprout new leaves.
Kristen Dimitriades
Marketing Assistant
Kristen Dimitriades
Curriculum Assistant
Kristen has played and worked with young children for 10+ years. She especially loves spending time outside in nature and having meaningful conversations with children. She holds a BA in Early Childhood Education from Boston University and a MA in Contemplative Education from Naropa University, as well as a permanent NYS teaching certification and kid’s yoga teacher certification. She most recently served as Director of a play-based preschool, camp and afterschool program, has worked as a lead teacher for toddler up through 2nd grade classrooms, as well as led the founding classes of a project-based elementary school in NYC and a nature school in Baja, MX. Kristen also has experience in digital marketing, and currently works as the marketing lead for a NY based digital creative agency. In her free time, she loves playing with her dog at the park, practicing yoga, and cooking for friends!
Our Contributors
Megan Payne
Primary Lab Head Teacher
Megan Payne
Primary Lab Head Teacher
Megan Payne has been working with children for over 20 years as an Elementary School Teacher, Literacy Specialist, and tutor. After graduating from Lycoming College with a B.A. in Psychology and Elementary Education, she later pursued her Master’s Degree in Literacy Education. Megan has had the pleasure of working at a charter school in the Hamptons, which met the needs of both students in general and special education. She also has experience teaching at a preschool in East Hampton. Megan believes in educating children within a creative and loving environment that is filled with playful ways to address the needs and interests of children, both academically and socially. Megan currently lives in East Hampton, where she spends much of her time with family.
Deanna Iwanyckyi
Beginner & Primary Lab Assistant Teacher
Deanna Iwanyckyi
Beginner and Primary Lab Assistant Teacher
For the past five years, Deanna has been working with children ranging from ages two to eight. She enjoys helping them find a sense of wonder and joy by learning through art and exploring the outdoors. Deanna has also worked in numerous management positions at local medical and hospitality businesses. She graduated from Wittenberg University with a B.A. in Anthropology and a focus in Archaeology. In her free time, Deanna enjoys running, painting, and experimenting with different forms of media in art.
Kate Walker
Primary Lab Assistant Teacher
Kate Walker
Primaary Lab Assistant Teacher
Kate is a graduate of University of New Haven with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Film Production. While in college she pursued her passion for working with young children starting with a nursery school and then as a camp counselor for many years. This led her to New York City where for over 10 years Kate worked as a nanny until finding her way to Playful Learning. Kate’s approach to teaching is using creativity and imagination to bring out the children’s inner joy of learning. Kate currently lives in Amagansett, and enjoys tennis, traveling, and spending time with her nieces and nephew.
Arlene Pizzo
Toddler Lab Head Teacher
Arlene Pizzo
Toddler Lab Head Teacher
Arlene holds 4 certifications to teach in New York including early childhood and childhood education for both general education students and students with disabilities. She has worked as a pre-kindergarten teacher, curriculum writer, educational researcher and Program Director for a non-profit early childhood center and the New York State Department of Education. Arlene strives to model love for life-long learning and is currently earning her Instructional Leadership Certification through Harvard Graduate School of Education.
When Arlene is not playing and learning with her early childhood friends, she is working with her undergraduate, graduate, and sabbatical friends as a Professor of Education for the State University of New York at Old Westbury. Native to the Eastern End of Long Island, Arlene loves to boogie board, paddle board, and catch and release fly fish. Arlene has developed a variety of early childhood programs that highlight her understanding of the importance of trusting relationships within learning environments, and she believes that through our deep attention to early childhood development we can truly change the world.
Isabella Facendola
Beginner & Toddler Lab Head Teacher
Isabella Facendola
Beginner & Toddler Lab Head Teacher
Isabella has lived in East Hampton with her family for many years. She has a background of working with children beginning when she was a camp counselor for four summers at Hampton Country Day Camp, a volunteer homework helper at East Hampton Middle School, and a caregiver on the side. Bella worked in a management position for three years at a local corporate company after graduating from the University of Mississippi with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in English. Isabella decided she would take her psychology and child development knowledge to the educational setting at Playful Learning recently and quickly became inspired by the opportunity to create an engaging, creative learning community in the classroom as a teaching assistant and tutor. She loves to dive into new experiences with her students and sees herself as a lifelong learner. During Isabella’s free time, you can find her reading, listening to music, snowboarding, or enjoying nature in her yard.
