About Little Genius
Our Educators
Meet our incredible team members that make this such a special and fun learning environment!
My name is Lupita, and I am originally from Guanajuato, Mexico. I started my experience with child development with all ages in 2016. I worked with the Little Genius family in 2022 but had to take a small leave due to having my two daughters, who are now currently enrolled at Little Genius. My daughters are the best thing that has ever happened to me. My favorite hobby is spending time with my family, especially during the holidays, having everyone together. I look forward to continuing my teaching at Little Genius and creating more memories with the kids and other teachers! I have my CPR, SIDS, and EDU 119 certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Darleen Mathews, and I am originally from Progreso Yoro, Honduras. I am the co-teacher for the preschool class at Little Genius. I joined the Little Genius family in August of 2024. I have grown to love what the teachers do, as well as the children. I enjoy the environment I take part in with all the teachers around me. My hobbies consist of reading and baking pastries in my free time. As I continue my education, I hope to major in Marine Biology as well as continue to learn about child education. I have my CPR and SIDS certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Paola Sibrian, and I am the Lead Teacher for the preschool children. I graduated as a hospital nurse in my home country of El Salvador, and I am currently taking classes in child development. I have a 13-year-old daughter. I have had the wonderful experience of working at Little Genius since April of 2023. Initially, being in front of a group of children was a challenge, but now I can say it is a beautiful experience to walk into the classroom and be greeted with their affection. I have my CPR and SIDS certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Brenda Morales; I am the Lead Teacher for Toddlers. I was born in North Carolina but spent the majority of my life in Gto, Mexico. Since I was little, my aspirations and dreams were to be able to help others; I decided to obtain my Bachelor's Degree in psychology. During this journey, I spent most of my time working with children, which led me to love my work. I have been with the Little Genius family since June of 2024. This job allows me to do what I love most in: sharing my time with children, especially learning from them. I have my CPR and SIDS certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Anabel, and I have three children: Luis, Sebastián, and Crystal. My favorite hobbies are walking, spending time with my family, and watching movies. I have had experience as a teacher in early childhood education since 2016, and I am currently the lead teacher for the Middlers class (2-3 years old). I have been with the Little Genius Family since April of 2024. I love working with children and I love my job. It makes me happy to know that I can make a difference in the education and development of children, having a positive impact on their lives. It is a joy that truly fills my heart. I have my CPR, SIDS, and EDU 119 certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Eloisa Patiño, and I am from Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico. I joined the Little Genius family in March 2026. Before becoming part of our team, I worked with children in Mexico, where I discovered my passion for supporting their growth and development. One of my favorite hobbies is cooking for my family. I enjoy trying new recipes as well as preparing traditional Mexican dishes that bring everyone together. Working with children is incredibly rewarding to me. I love watching them learn, grow, and gain confidence while building meaningful relationships with them along the way. I look forward to continuing to learn and grow alongside each child and creating a nurturing, joyful classroom environment.
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My name is Marilu, but the children affectionately call me "Lulu." Joining the Little Genius family in August 2023 felt like finding the final piece of a puzzle—it was exactly where I was meant to be. I am the Lead Teacher for our Pre-K classroom, working with children ages 4 to 5. Every day, I am inspired by their curiosity, creativity, and excitement for learning. It is a privilege to help prepare them for kindergarten while creating a classroom where they feel safe, confident, and loved. I am currently a part-time nursing student and am passionate about continuing my education. I hold certifications in CPR, SIDS Prevention, and EDU 119, and I continue to pursue additional training in Early Childhood Education to better support the children and families in our care.
My name is Nereida. I am originally from Mexico, and I have two children. I have been part of the Little Genius family since October of 2022, and I am enjoying working in the Infant class as a co-teacher. I like knowing that I am part of the babies' growth, and I am excited to see how they develop through their different stages. As a teacher, I have become very fond of caring for the babies. I have my CPR and SIDS certifications and continue to obtain more in childhood education.
My name is Ethlyn Mathews, and I was born and raised in Honduras. I am a proud mother of two wonderful children, who bring so much joy to my life. I joined the Little Genius family in January 2025 and as the Co-Teacher in our Pre-K classroom. One of the most rewarding parts of my role is watching the children grow in confidence, develop new skills, and bloom in their learning every day. I hold certifications in SIDS Prevention and CPR, and I am continuing my education in Early Childhood Education to expand my knowledge and better support the children and families in our care. I look forward to continuing to learn, grow, and create meaningful experiences alongside our Little Genius children.
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My name is Yadira; I am originally from Gto, Mexico. I have two children, Alan and Jazmín, and also two dogs. I have worked in daycare centers since 2009 and have had the pleasure of working with children of all ages. I have a degree in Primary Education, and in my country, I worked with elementary school children. I also worked with children with special educational needs. I am responsible for advising teachers on their weekly planning and finding strategies to ensure the smooth functioning of classes. I believe I have the gift or talent for working with children; I love my profession!
My name is Ayasdet Martinez. I am from Mexico City and have been living in North Carolina since 2006. I have a set of twins, Ana and Julian, and a dog named Shino. I have been the director of Little Genius since 2022. I hold degrees in Child Development and Administration. With experience in daycare centers since 2013, I have had the pleasure of working with children of all ages, from infants to pre-kindergarten. Part of my job included supporting different centers and assisting in opening new childcare centers. This experience motivated me to become a director, as it involves being a crucial part of children's lives during their early years of learning. It is a pleasure to be part of Little Genius.
My name is Rodrigo Pérez, and I am originally from Gto, Mexico. I have been working at Fearrington for since 2007, which is well recognized for its four diamonds. I am the sous-chef there and the supervisor of the other chefs. Currently, I am the chef at Little Genius. I also worked at Four Eleven for eight years, where I was in charge of pizzas and salads. I am the father of a set of twins.
I have had experience in the early childhood education environment since 2019. I am always seeking to further my education and am currently studying to obtain my AAS degree. I love truly this profession! From receiving the affection of the children as I see them daily, to seeing them learn and build their knowledge; it brings me an incredible level of satisfaction knowing I can be part of something so special.
Mission
We are committed to promoting cultural diversity; we believe in the importance of knowing several languages (English Spanish) promoting the development of the capacity of the innate language; and the easiest thing to do is during the first years of childhood. Uniting, strengthening and enriching our cultures, preparing our children for a better future.
For Little Genius, cognitive development is as important as socio-emotional development.
We Offer:
Service from 7:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.
A curriculum based on the Reggio Emilia Philosophy: It is considered by Harvard as, "one of the best educational proposals for early childhood”.
More quality of care to children by offering a lower radius.
Extracurricular classes such as Music and Movement, multicultural dances, etc.
Vision
The values we transmit will contribute decisively to the creation of each child’s personality, which will determine their behavior and their own values in their adult life.
Each child is special. Personal attention and respect for the evolutionary rhythm of each child are key.
The continuous training of the teaching staff and a constant impetus for improvement on all the elements that intervene in the educational processes of our school.
Philosophy
The Benefits Of The Reggio Emilia Approach
So how will your child benefit from this Philosophy? Below we have listed several factors that explain this.
Encouragement
Children in Reggio settings are active constructors of knowledge, who are encouraged to be ‘researchers’. Most of the educational experiences within Reggio take the form of projects, where children have opportunities to actively participate, explore and question things. There is also a very strong emphasis on the social development of children as part of the community and their relationships to other children, their families and teachers.
Explorative
The Reggio approach starts from the premise that children use many different ways to express their creativity, understanding and thoughts (the 100 languages). This perspective has been endorsed by many artists, who state that these different ways of thinking, exploring and learning are expressed through drawing, sculpting, music, dance and movement, painting and drama.
Problem Solving Techniques
Children are given learning projects that provide extensive research opportunities, including real-life problem solving among peers, and opportunities for creative thinking and exploration. The children are placed in small group settings with projects that they work on are observed by teachers and the children are allowed to question the topic of interest. Then they introduce materials, questions, and opportunities that provoke children to further explain the topic.
The Reggio Emilia Philosophy has substantial benefits for boys at The Scots College as they journey through their education and become confident and skilled individuals that can face the future brightly.
Active and creative school where the student is the protagonist of their own learning to develop the concept of self and self-esteem.
Values
At this age the values we transmit will contribute decisively to the creation of the personality of each child, which will determine their behavior and their own values in their adult life.
The family is the main factor in the child’s development and requires channels of appropriate communication to facilitate this work.
Active and creative school where the student is the protagonist of their own learning to develop self-concept and self-esteem.
We are committed to a coexistence where tolerance, respect, cooperation and diversity are empowered.
Qualified Caretakers
To understand it better, it’s important to know the three core principles of the Reggio Emilia philosophy: the child, the environment, and the teacher.
The Child
The Reggio Emilia philosophy values the child as central to their own learning, not simply an empty vessel waiting to be filled with knowledge. Children are able to pursue their own interests and revisit and build upon ideas at their own pace.You may have heard of something called the ‘100 languages of children’. This concept recognizes that children have multiple ways of thinking, playing, exploring, speaking and doing. The Reggio Emilia approach encourages children to use every tool they have to express themselves.
The Environment
A Reggio-inspired environment, often referred to as ‘the third teacher’, is one that is open and free-flowing. It enables uninterrupted exploration, play and learning. Outdoor spaces are valued just as highly as formal classrooms, and the design of the space should allow children to move freely between the two. In addition, it is important that children have free access to stimulating resources, as they cannot be the owner of their learning journey without this.
Teachers and caretakers
Teachers are encouraged to observe children rather than to direct them. It is important that children are allowed to experiment in their own way, make mistakes and find new solutions. The role of the teacher is to gently move students towards areas of interest to them, and this can only be done through careful observation carried out over time.