Meet Our Team

Frida is a medically trained pediatric speech-language pathologist, Head of School and the Director of Curriculum and Learning Support Services at The Indy Lab, which she founded in 2019. Frida earned her Masters degree from Northwestern University and her undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing and Psychology from The George Washington University. She was awarded the Hall of Heroes in Fall of 2024 by the Child Care Council of Westchester and began serving on their board in December of 2024. She has had a speech practice called Indy Speech Services since 2014 and is a Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business alum. Frida loves to play tennis competitively and any excuse to be near the ocean!

Lara is a bilingual Speech Language Pathologist with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and minor in Linguistics from the University of Delaware as well as a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology from New York Medical College. Lara received her Master’s degree in Neurologopedia (Neuroscience of Speech Pathology) at the Universitat Autonoma in Barcelona. Lara spent 5 years working at New York Health and Hospitals-Metropolitan, and most recently was a part of the team at Blythedale Children’s Hospital. Lara began at Indy Speech Services in 2018 and was excited to launch The Indy Lab in 2019 to encourage every parent to learn the strategies that promote child development in a wide range of skills. 

Caroline Paterno is a dedicated early childhood professional with over 15 years of experience in the field. She has served as both a lead teacher and a director, honing her leadership skills and expertise in designing and implementing developmentally appropriate curricula. Caroline places great emphasis on creating enriching, positive learning environments that foster the growth and well-being of every child. Caroline believes that experiences at this young age affect the development of the brain, which provides the foundation for future learning.

Specializations

Master in Early Childhood and Elementary Education

Bachelor in History

Extended Professional Development Training Certificates

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI)

Quality Teaching for English Learners (QTEL)

WestEd Literacy and Reading Comprehension Training

Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) Preschool-Kindergarten Curriculum

Claudia graduated with honors from New York University with a History major and Art History minor, and went on to earn her Master’s in Early Childhood and Elementary Education on full scholarship through the New York Teaching Fellows Program. For more than two decades, Claudia has had the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills and experience as an educator in high performing public, private, and charter schools in the United States, as well as in bilingual international schools in Central America. Having taught for many of those years in early childhood, Claudia is particularly interested in the progression of learning and development as students advance from year to year. Claudia has also worked as a Literacy Specialist and Coach, providing professional development for her colleagues and creating a culture of literacy among students and staff. After an extended maternity leave, Claudia is very excited to rejoin the Indy Lab team and overjoyed that her daughter, Ruby, will be joining the Green Frogs class this year.

Paula Paredes is our lead Playful Literacy Educator and Purple Cats Educator. Paula has more than 15 years as a Preschool Educator with a Bilingual Proficiency in Spanish. Paula has been in the early childhood education field for over 10 years, teaching children as young as 2 years of age up through second grade. Paula has taught in different schools around NYC and CT. She is fluent in Spanish, and loves to bake in her free time. Working with children has always come naturally to Paula, and it is her passion to continue to nurture and teach children of all ages.

Kaylyn Peters is our Lead STEM Specialist and Red Birds Educator. She comes to us with more than 8 years of experience in the early education industry with a range of skills. She is currently earning her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and has her undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida in Social Work. Kaylyn also obtained her Child Development Associates in 2023. We were so excited to have her on our team! 

Christina Marasevic is a Lead STEM Educator with a Bachelor’s in Speech & Hearing as well as a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Iona College. She has experience working with individuals with developmental disabilities and hopes to help foster inclusive environments throughout her career. Christina is currently earning her Master’s in Special Education at Hunter College while working at The Indy Lab.

Arelis Matute is our Spanish Immersion Specialist as well as a Teaching Assistant at The Indy Lab. She has earned her Child Development Associates with a Bachelor’s in Human Resources. She began her career to become a daycare center supervisor when she moved from Venezuela to the United States to raise her children. Arelis, or Ms. Ani, to the kids, believes that children thrive in clean, organized spaces with whole-hearted loving educators. She is the backbone of The Indy Lab!

Daniela Paucay is the Head Teaching Assistant at The Indy Lab. She has a  Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and 3+ years of experience as an Assistant Teacher. She is charged with safety, supervision and curating the interest areas in all of The Indy Lab classrooms.

Jordan Grannum is the Head Coach as well as a Teaching Assistant here at The Indy Lab. Jordan comes to us with 5+ years of experience working in the field of athletics within the school setting, and we are excited to have him as a part of our team!

Emma attends the University of Central Florida and will receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management in May 2025.   

She began working in early education in 2022 as an Assistant Teacher in a local children’s learning center.  After my daughter, Aubree, was born in 2023,  I made the decision to leave the hospitality industry and work with children.  My most recent work includes work in the special ed department at the Pleasantville Middle School as a Teachers’ Aide and as a Group Leader for the Village of Pleasantville Panther Club – an after school program for children in grades K through 5th grade.

Liseth Lorena Matos holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University Manuela Beltran in Colombia. She first gained experience with young children during a six-month internship and then in 2021, participated in a cultural exchange program as an Aupair for two years. She currently studies English as a second language at Westchester Community College and began working as a substitute Assistant Teacher at The Indy Lab in January 2025. 

Stacy is a pediatric occupational therapist specializing in infants and children. She has worked in this field for 16 years, graduating with a masters degree from Towson University. Stacy is a board certified pediatric occupational therapist through the American Occupational Therapy Association. She has worked in both private practice as well as at NYU Rusk Rehabilitation where she was a clinical specialist. Stacy has a strong passion for helping all children become as strong and independent as possible. She is licensed in both New York and Connecticut. 

Liza is a triple-certified pediatric and special needs sleep consultant, as well as a certified autism and anxiety sleep specialist, founder of Rock-a-Bye Baby Sleep and Westchester Mama & Child Wellness Expo. In addition to working with families 1:1 to support their children in improving sleep habits, Liza leads workshops, webinars, and group seminars on the importance of sleep quality and how to improve sleep challenges, presenting to parents, clinicians, schools, and postpartum support networks nationwide, including Postpartum Support International, The Motherhood Center, WPA, Midwives of New Jersey, and others. She is passionate about working to disrupt the narrative that equates parenthood with sleep deprivation by educating parents on the important connection between sleep and maternal mental health, and proudly supports neurotypical and special needs families on their journey toward continuous, more restorative sleep so that both children and their parents are better positioned to thrive.

Dr. Leah Kesselman is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in providing evidence-based assessment and treatment for children and families. Through an action-oriented approach, she partners with caregivers to better understand and address the social and emotional needs of children. She believes in understanding the “whole child” and uses a variety of approaches in her clinical work.