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Meet the Admin Team
Ms. Elizabeth Kaftan is the Director of Bunny Hill Infant and Toddler Center in Long Island City. She was awarded her Bachelor’s degree in Art History from Vassar College, and has completed a Master’s Degree in Art History from UC Santa Barbara, as well as a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, with a minor in Elementary Mathematics from Sam Houston State University. She is NYS Certified in Early Childhood education, and has over fourteen years of experience teaching on the Early Childhood level, including preschool, kindergarten, second, and third grades, in the public school system as well as in private school settings in New York and Texas. Having raised three children herself, she believes that the natural curiosity and enthusiasm of children should be nurtured and challenged in an environment rich in varied experiences, both social and academic.
Ms. Trisha Mapili is the Director of Bunny Hill Preschool Center in Long Island City. She was awarded her Bachelor’s degree in Women's Studies and Childhood Education from Queens College, and has completed a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education for Students with Disabilities from Touro College. She is NYS Certified in Childhood Education, Early Childhood Education and Students with Disabilities (B-2). She has been a UPK teacher at Bunny Hill for five years. Her experience as a Pre-K teacher sparked her passion for early childhood education and development. As the education director, she hopes to encourage student-led practices amongst her classrooms based on their needs and interests, while incorporating her love for the natural world into meaningful learning opportunities.
Ms. LiMei is the Education Director of the BunnyHill Greenpoint location. She brought with her years of experience in the education field and her passion in supporting families with young children. She is dedicated to providing the best education and care possible, both in nurturing a child’s social, emotional and cognitive growth, and in collaborating with and supporting every family and colleague she works with. She had taught English and Chinese in both China and the United States. Beginning in 2016, she took on administrative roles as a program coordinator in its immersion summer camp at Avenues, the World School in New York City as well as a school director in 2022 at an early childhood center in Long Island City. She was also a lead instructor in Avenues's experiential program "Global Journey", guiding and helping students to expand their learning into analyzing and solving real world issues. She holds a bachelor's degree in English Literature and two master’s degrees: one in American Studies from Sichuan University, China, another from University of New Hampshire with a major in Elementary Education. She will graduate in December, 2024 with another master's degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from University of Mount Saint Vincent in New York. Being part of the exciting journey of a child's growth and transformation is the biggest joy in Ms. LiMei's professional life.
Ms. Christy Huang is the Director of Operations across all BunnyHill schools. She is involved in Event Planning, Finance, and consistent quality across all BunnyHill sites. She was awarded her Bachelor’s degree in Art from The City College of New York, and is in the process of acquiring her Master’s Degree in Bilingual Childhood Education from Hunter College. She has been with BunnyHill for over five years, since the Vernon location first opened in 2019. She has an additional four years of administrative and early childhood teaching experience. She brings her experience and love of children into all of her efforts to mentor teachers and support all staff, bringing the same loving, Reggio-inspired spirit to each school in the growing family of BunnyHill schools.
Ms. Bernadette Horvath is an experienced early childhood educator with more than 26 years of teaching and leadership experience. Originally from Hungary, she knew from a young age that she wanted to become a preschool teacher and dedicate her career to helping young children learn and grow. After moving to the United States, she began in a special program for children with cerebral palsy. She then spent 26 rewarding years as a toddler and preschool teacher on Long Island, nurturing children during their most important developmental years. Most recently, she served as Preschool Curriculum Coordinator and Afterschool Director developing engaging educational programs while supporting both children and educators. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Horvath enjoys incorporating her love of nature into children's learning experiences through gardening and outdoor exploration, as well as traveling, taking road trips, learning about different cultures, sailing, and spending time at the beach. Above all, she treasures spending time with her son and is grateful to be part of a school community where she can continue doing what she has always loved—helping children learn, grow, and thrive.
Ms. Tian is the Administrative Director at the Bunny Hill Greenpoint location. Originally from Shenzhen, a coastal city in China, she came to the United States to pursue her master’s degree. She graduated in 2019 from Teachers College, Columbia University with a master’s degree in TESOL. Before transitioning into her current administrative role, Ms. Tian spent significant time as a teacher at Bunny Hill, where she taught in the 1’s, 2’s, and 3K classrooms. Throughout her teaching career, she developed a deeper understanding of the Reggio Emilia Approach, which she carefully integrated into her daily lesson planning to foster a creative and child-centered learning environment. Ms. Tian is passionate about watching children adapt and thrive within the nurturing environment created by the Bunny Hill team. She firmly believes that every child has the ability to grow and succeed when provided with the right balance of support, encouragement, and autonomy. Her commitment to fostering a strong foundation for each child’s development as well as empowering the teaching staff continues to inspire her work.
Ms. Xiao Chen is the Administrative Director of Bunny Hill Infant and Toddler Center in Long Island City. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Education from SUNY Geneseo, and has completed a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Touro College. She is NYS Certified in Early Childhood Education and has been a preschool teacher at Bunny Hill for six years. As the Administrative Director, she hopes to provide a positive, caring, beautiful and educational environment for both the children and the teachers to enjoy each day.
Ms. Yolanda Jiang is the Director of Administration at Bunny Hill Preschool in Long Island City. With over five years of experience at Bunny Hill Preschool and Gantry View School, she brings a strong background in early childhood education, school operations, and educational leadership.
Ms. Yolanda pursued her studies in Integrated Marketing at New York University (NYU) and holds a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. Her interdisciplinary background in education, marketing, and communication provides her with a unique perspective on school leadership, family engagement, and community building.
Throughout her career, Ms. Yolanda has been dedicated to creating nurturing, inclusive, and engaging learning environments where children can thrive. She is passionate about fostering meaningful partnerships between families and educators, supporting teachers' professional growth, and ensuring that every child receives a high-quality early childhood education. Her thoughtful, collaborative approach reflects her commitment to building a warm and supportive school community at Bunny Hill.
Ms. Zally has nine years of experience in childcare and early childhood education, bringing a passion for inspiring young learners and fostering a nurturing, engaging classroom environment. She studied Early Childhood Education and Sociology at Queens College, developing a strong understanding of child development, social relationships, and community. Throughout her career, Ms. Zally has worked with children of various age groups at Bunny Hill Preschool and in public school settings, gaining valuable experience in supporting diverse learning needs and developmental stages. She specializes in creating hands-on, art-inspired learning experiences that spark curiosity, encourage creativity, and nurture children's natural love for exploration and discovery.
Ms. Christine D’Alessandro is a seasoned educator and leadership consultant supporting the Bunny Hill Preschool and Daycare leadership team in Long Island City. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Lyndon State College and a Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on Administration and Supervision from Antioch New England Graduate School. With more than thirty-seven years of experience in public and independent schools, Ms. D’Alessandro has served in multiple senior roles, including Head of Early Childhood and Lower School at Stuart, Sacred Heart Greenwich, and Keystone School, and began her leadership journey as a founding educator at Maple Street School in Vermont. At Bunny Hill, she provides strategic guidance for the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) accreditation process, evaluates the feasibility of pursuing National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) accreditation, collaborates closely with Ms. Elizabeth Kaftan as MSCHE lead author, and offers leadership coaching to strengthen team capacity and support schoolwide excellence.