MEET THE TEAM

Bunny Hill adheres to a strict hiring policy and employs a talented and enthusiastic team with diverse professional backgrounds. All team members go through extensive initial training, with opportunities to learn and advance through ongoing training. Our team of instructors consists of dedicated specialists in all areas: early childhood education, special education, speech pathology, literature, art and music. All educators support a hands on approach with an emphasis on loving, learning, and laughing.

Directors

Ms. Leah Tong is the founder and owner of Bunny Hill. She has rich early childhood education experience and is fiercely dedicated to the success of every student. As a passionate and caring teacher, she focuses on providing the best curriculum that fit all children's development physically, artistically, and academically. She is a NYS certified teacher and special education teacher, as well as the Professional in Human Resources® (PHR®) from HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®). She is currently attending Columbia University, Private School Leadership program for her EdM degree. She holds MA in early childhood education, special education, MS in Human Resources from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and BA in Economics and English Literature from Peking University in China. Before opening Bunny Hill, she worked in various private/public schools and law firms. Her international background from China and Korea made her believe in bilingualism and equipped her to help young children thrive and achieve global success.

Ms. Lily Ahn is the Educational Director of the Bunny Hill LIC Preschool and UPK Center. As a mother of five children and life counselor at her local community church, she warmly combines care ethics and growth mindset approach towards nurturing the whole child. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts Studies at Barnard College/Columbia University, her Master’s in Business Administration at Georgetown University, Post Baccalaureate Teachers Education at William Paterson University, and received her EdM in Private School Leadership at Columbia University. She has ten years of experience in education, serving in various roles within early childhood and elementary school contexts. She excitedly brings her passion for experiential learning to Bunny Hill, implementing a rich child-centered curriculum that reflects the Reggio Emilia approach and prepares students for Kindergarten and beyond.

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.