People: Teaching Team

Hannah BogdanHannah Bogdan, EdM
Classroom Teacher

Hannah Bogdan grew up in Rhode Island. She received her bachelor's degree from Denison University in educational studies and history in May 2016. She received her master's degree in early childhood/childhood education from the University at Buffalo in May 2020. Now, she is in pursuit of an EdD in education. Her research interests include providing access to high-quality play materials and experiences to all children across the Buffalo community.

Hannah began working at ECRC in fall 2018. Before working at ECRC, Hannah gained experience teaching in daycare, subbing in Pre-K–8 classrooms and working at a children's museum. Hannah loves spending time with her family and friends, reading, traveling and cooking.

Alice CadyAlice Cady, EdM
Classroom Teacher

Alice Cady is from Wellsville, New York, in Allegany County. Alice started at ECRC as an intern in August 2014 and began as a teacher in the afternoon later that year. Soon after, she began teaching in the toddler classroom. She received her bachelor’s degree in health and human services from the University at Buffalo in May 2015. Alice then completed her master's degree in early childhood education and childhood education in 2017. She is currently in persuit of her PhD in curriculum instruction and the science of learning, with a focus on computational thinking in preschool.

Alice enjoys mentoring future teachers and teaching a UB undergraduate course on child development and learning. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, playing with her dogs Desi and Remi, and being with her family and friends.

Elle GrossElle Gross
Classroom Teacher

Elle grew up in Medina, New York, and this is her first year at ECRC. She volunteered in the toddler classroom in the summer of 2022 and absolutely fell in love with the enriching learning environment. She is a junior at the University at Buffalo, and is in the UB Teach program majoring in health and human sServices with a concentration in early childhood education.

Elle's long-term goal is to become a Pre-K teacher due to her love of children and learning. She believes nothing is more special, or more rewarding, than watching children grow and flourish, and being there to aid them in their journey. In her free time, she loves reading, being outside and doing puzzles.

Kristen KiblerKristen Kibler
Classroom Teacher

Kristen was born and raised in West Seneca, New York. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University at Buffalo in 2022. Now, she is in pursuit of a master's degree in school psychology to become a local School Psychologist. Kristen began volunteering at the ECRC in the summer of 2021 and then became a teacher the following summer!

Before working at the ECRC, Kristen was a research assistant in a social development lab and worked as a lifeguard at Alumni Arena on UB's North Campus. In her free time, she enjoys swimming, painting, singing and being adventurous outdoors.

Emma MakinEmma Makin, BA
Classroom Teacher

Emma Makin is from the borough of Queens in New York City. She received her bachelor's degree in speech and hearing sciences at the end of fall 2021. Emma was accepted into the early admissions program for speech-language pathology and is currently working towards her master's degree.

Emma started at ECRC as an intern in summer 2021 and began as a teacher in the toddler classroom in the fall. In addition to her work at ECRC, Emma has interned under a speech pathologist at Clarence Middle School. She is currently assisting with research under Dr. Ling-Yu Guo, studying the effect sampling contexts have on children's use of tense markers. Emma loves art history, painting, exploring nature and helping children explore the world as "little scientists!"

Ashley ObstarczykAshley Obstarczyk, BA
Classroom Teacher

Ashley grew up in Williamsville, New York. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University at Buffalo and is currently pursuing a master’s in early childhood education. Her primary research interests include literacy, social-emotional development and the psychology of parenting.

Ashley started at ECRC as an intern in summer 2015 and began teaching the following September. She enjoys reading, watching movies and spending time with her husband, two sons and daughter.

Olivier PrevilOlivier Previl, BA
Classroom Teacher

Olivier Previl is from Valley Stream, New York, on Long Island. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in health and human services with an early childhood concentration and a minor in counseling from the University at Buffalo in 2021. He is currently pursuing a master's in early childhood/childhood education.

Olivier started at ECRC as an intern in fall 2021 and began as a teacher that same semester. Before ECRC, Olivier worked in a summer camp, soccer coaching, and peer mentoring, providing a smile and enthusiasm to every situation. He enjoys cooking and experiencing all art forms such as painting, museums, music, dance and everything in between.

Arbaz QaziArbaz Qazi
Classroom Teacher

Arbaz is from Woodmere, New York, on Long Island. He earned his bachelor's in exercise science in spring 2022. He is currently pursuing a master's in early childhood/childhood education. He started at ECRC as an intern in January 2022 and began teaching in fall 2022.

Before ECRC, Arbaz volunteered at an after school program at Hewlett Elementary School in Long island and worked at a small family convenience store called Rite Stop. In his free time, he likes to relax with his finacé, baby boy, and two pets, Goose and Layla.

Michael SheridanMichael Sheridan, EdM
Classroom Teacher

Michael is from Amherst, New York. He received his BFA in theatre with minors in English and philosophy from Niagara University in 2014, and his EdM in early childhood and childhood education in 2020.

Michael first joined ECRC in spring 2019, after working as a teacher and assistant director at a nearby daycare. He is excited to be back at ECRC while he works towards his PhD in curriculum, instruction and the science of learning. Michael also teaches yoga and meditation.

Grace (Yaxin) XingGrace (Yaxin) Xing, MA
Classroom Teacher

Grace grew up in Henan, China. She completed her Master of Education in child developmental and educational psychology from Capital Normal University in June 2020. Now, she is in pursuit of a doctorate degree in early childhood education.

Grace began working at ECRC in September 2021. Before working at ECRC, she gained experience working with public kindergartens as an editor in Beijing. Her primary research interests include social-emotional development and the science of learning. Grace enjoys watching movies, traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Julianna WalkerJulianna Walker
Classroom Teacher

Julianna grew up in Lancaster, New York. She received her bachelor's degree in health and human services, with a concentration in early childhood and a minor in education, from the University at Buffalo in 2021. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in early childhood/childhood education. Julianna joined the ECRC as an intern in fall 2021 and started teaching fall 2022.

Prior to joining the ECRC, Julianna gained experience working with children in multiple settings including daycares, before and after school programs and summer camps. Julianna loves being outdoors and spending lots of time with family and friends!