Staff at Lily Pads Early Learning Center

Meet Our Staff

Tara Goitein - Owner

Tara has owned her in-home child care business for over 17 years. She has a degree in early childhood education and experience as a pre-school teacher. Her favorite part about working with children is getting to know each child as an individual and helping them have fun while learning.

"I knew at a very young age teaching children was what I was meant to do. Caring and being able to learn from children every day is the best job in the world!"

Leah Hanlon - Owner

Leah has owned her in-home child care business for 15 years. She has an MBA and a bachelor's degree in business administration, as well as a master's degree in early childhood education. She enjoys helping children learn and guiding them through the various stages of development.

"Owning a child care has been my dream job. I have always loved working with children, and getting to make that my career is something I am forever grateful for. Watching them grow through the years is an unforgettable experience."

Susan Pishva - Assistant Director

Eda Michaud - Director

Eda brings more than 10 years of experience working with children, along with a diverse background in organizational leadership, program management, and teaching. Her strong communication and leadership skills support her commitment to creating a nurturing, well-organized, and positive environment for children, families, and staff. Eda holds two master’s degrees—one in Business Administration and another in Conflict Management. She is also certified as a Child Care Teacher and Child Care Center Director by the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Early Childhood, Office of Child Care (OCC).

“Children are tomorrow’s stakeholders, and I truly believe that giving them a positive early experience built on love, trust, and care can make a meaningful difference in their future and in the society as a whole.”

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Susan brings a strong foundation of education, training, and hands-on experience to her role as Assistant Director. She has completed extensive professional development in child care, including training in child care administration, ADA compliance, and coaching and mentoring. She also holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, qualifying her to teach children nationwide.

In addition, Susan has earned teaching credentials across infant and toddler and preschool age groups, along with Director-level training that has equipped her with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively support the day-to-day operations of Lily Pads. Beyond her qualifications, Susan has a natural connection with children—she quickly earns their trust and creates an environment where they feel comfortable, excited, and engaged.

"I believe every child deserves to feel safe, loved, and valued in a nurturing environment where they can learn and grow with confidence. My goal is to support each child's development through meaningful relationships, hands-on experiences, and opportunities to explore at their own pace. I am passionate about creating a warm, respectful community where children feel a sense of belonging and families feel supported every step of of the way."

Johanna Hernandez - Lead Teacher, Preschool (Older Purple Owls)

Johanna serves as aead Teacher in our preschool classroom and brings both strong training and a passion for early childhood education to her role. She has completed her 90-hour certification in Child Care and Curriculum Planning, along with additional coursework in child care through Howard Community College.

Johanna is currently continuing her education at Montgomery College, where she is pursuing her Associate degree in Early Childhood Education. Her commitment to ongoing learning reflects her dedication to providing high-quality care and meaningful learning experiences for the children in her classroom.

Makenzie Macpherson - Teacher, Preschool (Young Purple Owls)

Mackenzie is a caring and dedicated educator who brings warmth, patience, and genuine enthusiasm to her work with young children. She has a natural ability to connect with children and is well loved by both her students and colleagues for the thoughtful and supportive way she approaches her work.

Mackenzie places great importance on helping children feel safe, comfortable, valued, and confident in the classroom. She understands that young preschoolers learn best when they feel secure and supported, and she takes the time to build trusting relationships with each child. Her calm and nurturing presence helps children feel at ease as they explore, play, learn, and develop their growing independence.

“I love working with children and being part of their early years. My goal is to create a classroom where every child feels safe, loved, and comfortable being themselves. I want children to know that they are cared for, listened to, and supported as they learn and grow.”

Monica Medina - Lead Teacher, Two's (Green Frogs)

Monica is a dedicated and experienced Lead Teacher for our two-year-old classroom. She is well-liked by both children and parents for her warm, engaging approach and her skillful teaching. Monica creates a nurturing and structured environment where children confidently learn daily routines and build the foundational skills needed for a smooth transition to preschool.

With over six years of experience teaching in a formal daycare setting, Monica brings consistency, professionalism, and a deep understanding of early childhood development to her classroom.

Manal Elawad - Infant/Toddler Teacher (Red Caterpillar)

Manal is originally from Sudan in East Africa, and her primary language is Arabic. She is happily married and has two healthy children. She has worked with children in Montgomery County for over 10 years and taken many early childhood education courses, including those that earned her certification as Child Development Associate (CDA). She also has her teaching credential from Maryland Childcare Credential Program in the infant and toddler age group. She loves to spend time with her family and enjoys reading Arabic books and drinking tea and different herbs. For her, “water is very important.” She also follows a strict diet and prefers vegetables to meat.

“I enjoy working with children. I know that being a childcare provider is not an easy job, but it is certainly one of great importance with long-lasting effect. That is why I work hard to do everything I possibly can to help provide a healthy learning environment that motivates learning and growth.”

Masoumeh Pirhayati - Toddler's Lead Teacher (Orange Butterfly)

Masoumeh brings 26 years of experience working with children and a lifelong passion for teaching and supporting their growth. She spent 6 years teaching middle school and 20 years teaching high school, bringing a wealth of experience, patience, and dedication to her work with children.

Masoumeh holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences and has completed 90 hours of training in Infant and Toddler Curriculum.

“I enjoy working with children and being part of their care and growth. Children are pure, beautiful, and very curious, and working with them brings me joy and positive energy. I love creating a safe, caring environment where children can learn, grow, and feel supported. I also enjoy continuing to learn and develop my skills as an educator.”

Shirley Chao - Infant/Toddler Teacher (Yellow Polliwogs)

Shirley was born and raised in the Philippines and speaks English and Tagalog. She has a bachelor’s degree in computer science and has completed multiple trainings in child care including child care administration, ADA, and breastfeeding. She also has her teacher's credential in the infant & toddler and preschool age groups from Maryland Childcare Credential Program. Shirley has been working with children for over seven years. She takes pleasure in taking care of them and nurturing them the best way possible. She likes to shop, watch movies, and dine out with her husband. Her favorite foods are Filipino, Indian, and Chinese.

“I am blessed to be in a position where I can assist in the growth and development of children. I enjoy the challenge of meeting each child's needs and enjoy watching them develop and thrive. It's very rewarding to share the moment when a child learns something new. I am proud to be a part of the Lily Pads community."

Claudia Hernandez - Infant Teacher (Blue Tadpoles)

Claudia speaks English and Spanish. She has more than 10 years of experience in child care and has completed trainings specializing in Infant & Toddler care, ADA, breastfeeding, communication, First Aid and CPR as well as all required updating of skills annually. She takes pleasure in taking care of babies and nurtures them as her own.

Claudia loves to fix things, organize her classroom well and make sure they are always clean for the babies in her care. She is loved by the parents and she always provides an atmosphere where new parents feel confident they are leaving their newborns in good, loving hands.

ASSISTANT TEACHERS

Reina Castro - Green Frogs

Aida Parra - Red Caterpillars

Mazhad Hosseini - Orange Butterfly

Jacqueline Del Cid - Blue Tadpoles

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS/FLOATERS

Milagros Santos - Yellow Polliwogs

Etsegenet Jenbere - Teacher-Floater (All Classes)

Genet finished her 90 hours in Child Growth and Development as well as her Preschool Curriculum Course at Montgomery College. She has the required credentials in Infant care, Toddler and preschool teaching. She loves working with children and is currently pursuing her Child Development Associate Credential.

Genet loves to bring her Ethiopian food and share it with some teachers! Having worked with all the different age groups from Infant to Toddlerrs, to Two's class and preschool, Genet is now our most qualified teacher-floater who can handle all classrooms when teachers are on their weekly time off.