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."
Eda Michaud - Director
Eda had been working with children for over 10 years and has a wide range of organizational, program management and teaching experience combined with her strong communication skills. Eda has two master’s degrees -- in business administration and conflict management -- and certified as Teacher and a center director by Maryland's State Department of Education, Division of Early Childhood, Office of Child Care (OCC).
"The children are our tomorrow's stakeholders, and I truly believe that giving them a positive experience built on love and trust in their early life will make a big difference in their future and the society as a whole!"
Susan Pishva - Assistant Director
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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."
Kierston Gilbert - Lead Teacher, Preschool (Purple Owls)
With over five years of experience in early childhood education, Kierston brings creativity, deep understanding of child psychology, and a genuine ability to meet each child’s individual needs. She is patient, nurturing, and dedicated to making every child feel safe, valued, and loved—treating them as if they were her own. Her passion for teaching and commitment to fostering a warm, supportive learning environment make her an invaluable part of our team.
Johanna Hernandez - Co-Teacher, Preschool (Purple Owls)
Johanna serves as a Co-Lead 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.
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.”
Shirley Chao - Infant/Toddler Teacher (Yellow Polliwogs)
Masoumeh Pirhayati - Toddler's Lead Teacher (Orange Butterfly)
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.
Etsegenet Jenbere - Teacher-Floater (All Classes)
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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.