Our Port Monmouth Location
Hours: 7:00am-5:30pm 204 Wilson Avenue, Port Monmouth
Our newest location is located off of Highway 36, next to Rite Aid. This location provides care to children from 30 months through six years. Our building has recently been renovated and features many upgrades including a video monitoring system and fully restored & secure wading pool.
Within this program, our students engage in multi-sensory activities to engage them in active, intrinsic learning experiences. Our toddler program is carefully designed for active play, development of routines and building inquisitiveness. Children in our preschool program merge the creativity & constructivism of developmentally appropriate practice with the routine & skill acquisition of kindergarten readiness....the best of both worlds.
Meet our Staff
Gina DeDonno, Director
Suezette Vargas, Center Manager
Suezette Vargas, Center Manager
Miss Gina has been a part of our team since we opened our program in 1998. She has had pertinent roles in all three of Minding Miracles locations. She has her BA in Early Childhood Education and has taken on the role of director at our Port Monmouth center.
Suezette Vargas, Center Manager
Suezette Vargas, Center Manager
Suezette Vargas, Center Manager
Suezette joined the Minding Miracles staff in September of 2018 as a paraprofessional in our Leonardo location before becoming center manager in our Port Monmouth location. She has an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education and is credentialed as a group teacher. Suezette is the mother of a young daughter and an adult son.
Jessica Redmond
Suezette Vargas, Center Manager
Kristin Strandberg
Miss Jess is serving as our consulting head-teacher in all Minding Miracles' locations. Jess has been a member of Minding Miracles' staff since 2016. She has her Masters Degree in Multicultural Education and seven years experience teaching in the public-school arena in addition to her tenure at Minding Miracles. Jess will be supporting our classroom staff in providing culturally-responsive, developmentally appropriate programming consistent with Minding Miracle's standards of quality.
Kristin Strandberg
Kristin Strandberg
Kristin Strandberg
Kristin is the proud mother of three who has more than 10 years of experience with children in various capacities. She completed her RBT certification in the Summer of 2024 and currently supports children in both classes of our Port Monmouth center.
Alexi Rodriguez
Kristin Strandberg
Alexi Rodriguez
Like her sister, Miss Alexi was also championed by the parents of her former students and has been a welcome member of the Minding Miracles staff since the fall of 2021. Alexi has served everywhere from our toddler classroom to our school-age virtual support program. Currently, Alexi is a paraprofessional supporting our toddler classroom.
Brianne Dwyer
Kristin Strandberg
Alexi Rodriguez
"Miss Bri" joined Minding Miracles staff as a paraprofessional in the Spring of 2023 after completing the Disney College Program in Orlando, FL. After a multitude of experiences in hospitality and guest relations, she followed her heart to early childhood education.
Karina Zuniga
Stephanie Bianchi
Stephanie Bianchi
Karina is a former Minding Miracles employee from our Leonardo location who returned to us in the Winter of 2024, to support our pre-k learners. During her 7-year hiatus, Karina served as a direct support professional and long-term substitute for children on the autism spectrum. She is the proud mom of an eight-year old boy.
Stephanie Bianchi
Stephanie Bianchi
Stephanie Bianchi
Stephanie became a part of Minding Miracles' team in January of 2023. As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Stephanie works with our staff and students to implement effective ABA strategies and support our students in inclusive classroom settings.
Kaitlyn Sookdeo
Stephanie Bianchi
Lynette Likakis
Kaitlyn became a part of Minding Miracles staff in the summer of 2021. She pursued credits in early childhood education from Brookdale Community College and is currently pursuing a Child Development Associate certification. Kaitlyn serves as support staff in our toddler program.
Lynette Likakis
Lynette Likakis
Lynette Likakis
Miss Lynette became a member of our staff in the fall of 2021. She comes to us with a wealth of early childhood experience from both childcare centers and in-home care settings as a nanny to raising her (now-adult) children. She currently serves as part-time support staff in our toddler classroom.
Morgan Maynard
Lynette Likakis
Kariann Kirchner
Miss Morgan joined our staff this fall after moving from Texas. She is a Registered Behavior Technician, supporting all of our age groups. In addition to being an RBT, Morgan has her BA in Psychology from University of Texas.
Kariann Kirchner
Lynette Likakis
Kariann Kirchner
Kariann left a career in retail to join Minding Miracles' staff in our toddler classroom in the Spring of 2023. She currently supports our little ones in the Jump-Start program in our Port Monmouth location.
Adrianna Filippi
Adrianna Filippi
Adrianna Filippi
Adrianna joined our team in the Summer of 2023 after being a teacher's assistant in another area childcare center. She has been a staff member in both groups, but has found a home in our toddler classroom.
Camry Tomasulo
Adrianna Filippi
Adrianna Filippi
Mr. Camry became a Minding Miracles staff member in July of 2023 after a year of experience at another Monmouth County childcare center. He works in our toddler classroom as a paraprofessional.
Apryl Adames
Adrianna Filippi
Apryl Adames
Apryl became a Minding Miracles staff member in the Summer of 2024. As she pursues her degree in Human Resources from Rutgers, Apryl is working as a paraprofessional in our toddler classroom.
Eleanor Best
Ashley Rodriguez
Eleanor Best
Eleanor has been a Minding Miracles staff member since the Summer of 2023. Minding Miracles is her first formal childcare position and she enthusiastically supports our kiddos in the pre-k classroom.
Jaime Weaver
Ashley Rodriguez
Eleanor Best
Jaime has been a paraprofessional at Minding Miracles since the Summer of 2024. She has various experiences in camp and recreation programs for children in kindergarten and lower-elementary. Jaime works part-time in our toddler classroom.
Ashley Rodriguez
Ashley Rodriguez
Ashley Rodriguez
Miss Ashley was formerly employed as a member of the staff of the preschool which used to operate in our building. She was added to the Minding Miracles staff (initially) at the request of the parents of her former students. Ashley has experience in all age groups, but is currently a paraprofessional in our preschool classroom. She is also a new mom to a litttle boy.
Our Staff...
Our staff undergo criminal history checks before employment and systematically thereafter. Each staff member is required to achieve and maintain CPR & First Aid certifications. They each have been specially selected based on their level of experience, commitment to the field of early childhood education, overall affect in the presence of children and ability to relate to children in a respectful and upbeat manner.