Our Port Monmouth Location
204 Wilson Avenue, Port Monmouth 732-769-2722
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
Ashley Rodriguez
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.
Ashley Rodriguez
Ashley Rodriguez
Ashley Rodriguez
Back by popular demand-- 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 baby boy.
Alexi Rodriguez
Ashley Rodriguez
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
Ashley Rodriguez
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.
Maureen Anderson
Stephanie Bianchi
Stephanie Bianchi
Maureen joined our staff in our two-year-old program in September of 2019 in our Leonardo location. She comes to Minding Miracles with 10 years experience as a paraprofessional in her local school district. She recently became a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and transferred to our Port Monmouth center. She is the mother of two adult sons, a daughter and grandmother to two little girls.
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.
Theresa Sosa
Lynette Likakis
Kariann Kirchner
Since 2016, Theresa has been a part of Minding Miracles staff behind-the-scenes as an administrator; supporting all four Minding Miracles locations. Her home-base is currently our Port Monmouth center where she not only continues to keep our administrative wheels turning, but assists our classroom staff when an extra set of hands is needed.
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
...
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.
Apryl Adames
Adrianna Filippi
Apryl Adames
...
Kristin Strandberg
Kristin Strandberg
Kristin Strandberg
Kristin joined our staff in the Spring of 2024 as a Registered Behavior Technician. She supports the students in our toddler classroom through skill acquisition techniques and behavior supports.
Camry Tomasulo
Kristin Strandberg
Kristin Strandberg
Mr. Camry became a Minding Miracles staff member in July of 2023 after a year of experience at another Monmouth County childcare center.
Apryl Adames
Kristin Strandberg
Apryl Adames
...
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.