Our Team
Meet the Vesey Team
Each educator at Big and Tiny has outstanding experience, degrees in early childhood education, and a commitment to ongoing professional development. Above all, a passion for education and desire to make a difference in each child’s learning journey and life.
Lacie Newlin
Executive Director
Lacie Newlin is the Educational Director here at Big and Tiny NYC. Originally from Indiana, Lacie received her B.S. from Purdue University before moving to Chicago to pursue her Masters Degree in Child Development at Erikson Institute. She has been privileged to work in Early Childhood Education for twenty years and continues to be fascinated by young children’s genuine curiosity. She originally joined the Big and Tiny 10th Street team in Los Angeles and embraced the opportunity to join our East Coast school.
Sarah Willis
Co-Education Director
Sarah Willis has over 23 years of early childhood general and special education experience. With experience in private practice, she provides operational and programmatic design support, teacher training, compliance and licensing guidance/planning as well as parent training and special education planning and implementation. In addition to private practice, Willis serves as a graduate school advisor at Bank Street College, where she provides onsite student observation and coaching as well as whole group reflective supervision. She is excited to support Big and Tiny as Director.
Anne Bellec
Director of Operations & Admissions
Anne Bellec is excited to be here at Big and Tiny as the Director of Operations and Admissions. Most recently, she was Director of Enrollment at Buckle My Shoe Preschool and Head of East Coast Enrollment at AltSchool. Previously, she was the Director of Preschool and Youth Language Programs at the French Institute Alliance Française. After graduating from college in France, Anne began her career in business in the US, earning an MBA in international management. In her free time she loves to travel, read, and practice yoga and meditation.
Jen Calcano
Educator Infants
Jen is a long time educator. She holds a bachelor degree in psychology from Rutgers University and a certificate as a RIE educator. She has over ten years of teaching experience all the way from infancy to kindergarten. She is passionate about child-led education and advocates for programs that allow children to develop at their own pace and develop curriculums inspired by children's interests. She is a community builder with a strong commitment in child-centered practice and respect for children.
Natalie Bean
Educator - Infants
Natalie holds a bachelor's degree in history from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. She worked and volunteered at the New York Botanical Garden’s Edible Academy for 7 years, guiding children in gardening practices, art, science, and cooking projects. She is passionate about assisting children in their explorations, introducing them to nature, and allowing children to have a voice in their education. Natalie enjoys cooking curry dishes, attending concerts, and hosting my own radio show.
Michelle Britton
Educator - Infants
Michelle has been an infant educator for over ten years. She earned an associate’s degree in early childhood education and has consistently worked with infants and toddlers throughout her career. She looks forward to the vast rewards that come from working with little ones. During her free time, she enjoys being with her family. Some of her hobbies include dancing, listening to music, and watching movies.
Stephanie Marques
Assistant Educator - Infants
Ms. Stephanie is originally from Rhode Island but moved to Jersey City, NJ 2 years ago. She is returning to school soon with a major in Family and Human Development. Working with children has always been a passion of hers and she loves watching them develop their personalities and complete milestones. In her free time, Stephanie likes to dance, travel, and spend time with her family. She is honored to be part of every child’s learning journey!
Megan Brown
Educator - Toddlers
A graduate of Pace University with a bachelor's degree in psychology and theatre arts, Megan is pursuing a master’s in Early Childhood Education and Mental Health Counseling. Growing up in a large Southern family, she developed a deep passion for caring for children and supporting others from a young age. With over a decade of experience working with children of all ages, from infancy to grade 12, Megan has held various roles including assistant teacher and counselor, focusing on behavioral and developmental needs.
Kendra Slack
Educator - Toddlers
Kendra is thrilled to be a member of the Big and Tiny team. She has been working with children of all ages for 14 years, but has focused primarily on early childhood from 18 months to 2 years. She is also a mom to an amazing 15-year old boy. She received her bachelor's degree in psychology and is currently a graduate student working towards her master's in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). Working with children is her passion because she believes we can learn more from them than they can from us, and they show us every day what it means to truly live.
Tara Pitaluga
Educator - Toddlers
Tara was born and raised in south Jersey and moved to this wonderful city about ten years ago. She has been working with children since she was in high school and has been working in the field of childhood education for about sixteen years. Her goal in the classroom is to create a space where each child isn’t just physically safe but emotionally safe. Building self-esteem is one of her biggest priorities in the classroom. One of her biggest passions is theatre arts and uses these tools in the classroom. Such as listening, being a safe space for others, bringing laughs and playing make believe.
Sarah Ficken
Educator - Preschool
Sarah brings to Big and Tiny a decade of experience in education. She has worked with children of all ages: in early childhood education using the Reggio and Bank Street approaches, in special education, and also in a mixed-age setting following the family-cooperative model. She is a NYS certified teacher who has undergone professional development with: Bank Street, North American Reggio Emilia Alliance and Reggio Children (where she followed a month-long digital study group of teachers and atelieristas in Reggio Emilia, Italy). Sarah enjoys: fiber arts, painting, running and walking in nature, and volunteer work.
Anjelica Blige
Educator - Preschool
Anjelica is a proud-born and raised New Yorker. She has spent the last five years teaching in Reggio Emilia-inspired environments in Portland, Oregon. She has since returned to NYC and is so happy to continue working with children and their families. When she’s not teaching, you can find her reading, watching sports, cooking in her kitchen, or being in nature. I am the proud dog mom to a 3-year-old Labradoodle named Melo (Go Knicks!) and an even prouder aunt to my two nieces, Sage and Ava, whom you will hear me talk about endlessly.
Mia Neibert
Music Teacher
Mia is a versatile vocalist and early childhood music teacher. She holds a degree in Professional music, concentrating in vocal performance and songwriting from Berklee College of Music. In 2007, Mia Became certified to teach early childhood education music and since then, she has been sharing the gift of music with young children, bringing warmth, fun and creativity to her classes. Outside class, Mia loves working with essential oils and making aromatherapy blends.
