MINNOW TEACHERS
Eliza Anise Minnow Teacher
Ms. Eliza will be working with the Minnows this year. Eliza has a B.S. in Teaching from Lesley University. She taught at Head Start, Horizon for the Homeless Children, and was a Case Manager for Welfare to Work at Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries. While raising her daughter, Eliza took her therapy dog to cheer up patients at Beth Israel, Spaulding, and special needs classrooms. Eliza went back to school at UMass Boston for creative writing poetry and won the 2019 Academy of American Poets for her poem “Spring.” Now it brings joy to Eliza working with children again!
Deb Blumenthal Minnow Teacher
This is Deb’s second year on our team. She comes to us with plenty of experience as a former one-on-one aide at another local elementary school and a mother of a son who just entered 1st grade this year. Last summer, she also worked at Camp Grossman where she saw many EDP campers! Another little fun fact about Ms. Deb is that she also loves all things Disney! She also loves to talk to the kids about sports – Go Sox!
Lula Butler Early Birds Teacher and Minnow Teacher
Miss Lula joined our team last year. She has a kind-hearted spirit and is a wonderful addition to our Minnows team. She is an avid knitter and we can’t wait for winter to come so we’ll get to see all the beautiful sweaters she has created!
Kassidy Buzzell-Shane Minnow Teacher
This is Miss Kassidy’s first year at PEDP. She previously worked at a daycare with toddlers. Kassidy has a baby girl at home who is going to be 1 in January. She is a huge animal lover and has several animals at home.
Sandra Pires Minnow Teacher
BARRACUDA TEACHERS
Laurie Pedzewick Barracuda Teacher
Miss Laurie joined the PEDP community in 2007. This is her 17th year! Laurie has worked with all of the age groups and is currently back with the Barracudas. As a proud mother of an adult daughter, Risa, as well as her many years of working as a camp counselor, Laurie enjoys working with young children again! She is very active and loves skiing, biking, tennis, swimming, and volleyball (to name a few). You can often find her participating in gym games with the kids. Laurie balances the busy EDP life by relaxing while listening to music, reading, gardening, and snuggling with her 2 Maine Coon cats, Sparky and Friskie. PEDP is like an extended family to Laurie. She is thankful for the wonderful friendships and bonds she has formed with the students and staff.
Monica Reuman Barracuda Teacher
Monica begins her third year teaching at PEDP but she isn’t new to our program…she’s an EDP graduate! She has a B.A. in Studio Art and Spanish and has just finished a 3-year post-grad program at Pixels and Polygons School of Digital Art and Animation. Monica also has experience working with kids at the New Art Center in Newtonville. We can’t wait to see what fun projects she brings to our program!
Norda Lino-Kelly Barracuda Teacher
Norda joins PEDP this year! Fun facts include: she has been ziplining, has met Jaylen Brown while traveling, and dreams of one day traveling to Jamaica. Norda likes working with kids because she loves creating an impact, seeing how the things she has taught them really stick with them.
Dru Maguire Barracuda Teacher
Dru brings a long line of entrepreneurial pedigree in the arts. She began playing drums and piano at age 2 and became a professional singer at age 16, touring as sole vocalist for notable jazz groups Black Eagle Jazz band and Greenhouse Effect. She expanded into fronting and recording with bands in a variety of musical genres. She also worked as a mural artist, mixed-media portrait artist and artist for Caricutey’s Caricatures. When she became a mom, she channeled her skills into coaching and teaching, working as a studio coach for Maurice Starr Productions, and co-founding New Talent, a talent development company, coaching and showcasing local talent in the Boston area, Soulshine Arts, a multi-media drop-in workshop in Portsmouth NH, and Music Rules, all-ages music instruction in Metrowest. Dru looks forward to a fun, inspiring year at Peirce!
Dominic Emmett Barracuda Teacher
Returning from an assistant role in 2023, Dominic is a Senior Biochemistry student at Boston College teaching with the Barracudas! Dominic has been working in childcare throughout his college career, as it is his second passion. He plans to go into the medical field after graduating. He loves to cook, listen to soul music, and spend time with his dogs, Patriot and Ryver. If you need to talk about Boston sports, he is also your guy for that! He takes pride in teaching his students to be kind and empathetic individuals, alongside being a positive presence in their educational experience.
Madison Minella Barracuda / Float Teacher
Madison is a former PEDP-er herself, now returning as a senior at Newton North. She will work amongst the fish groups!
The Minnows remember her fondly and we are excited to have her back!
Skylar Float Teacher
It is Skylar’s first year in PEDP. As a float, they will be in all groups varying each week. They have worked in childcare for around 6 years. They love art, video games, and anime, as well as long hikes or short walks. An avid animal lover from four-legged and fuzzy to covered in scales. Other interests are cosmetology and coffee! Overall, they are excited to continue with our big reef of fishies!
SHARK TEACHERS
Deb Wyler Shark Teacher & Administrative Assistant
Yvonne Emery Shark Teacher & Barracuda Support Staff
This is Yvonne’s second year at EDP. She is a busy mother of six children from a blended family. She also comes to us with various experience working with children from volunteering, home-schooling, and supporting children with special needs.
Olivier Bijoux Sharks Teacher
Olivier joined our team most recently! He attended University of Buffalo for Technical Design for Theater with a focus in set design and light programming! During his summers he would work at the all boys outdoor summer camp, Camp Pasquaney, in the mountains of Hebron, NH. He loves working with kids because he can watch them grow and learn. In his free time, he enjoys go-karting, skiing, learning physics and math, and taking care of his cat, Scarlett.
Emma Cunningham Shark Teacher
Emma joined our team last year as an assistant teacher while studying at Boston College. With a vibrant personality and positive “can do” attitude, she rejoins our team this year as a Shark teacher while she continues her college education.
