Early Childhood
Education Conference
2024 Conference Committee
JULIE ROBBINS is the Director of Blessed Lambs Preschool, La Plata United Methodist Church in Charles County, MD. She earned a BS in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Maryland. She has 26 years of experience as a Director. Julie serves as the Facilitator for the Directors Roundtable of the BWCUMC, is a member of the Promise Resource Center Directors Roundtable as well as a member of the Promise Resource Center’s Executive Board and is serving on the Charles County Early Childhood Advisory Council. She has served on the Conference Committee for the past 14 years. She is married with two grown children and has three beautiful grandchildren!
DAMITA ROBINSON has been serving on the Conference Committee since 2013. She is the Director at Emmanuel United Methodist Preschool in Laurel (Howard County), Maryland. This has allowed her the opportunity to pursue her passion for providing an exceptional first-school experience for young children. Damita attended Notre Dame of Maryland University earning her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and earned her Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University Nebraska. Her career in education has taken her on a wonderful journey since 2000 from preschool to fifth grade (and most of the grades in between) and now Preschool Director. She is married with two wonderful children. Her free time is spent reading and she still loves to cut and paste.
AMY SCHROEDER is the Director at Mt. Hebron Nursery School in Ellicott City (Howard County), Maryland. She has a long-standing relationship with MHNS dating back to 1998 when her children first attended preschool. She joined the staff in 2003 and has served as the Assistant Director and now as the Director. She has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a double master’s degree in Counseling and Higher Education Administration. Before MHNS, she was a University Administrator and College Professor. She lives in Annapolis and is married with two grown children. She is a long time Conference attendee, and this is her second year on the Conference Committee.
VICKIE WHITLEY, a true Annapolitan, has 20 years of experience as a Director of Early Childhood programs. Vickie is currently the Director of Heritage Learning Center, a mission of Heritage Baptist Church in Annapolis. She graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County with a degree in Social Work and Psychology. She holds a certificate in Child Care Administration Training. Vickie has been married for 41 years to her husband, who she met at Heritage. She has 4 adult children (3 who attended HLC) and 6 grandchildren. Her loves include spending time with family, traveling, hiking, knitting, crocheting, and golf. Her greatest joy is to share the love of Jesus and the Wonder of Learning with children.
DAWN M. REY is the Director at Mt. Carmel Child Development Center in Pasadena, Maryland. She has been the director here for almost 6 years and has over 20 years of experience in Child Care. She has earned her two-year degree in Early Childhood Education, along with many other classes. Dawn is a member of MSCCA, and NAEYC, and this is her first year being on the Conference Committee. Dawn has been married for 32 years with her high school sweetheart, and they have two beautiful girls, Ashlea, 31, and Taylor 28, and one beautiful Granddaughter, Quinn, 3. She enjoys spending time with family and friends on their pontoon boat!
KENDRA HUNT is the Director at Our Lady’s Little Christians, in Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church in Waldorf. This is her first year serving on the Conference Committee. Kendra is also the lead 4 year old teacher and has been teaching since 2017. She is working on her Bachelors Degree through Grand Canyon University. She is a widowed mother of two teenage girls ages 17 and 16, both who attended the same Preschool that she currently works. She loves glamping and spending time with her children.
MELISSA LINSKY is the Director of Early Childhood Education at Grace Lutheran School in La Plata, Maryland. She has been director for 13 years and has over 20 years of experience in Early Childhood Education. Melissa holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Salem State University. This is her first year serving on the Conference Committee, but she has been attending this conference for over 15 years. Melissa is married with two sons, one graduating high school this year and one graduating from Towson University.
MARY POSTON is the Director at Wesley Freedom United Methodist Church’s Early Years Learning Center in Eldersburg, Maryland. After teaching at EYLC for several years, this is her first year working as the Director and her first year serving on the Early Childhood Conference Committee. An alumna of Marshall University, Mary holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. She also earned a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College. Nature, hiking, spending time with family, and observing children happily engaged in play are some things that bring her joy.
MARIA CALABRESE is the Director at St. Matthew's EEC in Bowie, MD. Maria actually attended preschool at St. Matthew's many (many) years ago. Her children then attended St. Matthew's, which led to her volunteering in the classrooms and substituting at the school. Eventually she started teaching at the school part time, then full time as the Kindergarten teacher, then transitioned into the Assistant Director and now leads the school as Director. Maria has a degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Frostburg State University and has loved every stage of her career in educating others. This is Maria's second year serving on the committee, after being a conference attendee for years while the previous directors were part of the planning committee. Maria is married, has four children and spends most of her free time on a sports field. She has a son playing college baseball, a daughter playing college lacrosse and two sons at home who play baseball, as well. Her favorite hobby is spending time with her immediate and extended family.
CYNDY BAKER is the director of Good Shepherd Education Center located in Waldorf. Cyndy has been in the early childhood education field for 25 years as a teacher and then an administrator. Cyndy received her BS in Elementary Education from the University of Oklahoma in 2000. In addition to being an early childhood educator, Cyndy is a proud mom of 3 grown children. Cyndy enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, doing yoga, going to the beach, and traveling.
CLAIRE ZARRILLI is Director of Calvary Center School in Annapolis, Maryland since 2021. She taught Threes for five years when her children attended here, then earned her MAT from Notre Dame of Maryland University. After teaching 1st grade and PreK in public school, she returned to Calvary as Director. Prior to teaching, Claire worked in market research for MedStar Health. She holds a BA in Economics from Wellesley College and an MBA from the University of Maryland. She is excited to help with the Conference this year. Claire and her husband have two college graduates and one middle-schooler, all alumni of Calvary Center. She loves sailing and vacationing at the beach with her family.