Owner and Director of Daily Operations

Teona

Teona, our Owner and Director of Daily Operations, founded Ia’s Learning Tree and the Brooklyn Little Learners programs alongside her mother, Ia. She is deeply committed to building a community where every young child feels welcomed, supported, and valued. With exceptional attention to detail and a dedication to high-quality care, Teona ensures that our programming nurtures each child’s strengths while inspiring them to learn, grow, and thrive.
 

Teona holds a degree in Early Childhood Special Education and brings both professional expertise and personal perspective to her work. As a fellow Park Slope mother to her daughter Vivian (7), she understands firsthand what makes a school experience meaningful, supportive, and successful for families.

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Classroom Teacher 3s

Marika

Marika Abuladze is an early childhood educator dedicated to creating a warm, inclusive, and developmentally responsive environment where children feel safe, supported, and excited to learn. She believes strong relationships, consistent routines, and play-based learning help children build confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning.

Marika integrates arts and music to support emotional expression, language development, and social skills, and values close collaboration with families to provide individualized care. She holds a B.A degree in law and is currently pursuing her Early Childhood Education certification through Penn Foster College.

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Classroom Teacher (2s)

Ana

Ana is a graduate of the Tbilisi State Conservatoire with a focus in Jazz Vocals. Her love of music brings joy, connection, and warmth to the classroom, helping children engage and express themselves through song.  She also studied nursing at David Tvildiani Nursing College, skills that are especially valuable when working with young children. A mother of two, Ana brings a nurturing, maternal presence to her teaching and has been part of the Little Learners community since moving to the U.S. in 2023.

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Educational Director

Hannah

Hannah, our Educational Director, has spent the past 15 years working in Early Childhood Education and finds great joy in creating environments where children feel empowered to ask questions, investigate their surroundings, take risks, and form their own ideas. She holds her B.A in Early Childhood Special Education from the University of Vermont, gaining valuable experience in Early Intervention and Reggio-inspired classrooms, and she  earned her M.A degree in Early Childhood Education at Hunter College, where she was able to apply new methods & fresh perspectives as a lead teacher in 2K and 3K classrooms.
 

Hannah is also a fellow Park Slope parent to two young children, Reese (5) and Ruby (3). She deeply understands the daily joys and challenges families experience—from picky eating and sleep struggles to a shared love of Slope Park—and brings that empathy and perspective to her work each day.

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Classroom Teacher (3s)

Pikria

Pikria (Pe) brings curiosity, creativity, and a sense of adventure to the classroom, inspiring children to embrace new challenges and build confidence. She loves engaging students through imaginative play, including her favorite “magic tricks,” and delights in the stories and ideas children share.
 

Pe holds a B.A in Social and Political Sciences and a master’s degree in Philology from Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University. She has been a valued member of the Little Learners community since 2018.Pikria (Pe) is an adventurer at heart—roller coasters, skydiving, you name it! (Don’t worry, she won’t take the children skydiving.)

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Classroom Teacher (2s)

Sali

Sali brings constant warmth, enthusiasm, and positive energy to the classroom. She holds a B.A. in English Language and Literature and an M.A. in Sociology, and began her teaching career in Georgia working with elementary-aged children. After moving to the U.S., she discovered her passion for early childhood education and joined the Little Learners family in 2023. Sali delights in singing, dancing, and reading stories with expressive voices alongside her students.​

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