Discovery Child Development Center has a unique project-based curriculum. The project approach provides children the opportunity to study topics in-depth and integrates content knowledge throughout the projects. Students learn in an authentic way and are able to connect what they are learning to the world around them. They also learn how to ask questions and develop strategies for finding answers to their questions. Children at Discovery are seen as active learners who learn through discovery, play, manipulation of objects and interactions with peers and teachers.
Teachers
Ms. Emily and Ms. Meredith - Young Preschool Teaching Team
Young Preschool
I am Emily Valentine. I am the lead teacher in the Young Toddler classroom. I grew up in Pennsylvania and went to college at Wheelock College in Boston, MA. That is where I got Bachelors degree in Human Development and Child Life, met my husband, and got married. We moved to NC in 2010.
I have three children, all who went to Discovery! We were very excited to find Discovery and after being a stay at home mom for years, I joined the Discovery team in 2017. I have 18+ years of teaching in infant, toddler, and preschool classrooms. I also have experience working as a director and contracts manager at programs in Boston. I love working with toddlers and young preschoolers. My passion is working with children and families to help them grow and develop to their full potential.
When I am not at school, I am usually driving my kids to their various activities and cheering them on from the sidelines. I enjoy spending time with my family, reading, and getting outside with my dog, Milo.
I am Meredith. I am from Durham, and am a mom of two teens. I have seven years of experience working in the preschool setting, and truly love working with young children and being part of their early learning journey. For the past three years, I have been part of the team at Discovery, where I enjoy creating a warm, caring, and engaging environment for children to grow.
I especially enjoy working with young preschoolers as they develop their independence, build friendships, and discover new things each day!
Ms. Priscilla and Ms. Namrata- Half Day Preschool Teaching Team
Half Day Preschool
I am Priscilla Garcia and I am originally from Miami, FL and moved to North Carolina while attending N.C. State where I studied Spanish Literature and Psychology. I have been teaching at Discovery Child Development Center for eight years and have absolutely loved every minute! Watching the children grow and absorb so much knowledge everyday is incredibly rewarding. Before I was lead teacher in the 3's room, I was one of the Spanish teachers. Bringing a different language and culture to the kids is such a wonderful feeling. They soak up so much at this age and I am grateful to be able to contribute to that.
My husband and I have two kids, who have both attended Discovery .
When I am not at school, you will most likely find me at the soccer field with my daughter or at home cooking and baking with my family.
I am Namrata. I am a trained clinical psychologist from India and have worked as a therapist at a state owned hospital. After moving to the US, I had to take a step back and put my dreams of becoming a practicing psychologist on hold. What I thought would be a short break very quickly turned into a few years and soon that’s all it was….just a dream. It was at Discovery that I found a second profession. My introduction to Discovery was in January 2015 when my husband and I were looking for a preschool for our 2.5 year old. Our son started in the young preschool class that fall and as an eager parent, I volunteered in his class every other week. When he moved up to the preschool class the following year, I moved up with him, from a volunteer mom I became a substitute teacher. The pandemic brought some changes as part of the school went virtual and I officially joined team Discovery as the virtual teacher for the PreK classroom. Moving back into the building in the fall of 2021, I switched to the preschool classroom and have been working with 3 year olds ever since. I have donned many hats at Discovery, from that of an eager parent volunteer to an enthusiastic substitute teacher to now a contented preschool teacher. My journey as a preschool teacher did not start with a degree in education but I believe my background in psychology has led me here and helps me in my regular school day with the little ones. It has been a fascinating journey so far and I am very grateful to Team Discovery - not only did my son thrive in the nurturing and engaging environment but I also found a second chance at pursuing a career.
Ms. Aparna and Mr. Josh- Transitional Kindergarten Teaching Team
Transitional Kindergarten
I am Aparna Amarnath and I am proud to be part of the Discovery team. Teaching is my passion and I have been teaching young children since 2004. To me, time spent with children is precious and I try to make it meaningful. My desire is to pique their curiosity and bring lessons to life by providing interactive and sensory activities. It is a privilege to teach children in their early years and my goal is to make school an exciting, wonder-filled magical experience. I strive to broaden their horizons and nurture their individual gifts while providing them with the tools to receive and process new information. Building a sense of community is vital at this age, I believe in celebrating and drawing attention to the kind and empathetic nature of my class to strengthen bonds. One of the many rewards of being a teacher is getting to know and working together with new families. This ensures effective and continuous communication which is vital to meeting the needs of each and every child. I am always excited to meet my incoming students and begin the wonderful adventure that each August brings.
Ms. Sarika and Ms. Colleen Full Day Preschool Teaching Team
Full Day Preschool
I am Sarika Changedia and I am thrilled to be at Discovery Child Development Center. I grew up in the western part of India. We are a family of four consisting of me, my husband, and our 12 year old twin boys. After studying pharmacy I received a Masters in English literature and have been working with kids for the last 4 years.
Before joining Discovery in 2021, I worked as a substitute teacher for the Wake County Public Schools. I love being around kids, believe that they bring all the positivity in our lives and love to listen to their amazing minds.
When I am not working, I love going on hikes or long walks, crocheting, reading, painting, writing, and cooking.
My name is Colleen Perry, and I am originally from Ohio. I have 2 boys at Panther Creek High School, and a dog and lizard. This will be my fourth year at Discovery.
I have a passion for working with young children and helping them learn, grow, and explore the world around them. I believe every child is unique and deserves to feel loved, safe, valued, and encouraged. I look forward to building meaningful relationships with my students and their families.
Ms. Premila and Ms. Suman Half Day PreK Teaching Team
Half Day Pre-K
Hi, I am Premila and I was born and raised in India. After completing my postgraduate studies, I got married, moved to Singapore and later to the United States.
During my early years in the U.S., I pursued studies in Early Childhood Education and began my journey as a preschool teacher. I joined the Discovery team in 2016, and it has been a rewarding experience ever since. I love nurturing young minds, expanding their intellectual horizons, and fostering a love for learning that will last a lifetime.
Beyond the classroom, I enjoy traveling with my husband and two children, reading, painting, and gardening.
I am Suman Iyengar, and I am so excited to be your child’s pre-K teacher this year.
Teaching preschool has been my passion for the past six years. What I love most about working with young children is their wonderful innocence, curiosity, and the boundless, unconditional love they bring into the classroom every day. As a mother of two boys, family is at the heart of everything I do. Raising my sons with strong values—honesty, discipline, and respect—has shaped not only who I am as a parent, but also how I guide my students. I am dedicated to creating a warm, caring, and nurturing environment where every child feels loved, safe, and encouraged to grow both academically and emotionally. I look forward to partnering with you this year to help your little ones learn, laugh, and thrive!
Ms. Triveni and Ms. Gladys School Day Pre-K Teaching Team
School Day Pre-K
I am Trivet Limaye. I hold a Masters degree in management and completed my certification in Early Childhood Education. Teaching is my calling and passion as I love watching the little ones grow in every aspect.
I strive to give them the best possible experience to widen their horizon, enjoy every minute of learning, creating special bonds, and challenging them with new topics to keep their curiosity levels high.
Discovery has a warm and welcoming environment where children thrive socially, academically, and emotionally. I love the philosophy of our school.
My family includes my loving husband and two wonderful boys. In my spare time, I enjoy photography, gardening, yoga, and watching my sons play cricket. On Sundays I teach Marathi, an Indian regional language, at a local non-profit.
I am Gladys Romero. I am originally from Colombia. I have lived in North Carolina for the past 26 years. I love NC for its nature and it is a beautiful place to raise your kids. My husband and I have two beautiful daughters. I have worked in ECE for more than 12 years. I am a devoted and enthusiastic teacher. My role is to offer our children a safe, encouraging, and a happy learning environment where they fueled loved and appreciated.
After School Care
Hello! I am Raquel and I am originally from Brazil and have lived in the United States for more than 20 years. I am happy to be part of the Discovery community and truly enjoy spending my afternoons with the children in our aftercare program.
I believe every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and free to be themselves. I love encouraging kindness, creativity, and meaningful connections while helping to create a warm and welcoming environment where children can relax, play, and enjoy their time together after school.
In addition to my work at Discovery, I am a certified Holistic Nutritionist and Holistic Practitioner. I am passionate about emotional well-being, mindfulness, and helping others reconnect with the light within themselves.
Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, singing, creating meditations, and being in nature.
Administrative Staff
Mike Dlott,
Director
Director
Mike is a Carpenter Village resident and former Cameron Pond neighbor with more than two decades of experience in education and youth development. His journey in education began at Tufts University, where he co-founded an after-school program for elementary students and later spent a semester in Washington, D.C., studying the impact of Head Start programs. After graduation, he supported national educational research studies at the American Institutes for Research, where he helped develop curriculum and served as a Youth Coordinator for the Technical Assistance Partnership.
In 2003, Mike earned his Master of Arts in Teaching from Duke University. He has taught at the middle and high school levels including at Panther Creek High School in Cary and led service-learning programs for students of all ages, including projects involving preschool and elementary students. Beyond the classroom, Mike is a featured essayist whose writing explores community and the importance of showing up for one another. His work has appeared in Chicago Story Press and WBUR’s Cognoscenti and has been shared by NPR. He was also the creator and host of Preschool and Beyond, which ranked as a Top 50 Education Podcast. These same values of connection and care guide his work as Director of Discovery Child Development Center.
Mike is also the proud father of three sons. As a local parent with one son at Alston Ridge Middle School, one at Green Hope High School, and his oldest at the University of Texas at Austin, Mike understands the educational journey from the first day of preschool to the transition into higher education. He is deeply committed to ensuring every child at Discovery builds the confidence and curiosity needed to succeed at every level.
Poonam Sharma,
School Admissions and Operations Director
Poonam started at Discovery back in 2014 when her 2 yr old joined the young preschool class and there has been no looking back! She loved the school as a parent and now is a HUGE part of the Discovery family. She manages school admissions, operations, and helps kids in the classrooms when needed. She is passionate about helping kids learn and thrive, and at the same time, help maintain positive relationships with the parents, school staff, and associated support functions. Poonam received her bachelors degree with Honors in English Literature and Masters degree in English Literature from India. Her broad work experience includes teaching, business management, and sales operations. Spending time with her family, reading books, working out, and going shopping a few of the things she love to do. "The most beautiful thing to have ever happened in my life is being a mom to my amazing, energetic, adventurous, and full of life daughter!"
Alejandra Livas-Dlott, PhD,
Founder and Advisory Board Member
Founder and Advisory Board Member
Since a young age, Alex has shown a great passion for schools, teaching and working with young children. Alex received her BA in Child Development from Tufts University. At Tufts, she worked in a Head Start preschool classroom as well as a private, research-based preschool based at the child development department at Tufts University. In addition to her studies and classroom work at Tufts, Alejandra co-founded and participated in an after-school program for young children that promoted movement and physical education. Upon graduation, Alejandra became a kindergarten and first grade teacher as a Teach for America corps member. While teaching, Alejandra realized the importance of returning to school to further her expertise in theory, research and practice. Alex returned to graduate school where she earned an MA and PhD in Education from the University of California, Berkeley. While at graduate school, Alex worked with families and young children in research settings and furthered her expertise in child, family and classroom theory, policy and assessment. After graduate school, Alejandra worked with a professor at UNC’s School of Education to co-create a parent outreach program that helped Latino families with the transition into kindergarten. In addition to her work with families and young children, her favorite time is spent with her husband, three sons and dog.
