Contact Us

Jen Brynaert

Discovery Card

GSRP Immaginare

As the Program Director at our 409 Lafayette location, I manage the school aged before and aftercare program, community summer care program, and the Immaginare preschool program. I have my B.A. in education, and have taught preschool, middle and high school English and art, and have been an early childhood educational coach. I am a mom of 2 teen boys, and love travel, music, art and family. I enjoy the creative freedom that the Reggio approach provides to both children and staff alike. It continues to challenge and expand our ideas on the many possibilities of early childhood education.

Tom Dodd

Pedagogy

Team Development

---

Child Development Associate™

I moved to the US in 2016 from the UK where I had studied sustainable energy engineering, worked in economic development and was an elected councillor for the City Council. The plan was to continue along a similar path. While waiting for my permission to work in the US I began volunteering at my step-son's school (GRCDC) to pass the time and found an enjoyment of teaching. This took me to Rihab, in the Malaguzzi classroom at the EDC – who never let me leave! I became fascinated by the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood and their strong belief in the rights of children. I was also amazed by the dedication of the EDC's teachers, despite the lack of recognition they receive. Since starting with GREDC I have received my Child Development Associate (CDA), become a National Geographic Certified Educator, a certified WonderLed Play Based Educator and I am currently working on a Graduate Certificate in Early Childhood Education Pedagogy through the University of Colorado and Boulder Journey School.

Carla Fortuna

Enrollment

Events

GSRP Malaguzzi

I have been working at the Grand Rapids Early Discovery Center since October 2021. I am currently serving as the Program Director, working closely with Angie, our Operations Director, and Tom, our Pedagogista. In my role, I have the opportunity to be in the classrooms with children, supporting teachers and getting to know families. I help with the day to day programming needs and communicate with staff and families through email updates, Facebook, postings, and in person conversations. Ensuring that children and parents feel secure and receive sufficient communication about the happenings at the EDC is my priority. I oversee enrollment, DHHS and GSRP reporting, and scheduling for teachers at the center. As a parent, I have been a part of this community since 2017 when we enrolled our first son in the Vita Mia classroom. Since then, all three of our children have had the opportunity to enjoy play-based learning alongside loving, knowledgeable, and experienced educators. As a former teacher, my passion lies in inquiry based, child led learning where children feel motivated and excited to learn. It is refreshing to work with other educators who share this passion. I received a bachelors degree from Calvin University in Elementary Education, in addition to an Early Childhood endorsement and a Spanish major. I also earned my Masters degree in Child Development from MSU about ten years ago. I have close to 15 years of teaching experience, mainly with children ages 3-6. I have worked at all types of schools; including an environmental science based school, a Great Start to Readiness preschool program in Kentwood, a farm school in Ada, and a childcare center in town. I also taught outdoor, nature-based classes at Wilcox Park with young children and their families. This supports my philosophy that children learn best outdoors and alongside their peers, through hands-on child led learning. In the fall of 2022, I had the opportunity to travel to Reggio Emilia with other educators from the EDC to increase my knowledge of the philosophy that inspires and guides both our teaching and view of the child. I look forward to next steps in advocacy for young children and their families and continuing my work at the GREDC.