Lab School
Faculty and Staff
The Lab School’s Master Teachers are highly qualified educators with expertise in the field of early education. Our Master Teachers draw upon their specialized educational backgrounds and years of experience working with young children to design developmentally appropriate curriculum that addresses the specific needs of the children in their classrooms.
Each staff member has significant experiences mentoring and supporting undergraduate learners, has strong relationships with children and families, and knows the practices and culture of the Lab School. Master teachers are experienced teacher educators who collaborate closely with University students to help develop the next generation of early childhood educators.
The Lab School staff regularly present at regional and national conferences. They also engage in continuing professional development, and conduct research to expand their knowledge and skills, and provide professional development for in-service educators.
Dorit Radnai-Griffin
Director
In her fifth year as the Lab School Director, Dorit is responsible for leadership in program development and maintaining high-quality programming for children and families and the University of Delaware students in clinical experiences. She provides leadership and oversight of research activities and supervision and evaluation of the staff. Dorit collaborates with professionals from other Lab Schools from across the country to spread the incredible work of her talented teaching staff in the areas of pre-service early childhood teacher preparation, emergent curriculum, nature-based education, and mindfulness. She encourages and seeks opportunities for outreach connections in Delaware communities and beyond. She ensures that the day-to-day operations at the Lab School comply with state licensing requirements and accreditation standards and demonstrate current best practices in curriculum and teaching. She also oversees enrollment and financial operations. Dorit has a Secondary Appointment in the rank of Assistant Professor with the Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, where she has been an Instructor and taught several undergraduate and graduate courses for over a decade. She is a former Program Manager of the Lab School and Program Coordinator with New Directions Early Head Start. She has vast experience working with children, families, teachers, university students, and other support staff. Dorit earned a Ph.D. and an MS in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Delaware and a BS with High Honors in Psychology from Delaware State University. Dorit is a certified Intermediate Instructor at the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood and has a Delaware Department of Education Early Childhood Administrator certification.
Lindsey Melchiore
Support Teacher – Play & Grow Together
Lindsey has a BS degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Delaware, and a MS degree in Special Education from Wilmington University. Lindsey has earned a National Board Certification as an Exceptional Needs Specialist and holds multiple professional licenses. Prior to her work as Play and Grow instructor, she has worked for over 8 years in the Delaware public school system teaching kindergarten and special education preschool. Lindsey believes in the incredible importance of play and exploration when it comes to the development of infants and toddlers. She enjoys helping families of young children create sensory and language-rich learning experiences that foster all developmental areas.
Laura Morris
Master Teacher – Pre-K
Laura is a graduate of the University of Delaware where she dual majored in Preschool and Kindergarten Education and Young Exceptional Children. She has a MS in Elementary Education and has completed additional graduate work in the area of Learning and Behavior Disorders. She has a Delaware Department of Education Early Childhood Administrator Certificate with Specialized Training Credentials for School-age and Infants and Toddlers. Laura has over 30 years of experience teaching, administrating, coaching, and collaborating with children, teachers, teacher candidates and families in inclusive early childhood programs and with high-risk populations in public schools K to 12. Laura has completed numerous courses related to mindfulness including Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Mindful Non-Violent Communication, Mindful Parenting and Growing Up Mindful. This fall she will complete her A Course In Mindful Living teacher certification program with Elisha Goldstein Ph.D. In addition to serving as a Master Teacher for the Lab School, Laura has also designed and led the I Can Be Mindful summer camp for young children for 7 years. Specific areas of passion include social and emotional learning, mindfulness practices for young children and families, and early childhood teacher preparation for today’s world.
Katie Pollock
Master Teacher – Nature/Outdoor Preschool
Katie has worked as a Master Teacher at the UD Lab School for 19 years. Katie received her Nature Based Educator certificate from Antioch University in January of 2023. Katie is a certified naturalist through the Delaware Nature Society, but her quest for learning more about the land on our children’s campus does not end there. Katie has worked with the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood for the last three summers to expand nature experiences for children, teachers, and families through the Let’s Go Outside initiative. Creating a professional community of nature-based educators in the First State has been a goal of hers and has become a reality thanks to partnering with Kristen Chandler through the Inside-Outside Delaware chapter. Katie joined the Delaware Association for Environmental Education’s board in the Spring of 2022. In the Spring of 2023, she was selected by the University of Delaware Sustainability Council in partnership with the Office of Sustainability for a Green Hen Award. She has been awarded the DAEE Outstanding Field Educator award in 2019 and the Delaware Nature Society Outstanding Environmental Educator award in 2021. She earned an MS in Literacy from Wilmington University and a BS in Early Childhood Education from the University of Delaware. She is a licensed Delaware teacher of Early Childhood & Early Childhood Special Education, an Early Childhood Administrator in Delaware, and teaches an undergraduate course for the Human Development and Family Studies Department at the University of Delaware.
Debbie Torbert
Master Teacher – AM Preschool
Debbie is the Master Teacher of the 2’s class and the 3’s class. She has worked with children for forty-five years. She attended the University of Delaware and graduated with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education with certification in Preschool/Kindergarten. She received her M.A. in Liberal Studies at UD, focusing on observing children’s developing sense of wonder as they interact in nature and with natural materials. She also holds an Early Childhood Administrator Credential with Administration and School Age Specialized Training Credentials, from the Delaware Department of Education.
Kristen Chandler
Master Teacher - Outdoor PreK/Kindergarten
Kristen holds a bachelor’s degree in Special Education and has over 20 years of experience teaching children ranging in ages from 6 weeks to 10 years old, in public and private settings. As the Master Teacher of the Outdoor Pre-K/K classroom, she provides all children with engaging, developmentally appropriate learning opportunities both inside the classroom and outdoors. Kristen facilitates daily mindfulness lessons with the children to encourage social growth and emotional well-being, while supporting the individual needs of each and every child. She also serves as a mentor for future Early Childhood Educators and models various strategies and techniques to support learners of varying exceptionalities. Kristen completed an Internationally Accredited Mindfulness for Children Teacher Training program, is a Certified Mindfulness for Children Teacher and has completed her Certificate in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education at Antioch University. She is working on her master’s degree in Educational Teacher Leadership, at the University of Delaware. She serves as a Co-Leader, with Katie Pollock, for the Delaware Chapter of Inside Outside, a national organization devoted to connecting, educating, supporting, and empowering nature-based educators. Kristen is a part of the Kindergarten Play Committee for Red Clay School District where they work hard to get play back into public Kindergartens. Before teaching at the Lab School, Kristen taught 2nd and 3rd grade Special Education in the Brandywine School District, educated 2- and 3-year-olds at a developmental preschool in South Florida, served as an Exceptional Student Education Specialist, and provided educational experiences in a multi-age classroom, as part of an Early Head Start program.
Polly Lung
Lead Teacher PreK
Polly graduated from the University of Delaware with a MS in Human Development and Family Studies with an Early Childhood Development and Inclusive Education concentration, a BS in Early Childhood Development and Education, and a Graduate Certificate in Leadership in Early Childhood and Human Services. Polly is a Certified Mindfulness for Children Teacher. She recently completed the Certificate in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education at Antioch University. Polly has a Delaware Department of Education Early Childhood Administrator Certificate with Specialized Training Credentials for Infant/Toddler and Inclusion. She is a certified Intermediate Instructor in the Delaware Institute for Excellence in Early Childhood. Prior to her time at the Lab School, Polly worked with infants and toddlers in a looping classroom, served as clinical placement supervisor for student teachers, and worked as an administrator at an early childhood education center.
Amanda Lala
Co-Teacher - Nature Preschool
Amanda is elated to be part of the Lab School after her student teaching placement with Ms. Katie many years ago! Amanda earned an Honors BS in Early Childhood Development & Education, with certification in early childhood and special education, and a minor in English from the University of Delaware. She continued her studies at UD and earned an M.Ed. in Exceptional Children and Youth, with a concentration in Autism and Severe Disabilities. Amanda has eight years of teaching experience in Delaware and Tennessee public schools as a special education preschool and kindergarten teacher. From her experience in a wide variety of inclusive settings, Amanda is passionate about creating meaningful inclusion opportunities for children. Amanda is delighted to be able to teach young children as well as help shape the newest generation of early childhood student teachers.
Alexis Washofsky
Lead Teacher - Outdoor Pre-K/Kindergarten
Alexis earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Temple University and a Master’s in Elementary Education from Wilmington University as well as a Certificate in Special Education from the University of Delaware. She is a licensed Delaware teacher in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, and Special Education. Alexis has taught in public and private schools for over eight years and has vast experience collaborating with other teachers and early childhood service providers, supporting the needs of all children. Alexis also has years of experience mentoring and coaching upcoming early childhood education professionals. Additionally, she is a Laban Certified Movement Analyst and holds a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Certification.
Jennifer Gallo-Fox
Associate Professor
Dr. Gallo-Fox’s research focuses upon the development and study of programs designed to strengthen teacher learning and practice. She works to understand the ways that teachers learn and practice within their classroom contexts, and designs programs to leverage local resources that can increase teachers’ learning potential. Through her scholarship, she positions teachers as intellectuals—thoughtful, critical decision makers who utilize the theories and knowledge base of the field along with knowledge of children in order to shape and provide high quality education for all children.