The Glen Rock Cooperative Nursery School was founded in 1965 and has grown continuously for over 50 years. The School uniquely combines the finest pre-school education (including New Jersey state certified programs and teachers) with parental participation at every level.
The School is an ideal atmosphere for allowing each individual child to grow emotionally and intellectually in a group setting while allowing parents the special opportunity to both witness their child’s growth and to share in their first formal educational experience. Current research shows that such active parental involvement improves children’s academic performance.
Experienced, caring, New Jersey state certified pre-school teachers provide a nurturing educational environment and help guide the children’s exploration of the creative centers in the classroom. Areas of development include: socialization; language; music and art skills; acquisition of basic mathematics; and “hands on” natural science experiences. The underlying School Philosophy is Learning Through Play, so all developmental activities are structured with particular goals and skills for children to acquire by doing.
Our Philosophy and our status as a non-profit organization allows the School to concentrate on providing small student-to-teacher ratios. The ratios are as follows:
- Mommy & Me – 12 students to one teacher, one aide, and all the parents
- 2 1/2 Year Olds – 12 students to one teacher, one aide, and one parent
- 3 Year Olds – 14 students to one teacher, one aide, and one parent
- “Older” 3 Year Olds – 14 students to one teacher, one aide, and one parent
- 4 Year Olds – 17 students to one teacher, one aide, and one parent
- Transitional Kindergarten – 14 students to one teacher and one aide
- STEAM- 14 students to one teacher and one aide
The School is managed by a Board of Directors composed of parents along with a professional Director who are entrusted with keeping the curriculum and daily activities in adherence to all state and local regulations.
The School is housed within the Glen Rock Community Church. Each classroom is brightly decorated and fully equipped with age appropriate activity centers that include play kitchens, dress-up materials, books and puzzles, arts and crafts, large wooden building blocks, and a central carpeted area for storytelling and group activities. Each classroom is equipped with a bathroom for your child’s safety and cleanliness.
The Purpose of the Glen Rock Cooperative Nursery School is to provide the enrichment of the preschool child’s physical, emotional, social and intellectual growth guided by professional teachers and actively assisted by participating parents. We are a non-profit, interfaith and interracial organization.
Meet the Teachers
![]() | Lori Roughgarden Mrs. Roughgarden has her B.S. in Early Childhood education and Head Teacher & Group Teacher certifications. She sent her youngest child to the Coop and fell in love with the school. She started helping at lunch and quickly progressed to substitute teaching and teaching enrichment classes. This then lead to assisting in 2.5 /3’s class and continuation of enrichment classes. She presently teaches the 2’s & 3’s class along with her enrichment classes. She has been with the Coop for the past 7 years. |
![]() | Jane Dalton Mrs. Dalton is the Transitional Kindergarten teacher and lead STEAM teacher. Her association with the Co-op began in 2006 as a parent volunteer and board member. She has been serving as the aide in the TK classroom since 2013 and earned her preschool teacher certification in 2016. She also teaches the Monday afternoon art enrichment class and helps with the Little Ninjas and Outdoor Explorers classes. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in English & writing. Mrs. Dalton is a Glen Rock resident and is active in the schools and the community. She has four children and enjoys running, biking, swimming, reading and vacationing on LBI. |
![]() | Jocelyn Reiman Mrs. Reiman has been teaching at the Co-op since 2013. She has a B.S. in Elementary Education and Psychology (Skidmore College) and Master’s in Early Childhood Education (Teachers College, Columbia University), and is certified to teach Pre K- Grade 6 in NY and NJ. Mrs. Reiman taught Kindergarten for 11 years at The Brearley School (Manhattan) and The Elisabeth Morrow School (Englewood), before becoming a mother and moving to Zurich, Switzerland with her family. After repatriating and moving to Glen Rock in 2010, Mrs. Reiman’s love for teaching young children brought her back to the classroom at the Co-op while her children attended the school. She currently enjoys teaching Mommy & Me and enrichment classes at the Co-op including Build and Create and Little World Explorers. |
![]() | Megan Aylward Megan Aylward is our PreK 4’s Teacher. She has been teaching at the preschool level for over seven years. A certified teacher, Mrs. Aylward received her degree in Education from East Stroudsburg University. After teaching at the elementary level for eight years, she took time off from teaching to be a stay-at-home mom. During that time, she was very involved in her school communities’ PTO and remains active today. Mrs. Aylward lives in Wyckoff with her husband and four children. She loves coming to work and getting to sing, dance, and laugh everyday! |
Janie Alania Mrs. Alania has been teaching early childhood music classes in Bergen County since 2005. She has a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Montclair State University. Janie has performed as a soloist throughout northern New Jersey and toured in Austria and Slovenia with the Montclair State Madrigal Singers. After receiving her degree, she spent 5 years working in classical artist management at Colbert Artists and ICM Artists in NYC. Janie currently lives in Fair Lawn and performs along with her husband in the local band “The Rad Burnsteins”. Janie’s enthusiasm, joy, and knowledge of music, has captivated both her students and parents alike. She is happy to be sharing her love of music with the families of the Glen Rock Co-op! |
Director
![]() | Deirdre Tarrant is the Director of the Glen Rock Co-op. She received a BA in English from the College of the Holy Cross. For more than 15 years, she worked in public relations and advertising while working on an MS in Education. She is delighted to be a part of the Glen Rock Co-op from which both her sons graduated. A resident of Glen Rock, Deirdre loves her community and volunteers with the Glen Rock Fire Department, the Cub Scouts, the Glen Rock Recreational Soccer program, as well as St. Catharine’s Parish. When she’s not at the Co-op, Deirdre loves reading, running, biking, and swimming. |
2022 – 2023 Executive Board
Board President – Amanda Marcalus Secretary – Linda Timmeny Registrar – Alison Karounis Treasurer – Lauren Haughs Fundraising Chair – Phoebe Quinn Class Parent Liaison – Julia Bogovich | Learning Environment Chair – Rachel Schuster Publicity Chair – Liz Campo Technology Chair – Greg Smith Kids for Kids Chair – Taylor Jackson |