Staff
School Administration
James Clay, Director
Jim has been director since 1984 and taught at Quaker House 1981-1984 and in the Blue Room 1984-1989. Before that he worked in a Head Start Program and as a teacher at Capitol East Children's Center.
Jim took course work in Day Care at Prince George's Community College. He has published several articles on early childhood education. Since 1983 he has led workshops on family diversity, administration, and staff development at the annual conference of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). He received an M.S. in day care administration from Bank Street College of Education in New York in 1988. Since 1988 he has taught an annual "parenting" class at School for Friends. Email Jim.
Clare Coppel, Office Administrator and Database Manager
Clare Coppel was born in Ascot, a small town in England. She relocated to America with her husband, and lived in California from 2001 before moving to DC in 2008. While in England, Clare worked for such diverse entities as DTS (Digital Theatre Systems), Conference Creations, a world wide corporate conferencing company, the National Health Service which included two very interesting years working at Broadmoor, an infamous top security psychiatric hospital.
Upon arrival in America Clare's career focused on the field of Film and Video Post Production working for Technicolor and on the Universal Studio's film lot in LA. Since January 2009 she has enjoyed working as the Office Administrator and Database Manager at School for Friends and getting to know everyone involved with the school. Clare loves hiking along the Potomac, camping, and traveling. Email Clare.
BLUE ROOM, Two-Year Olds
Lela Ivankovic, Lead Teacher
Lela was born in Belgrade, Serbia where she attended the University of Belgrade.
She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with minor in Special Education. She is currently working on her MA in Liberal Studies at Georgetown University with concentration on Islam and Muslim-Christian relationship. Her professional career at SfF began in August 2008. As a teacher, she deeply believes that learning is possible and desirable for all the children and that every child can achieve success with teacher's time, patience and dedication. Prior to working at SFF, Lela was a lead teacher in Westmoreland Children Center, MD, and assistant teacher in Gan Hayled Preschool in DC. She also had the opportunity to work as a teacher volunteer in Thailand. Her professional interests include: multicultural curriculum, children's literature, and documenting children's progress through photography and art. Traveling is her passion. In her free time, she enjoys reading, yoga and variety of sports activities.
Shaundrea Brown, Assistant Teacher
Shaundrea was born and raised in Washington, DC. In May 2007 she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from American University. She has also completed the 120 hour course for the Child Development Associate in Infants and Toddlers.
Soon she will begin graduate school at Trinity Washington University where she will study Early Childhood Education. This is her third year at School for Friends. She knows there will be many more great years to come! She enjoys reading, writing, shopping and cooking.
Cyana Chamberlain, Teachers' Aide (PM)
Cyana Chamberlain was born in Washington, DC. She worked with children of different ages for over six years. Cyana graduated from George Washington University with a degree in Sociology. She plans to keep working with children while she continues her education in graduate school with the intention of receiving a Masters in Social Work. In her free time she enjoys reading, writing, and sewing.
GREEN ROOM, Three-Year Olds
Jacqueline Whiting, Lead Teacher
Jackie was an assistant teacher in the Blue Room from 1984 to 1991. Between 1991 and 1993 she worked at Just Us Kids as a floater and as a teacher coordinator. She also was a certified childcare provider in her home for 11 months.
She completed her Child Development Associate credential in 1991. She worked at First Baptist Church Child Care Center during the 1983-1984 school year. She holds a certification in childcare from the Logan Community School. She has taken the 64-hour class in childcare training at the University of the District of Columbia and she earned her AA Degree in early childhood education May 13, 2006.
Margaret Edwards, Assistant Teacher
Margaret Edwards started working with young children as a Sunday school teacher at the age of fourteen. She considers teaching/nurturing as one of the important purposes of her life.
Her working experience includes four years as a sewing teacher at an elementary school, school-teaching children 8-12 years old.
She joined the SFF staff in September 1999 she worked as a teacher's aide in the Rainbow Room and as an assistant teacher at Quaker House. Margaret left SFF to study full time at UDC for her B.A in Early Childhood Education, she graduated in 2009, and returned to full time teaching at School for Friends.
RAINBOW ROOM, Four-Year Olds
Maire Prabhakar, Lead Teacher
Maire attended American University and received a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. Before coming to School for Friends, she worked at Sacred Heart School with a number of different age groups, including Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, first, second, and third grades. In 2006, 
Maire also taught a mixed class of Pre-K, Kindergarten, and first grade in Asian American Lead's after school program. In the midst of all this, Maire was also working as a nanny for a family with two young children in Cleveland Park. Maire came to School for Friends in December of 2006. She is very excited about another year in the Rainbow Room!
April Johnson, Assistant Teacher
April was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and later relocated to the DC Metro Area in 2006. She attended Coppin State University and received a degree in Sports Management. April has worked with PAL Centers, Jewish Community Centers, numerous Daycare Centers, as well as Special Olympics of Maryland and DC, where she engaged in activities to help with the development of children physically, socially, and educationally.
Mignon Harrell, Assistant Teacher
Mignon was born and raised in the District of Columbia. She is the proud parent of two lovely boys. Mignon attended school in DC and also has completed the CDA course. She began working with children in her early twenties. Mignon's previous experience includes work with infants. She has also substituted in all of the classrooms here at School for Friends. 
Mignon enjoys working with children, and the children enjoy having her in the classroom. In her words: "Our children need teachers who are dedicated and who can be a positive influence in their lives. I want to be that teacher."
Makai Kellogg, Teachers' Aide (PM)
Makai Kellogg is a recent graduate of Trinity University's undergraduate program with a B.A. in History and is now a graduate student at Trinity University pursuing a Masters of Art in Teaching with a focus on Early Childhood Education. Makai attended D.C. Public Schools until she began high school at Sidwell Friends School. Makai has also provided childcare at Friends Meeting of Washington for seven years.
QUAKER HOUSE LOCATION, Five-Year Olds
Sabina Zeffler
Sabina is from the coastal town of Bremen, Germany, where she lived most of her life. She was born in Calcutta, India, where she spent her early childhood. She studied in Germany and received a degree in occupational therapy. She has worked with children with special needs, ages three to ten years old in private practice and in preschools. Sabina joined the School for Friends staff in Spring of 2003. She has earned her CDA credential. In her spare time, she loves to spend lots of time with her son Laurence and enjoys literature and yoga as well as art and painting.
Elsy Blanco, Assistant Teacher
Elsy was born in El Salvador. She came to the US at age fifteen, and finished high school here. After that, she took English and Computer courses to polish her skills. In 2002, she took the 90 hour course in early childhood education. During this same year, she completed a 45 hour workshop on child development. Two years later, she passed her child development associate (CDA) bilingual credential.
She started working with RCIS (Rock Creek International School) in 2001 as a bus driver, assistant teacher Summer School Spanish teacher until 2007. She is married and has two beautiful daughters, Emily and Valeria. She loves to spend time with her family. Her hobbies include fishing and reading a good book.
LaJuan Celey, Assistant Teacher
LaJuan was born and raised in Washington, DC and attended DC public schools. After High School, she completed nearly two years of education at the University of the District of Columbia with a concentration in the nursing department. She worked at First Baptist Child Care Center for two years.
LaJuan accepted the position at School for Friends in 1986. She would like to pursue further education in the teaching field. She has also participated in multiple workshops over the years and she received her CDA certificate. LaJuan is married and is the proud mother of three children, Jamar, Daevon and Jacqueline.
Leah Young, Teachers' Aide
Leah joined School for Friends in May 2010. She studied at the Corcoran College of Art and Design for her Bachelor of Fine Art/Master of Arts in Teaching. She completed a course in Classroom Activity Management which she implemented at the Queen Ann School. Leah enjoys drawing, painting, and photography.