Rachel is excited to be joining the staff of The Hollingworth Center as the Faculty Director. In her other role, she is an Assistant Professor of Teaching in the Curriculum and Teaching department at Teachers College. Rachel holds an Ed.D. in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College with a focus on early childhood literacy and multimodal/digital literacies. She also received a Master’s degree from Teachers College and a Bachelor’s degree from Barnard College. With over 18 years of experience as an early childhood teacher and literacy coach in both the New York City Department of Education and the Spence School, Rachel’s research and teaching prioritize centering the voices and literacies of young children in both school and out-of-school contexts. Rachel has actively contributed to educational research and presented at national conferences. In her spare time, Rachel is an avid gardener and is learning how to paint with watercolors. She enjoys spending time in the mountains and exploring new cities.

Jacquelyn serves as Director of Science Initiatives at The Hollingworth Center. Under her supervision, Hollingworth Science Camp provides innovative science-based education to hundreds of elementary school children every year. In keeping with the Center’s dual mission to provide educational enrichment to both children and educators, Jacquelyn provides teacher education and training for our Science Camp teachers. Under her direction, the Center partnered with the Huilo Huilo Foundation in Chile and held a Science Camp in Neltume, Chile in 2015 and 2016, serving local children and educators from the Patagonia region surrounding the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve. In January of 2017, the Center collaborated with the Chilean government in executing their yearly summer camp for teachers. Jacquelyn and two Chilean Hollingworth Fellows presented six workshops to 120 Chilean elementary school teachers on the pedagogy of teaching science to young children. Jacquelyn has also presented on using culturally relevant pedagogy to teach science at the Reimagining Education: Teaching and Learning in Racially Diverse Schools Institute held at Teachers College every July. Prior to coming to Teachers College, Jacquelyn taught in a Title I elementary school in Los Angeles, California, working with English language learners in both Spanish and English. As the science curriculum coordinator for grades K through 5, she implemented inquiry-based science curriculum and provided professional development for teachers. Concurrently, Jacquelyn completed a Master’s Degree in Education Foundations and Theory from California State University, Los Angeles. Jacquelyn completed her PhD in the Sociology and Education program at Teachers College in 2018 and continues to present her research on second generation Dominican high school students at various conferences. Jacquelyn will be overseeing Hollingworth Preschool’s Engineering Explorations for the 2025-2026 school year

Sarah Duer is the Director of Hollingworth Preschool and has held a number of leadership positions within the Center since 2014. In these capacities she designed early childhood programs and developed curriculum with a special focus on phenomenon and place–based science as well as robotics. Sarah received her Bachelor’s of Art from Occidental College in Diplomacy and World Affairs and Urban and Environmental Policy with a minor in Education, where she was awarded the Davis Fund Award in Educational Leadership. Immediately after Occidental, Sarah made her way back east to begin her Master’s Degree program at Teachers College. Sarah was awarded the inaugural Abby M. O’Neill Fellowship and received her dual certification in elementary and gifted education. Sarah taught at a citywide gifted and talented public school and has TA’d for graduate courses at TC. Teaching drew Sarah to school leadership, and she completed her MEd from Bank Street College in progressive leadership and her principal internship at a local DOE elementary school. Sarah has shared her research and presented at international conferences, consulted with schools in South Korea, and partnered with a variety of programs and departments at Teachers College. Sarah is now a doctoral candidate in the department of curriculum and teaching at TC with a research focus at the intersection of early childhood education, sustainability, and emotional experiences of climate change. Sarah brings joy to Hollingworth everyday, tremendous care for all in our community, and enormous support for our parents and loved ones.