Co-Founder

Jennifer has been a NYS Certified teacher for the past 22 years. Over the course of her career she has had the opportunity to work throughout the country providing instruction to a variety of students. Jennifer’s passion for teaching came at a young age; and has only strengthened as she has progressed in her career over the years.

Jennifer is the mother of three beautiful children and happily married for the past 15 years. During her spare time, Jennifer and her family love to find new hiking trails throughout Long Island and spend time with their lovable Rottweiler, Max.

Co-Founder

Melissa has had the pleasure of instructing students as a NYS Certified teacher for the past 21 years. Melissa has worked in a variety of teaching environments and has had the opportunity to work with a wide variety of students. When Melissa is not teaching at Tommy’s Friends, she is exploring her creative side. Melissa loves anything that is crafting, and can often be seen working on her Cricut on the weekends.

At home, Melissa is happily married with two amazing children. Melissa is also an avid animal lover, and has two rescue dogs named Sadie and Valor.

Teacher

Emily is a New York Certified Teacher with three years of classroom experience. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and Master’s Degree in Literacy Education. Currently a 3rd grade teacher, Emily is passionate about designing engaging, student-centered instruction that fosters confidence and a lifelong love of learning. She thrives on creating inclusive environments where every child feels seen and supported. Outside the classroom, Emily enjoys spending time at the beach, attending concerts, and discovering new music. Whether crafting literacy-rich lessons or soaking up the sun, she brings creativity, heart, and enthusiasm to everything she does.

Teacher

Taylor is a New York Certified Special Education and General Education Teacher with a passion for helping all students shine! She believes every child has unique gifts and talents, and aims to create a classroom where everyone feels valued, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential. Taylor focuses on nurturing essential social skills, fostering kindness, empathy, and effective communication, all while striving to make learning an adventure, filled with curiosity, discovery, and a whole lot of fun.

My name is Elaina Groel and I am thrilled to be part of this amazing team. I have had the opportunity to teach in many different environments and grade levels for the last twenty years.  I am very passionate about helping the people around me in any way that I can. 

I am a mom to three amazing girls and one adorable dog. In my free time I love being with my family and continuing to learn and grow as an individual.