Miss Jay is an artist and educator who has spent the past twelve years guiding toddlers, elementary, and high school students, though her heart has always belonged to early childhood education. After earning her B.A. in Studio Art from Marymount Manhattan College, she discovered a deep love not only for creating art but also for storytelling and literacy—passions that blossomed from sharing countless stories with little ones over the years. Working in ESL schools, preschools, and a variety of art facilities, she has seen firsthand how powerful the combination of art and storytelling can be. Storytelling helps children grow their literate selves, sparks imagination, and teaches us more about who we are as humans. Art, in turn, allows young learners to explore emotions, strengthen cognitive and fine motor skills, ask questions, and discover their own answers. Along with leading group classes, Miss Jay also supports students through 1:1 tutoring, helping them grow their literacy skills and deepen their understanding at their own pace. To her, art always tells a story—and her mission is to help children channel their inner artists while building a lifelong love for reading and narrative. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Hunter College and loves experiencing the world anew through the eyes of her smallest artists each day. When she’s not teaching, you can find her painting, designing costumes, or baking something sweet.