A look at our experienced staff…
My name is Judy Knab. I am the director of Open Door Nursery School and a 3-year-old teacher at the school. I earned both my undergraduate and masters degrees in education from Buffalo State College in the 1970s. After teaching for five years, I became a stay-at-home mom for 18 years while my husband Ed (also a teacher) and I raised our four daughters. I began my “second career” at Open Door in 1995.
I first became involved at Open Door as a parent sending all four girls there. Early on, I sensed it was a unique and special place for children. As our last daughter entered kindergarten, I was hired as an aide in the 3-year-old class. A teaching position opened up the following year and two years later, I readily accepted the job as director. My primary goal was to keep Open Door true to its original philosophy of educating preschoolers through experiential learning. Along with an excellent staff, we enhanced our curriculum by integrating a variety of pre-kindergarten skills into the program.
Open Door truly holds a special place in my heart and I consider it a privilege to be a part of its history.
New focuses in my life at this time are my two grandchildren, Nathan and Natalie. Grandma can’t wait to use all her preschool experience on them when they come to play!
My name is Roberta Sendker. I began working at Open Door in 1996 as Judy Knab’s aide in the 3-year-old room. It is truly a blessing to have the opportunity to spend time with Open Door’s children! I love watching the growth that takes place between September and May. With every new group of children that comes through our doors each September, my own memories are stirred of when I was a mother of children at Open Door!
I grew up in Williamsville and moved away temporarily when I was first married. I worked as a legal secretary in Philadelphia before my husband and I returned to the Buffalo area. I have a degree in Office Administration, which was never fully utilized when my husband and I started our family. Instead, I chose to stay home full-time with our children.
My husband, Matt, and I have two children – our son Dan, and daughter Megan, who both got their start at Open Door! I am blessed to have three wonderful places that feel like home: my home in the village of Williamsville, my “home” at Harris Hill United Methodist Church where my family is active and I am on staff with the music ministry, and my “home” at Open Door.
My name is Wendy Amuso, and I have been teaching preschool since 1973. I received my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from SUNY Potsdam, and my graduate degree from Canisius College as a Teacher of the Deaf. My career at Open Door began in 1997. I have also been one of the Directors of Music at Williamsville United Methodist Church since 1987. Thus, both music and sign language are incorporated into every part of the school day.
I believe that Open Door’s extensive, experiential, theme-based curriculum provides a unique educational opportunity for all who attend. The children’s days are filled with language, art, drama, movement, and music. The room becomes alive with each unique unit. My favorite part of the day is when I open the door in the morning and see the excitement in the children’s eyes as they enter the room. They can’t wait to see what we will do each day. Their joy in learning is my joy in teaching!
My husband, who taught music in the East Aurora School District for 33 years, is now retired. I have two children, Amy (Tom) and Steven (Christina), who are both married. I am a grandmother to little Ava and will be blessed again soon with a new grandson!
My name is Amy Nelson. I love being able to spend my days at Open Door where so much magic happens every day! I have been a teacher’s aide at Open Door Nursery School since 2002, working with children in the 3- and 4- year-old programs. I feel fortunate to be able to spend my mornings with your children as they learn and grow. I look forward to spending many more years with the wonderful children of Open Door Nursery School.
Prior to coming to Open Door, I spent eight years as an aide with special education students in the Williamsville School District. I have a degree in Medical Laboratory Technology, and I worked in an Immunoflourescent Laboratory before starting my family.
My husband and I have a son, who lives in Virginia, and daughter living locally. I enjoy reading, spending summers with my family on Lake Erie, and traveling to new and exciting places.
My name is Ellen Loos. Life is grand when you are able to work at a place that you consider an absolute pleasure, which is how it has been for me since 2000 at Open Door. I have taught in both the 3- and 4-year-old programs, and I have loved every minute of it.
I have a degree in elementary education from Medialle College and a masters degree from Buffalo State. I taught for seven years at Christ the King School and two years at Cleveland Hill Elementary.
Then came love, marriage, and the baby carriage. For about 10 years, I stayed home with my three children and then the opportunity to teach at Open Door knocked at my door (all of my children attended here too!). The rest is history. My husband and three teenage children hear many of the interesting stories of what goes on at Open Door. In my “spare” time, I help my husband pastor Brick by Brick Bible Church in Williamsville.
I am Debora Cullen, and I was born and raised in Ilion, NY. I received my A.S. Degree in 1987 from Herkimer County Community College. Furthering my education, I received my bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from State University of New York College at Buffalo in 1993. I then moved to Toadlena, New Mexico in 1993 to be a student teacher on the Navajo Reservation. I received my Masters Degree in Elementary Education from SUNY Brockport in 2001, and I hold a New York State permanent teaching certificate for Nursery and K - 6.
Before joining Open Door, I taught second grade in Rochester for three years. I joined the Open Door staff in 2006, and I am thrilled to be a part of this wonderful school!
I have been happily married to Peter Cullen since 1993. We have two beautiful children, Matthew and Laura. Both children are alumni of Open Door Nursery School.
My name is Mary Pardo. I began working as an aide at Open Door in 2009 for Ellen Loos and Debra Cullen in the 4-year-old classroom. I consider myself so fortunate to be part of the Open Door “family” where I am blessed to see all of the children’s smiling faces each day!
I graduated from SUNY Fredonia with a BS in Business Administration. I worked in the accounting and administration field for several years before leaving to be a stay-at-home mom.
I was born and raised in Amherst, where my husband and I live with our children, Daniel and Bridget. Both of my children attended Open Door and loved every minute of it!
My name is Gail Sexton. I came to Open Door in 2006. This year, it is my pleasure to teach the Pre-Kindergarten program at Open Door. I so enjoy spending my days with your children!
I grew up in Tonawanda and graduated from Buffalo State College in the 1970s. I have been married to my husband Kevin since 1976. We have two grown sons and one daughter-in-law. One son lives in New Jersey and the other lives in New Hampshire.
Prior to 2006, we lived in Connecticut where I spent my time raising our sons and teaching in several preschool programs. I have worked in preschools and day care settings for many years, and would not have it any other way. I love young children and their enthusiasm for life.
When I am not planning fun things to do at school, I enjoy walking, crafts, reading, and attempting to grow flowers. I look forward to a successful year at Open Door.
My name is Kristen Wilson, and I am so fortunate to be the newest addition to the Open Door staff. As an Open Door “parent” for the past two years, I have witnessed first-hand the school’s unique learning environment. Now a new door has opened for me to join this exceptional staff. It is with great enthusiasm that I will assist Gail Sexton as the Pre-Kindergarten aide in September 2010.
When I was 17, my first high-school job was as an after-school aide at a child care center in California. Continuing into college, I discovered a passion for working with children at the early childhood level, which has been with me ever since.
I have a BA Degree in English with a minor in Interdisciplinary Arts and Humanities from California State University, Fresno. When my husband, John, and I moved from California to the Buffalo area nearly nine years ago, I worked as both an aide and Pre-Kindergarten teacher at a local nursery school.
Having taken several years off work following the birth of my daughter Annelyse, I embrace my return to teaching as she heads to kindergarten this fall. We have two other children—Jeff and Sarah. With three children involved in everything from wrestling to lacrosse, chorus to orchestra, dance, gymnastics, Lou Gehrig and the like, our life in Buffalo is very full—just keeping up! J When Mrs. Sexton first described the Pre-K class to me as “noisy with lots going on,” I assured her I would feel right at home.
Though spare time is not abundant, my other passions include gardening, cooking, reading, music, and art. However, children remain center stage in my life, both personally and professionally. I look forward to an extraordinary year as your children and I begin this new journey at Open Door together.