Meet The Staff
Natalie Castano
Director
With a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and over a decade of working with children, I am enthusiastic and committed to working with children. My time in the public school system and various childcare centers has allowed me to get hands-on learning in the field. Understanding the concepts of child development is an asset, but the most enriching way to understand children is to see them in action and learn to communicate with them. Many people underestimate the intuition and intelligence of children because children don’t communicate how adults do, but children have many ideas and more insight than adults realize. I use my experience to bring those ideas and insight out of the children and help them hone their individual and collective strengths.
I don’t want to make learning a chore for children. I want kids to have a love of learning so that they can be excited about going to school and studying areas of interest. Each child has different interests and beliefs, and those beliefs should be celebrated. While children need lots of guidance and care, they still deserve autonomy and respect within safe, structured educational spaces. I strive to create those spaces. I work closely with families and teachers to ensure that each child gets the learning experience they need to do well in the classroom and in life.
Nicole Blair
Educational Director
For over 25 years, I have been lucky to help and watch children grow and develop. With a mental health degree, first aid training, and a child care certification, I have dedicated the time and energy to nurture and prepare my brain, learning the best practices to nurture and prepare the minds of developing children. In my work, I use my love of hosting, travel, dance, writing poetry, and shopping to create fun activities and help kids learn real-world lessons through safe and innovative measures.
Community outreach and connection are essential to me. As a lawyer in my former life, I deeply appreciate jury duty and other civic functions. I believe that children should learn to be engaged members of their communities to live happier and healthier lives. The more I can help, encourage, and support others, the better! With this in mind, I started the Blair Initiative, which helps homeless women and children. Additionally, I am currently working on a children’s book! My love for helping people and planning events enables me to create educational plans that develop children holistically and keep in mind the value of community and creativity in learning.
Miss Connie
Administrative Director
Constancia Robinson is the Administrative Director of The Wooden Shoe. “Miss Connie” has been part of administration of the Wooden Shoe family since 2016, overseeing tasks of daily operations and the well being of our family. Not only does she support our teachers, she also ensures the safety and care for our students. Prior to joining The Wooden Shoe, she worked for numerous years with children in the Valley Stream USFD and SCOPE Educational Services. She completed her studies at Nyack College. Her love, commitment, and dedication has shined through and she is a valuable member to our family.
In her free time, she loves to travel and is an avid shopper. She’s always ready to spring into action for any task at hand and is known for spreading joy. She’s a loving and dedicated mother of 3 who understands, values, and supports the needs of children.
Natalie Castano
Director
Working with children is my passion, and I have over a decade of experience in working with children. Graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. I have worked in the public school system and childcare centers. I have worked in the classroom as a Teacher and on the field as a Coach.
My mission is to support our students’ academic, social and moral growth and foster a lifelong commitment to learning. I am excited to join the Wooden Shoe family of teachers, mentors, and educators with an avid enthusiasm to collaborate closely with your child and encourage them to reach their highest potential. My goal is to support our teachers so that they can have the ability to create a better learning experience for your child.
Nicole Blair
Educational Director
For over 25 years, I have been lucky to help and watch children grow and develop. With a mental health degree, first aid training, and a child care certification, I have dedicated the time and energy to nurture and prepare my brain, learning the best practices to nurture and prepare the minds of developing children. In my work, I use my love of hosting, travel, dance, writing poetry, and shopping to create fun activities and help kids learn real-world lessons through safe and innovative measures.
Community outreach and connection are essential to me. As a lawyer in my former life, I deeply appreciate jury duty and other civic functions. I believe that children should learn to be engaged memebers of their communities so they can live happier and healthier lives. The more I can help, encourage, and support others, the better! With this in mind, I started the Blair Initiative, which helps homeless women and children. Additionally, I am currently working on a children’s book! My love for helping people and planning events enables me to create educational plans that develop children holistically and keep in mind the value of community and creativity in learning.
Schedule a Tour
If you’re interested in learning more about The Wooden Shoe, you can schedule a tour to see our facilities and ensure that we are the right fit for your family! We are happy to answer any questions you may have and show you the nuanced details of how we operate our program and set kids up for success.