The women, working moms, jugglers and dreamers behind Girotondo are two moms brought together by their love of Italian culture, Brooklyn, and of course children.

The direttrici are the running engine behind Girotondo. Their vision and entrepreneurial spirit make it possible. Veronica lives in the brownstone that houses Giro so she is a constant presence there. Elizabeth does weekly check-ins coming from Williamsburg.

While the directors oversee the program and are the leaders, the teachers are the day-to-day point of contact for the families; their love and energy make it the gem of a daycare program that it is.

Tiny but mighty Antonella grew up in sunny Calabria, in southern Italy, where she developed a love for the beach, hiking, good food, and, of course, children.

Like many Italians, Antonella first came to New York for a visit, but the city has a way of seducing those who keep an open heart. She quickly found herself falling more and more in love with New York and eventually took a leap of faith, deciding to stay and follow her dreams.

Now a new mom to a wonderful baby girl, Antonella proudly calls New York home. At Girotondo, she has found a job she truly loves—one that keeps her grounded, connected to her Italian roots, and gives her the opportunity to share her culture and traditions with the children every day.

Ann Marie is an artist and educator with a warm, nurturing approach to working with young children. Raised in a close-knit Sicilian-American family, she grew up surrounded by storytelling, creativity, and a deep sense of community and care.

Through art, play, nature, and imagination, Ann Marie creates a space where children feel safe to explore, express themselves, and grow. She is naturally intuitive and attentive to each child’s individual personality, bringing warmth, sensitivity, and creativity to the Girotondo every day.

Laury’s sunny disposition reflects her roots in the Dominican Republic and the several years she spent in Italy, where she became fluent in Italian and embraced the la dolce vita lifestyle. Having helped care for her many nieces and nephews, Laury brings a wealth of hands-on childcare experience, along with warmth, enthusiasm, patience, and a calm, nurturing presence.

She joined the Girotondo team eager to collaborate, learn, and help create a safe, loving environment where all of our Girotondini can feel happy, supported, and free to grow.

Marlene was born in Peru and grew up in Milan, the most cosmopolitan city in the North of Italy, and home to a lively South American community that has shaped the growth of the city since the Nineties. Her steady and calm energy is particularly soothing to our youngest children, and she naturally spends most of her time with the littlest ones.

She lives in the Bronx with her two grown children and brings her experience and wisdom as a mother to the Girotondo team. Marlene is especially loved by all the girls with long hair at Girotondo, thanks to her talent for creating fantastic hairdos and finding fun ways to help them feel confident and their very best.

The oldest of four, Veronica was born and raised in Varese, a small town between Milan and Lake Como. She left Northern Italy to pursue a career in film production in New York twenty years ago. She fell in love with the city and never left after establishing that the pizza scene was excellent, and now calls Brooklyn home. She owns a production company responsible for some of the annoying ads that interrupt your streaming content but also for some fun things on Netflix and in movie theaters. Today she lives in Bedstuy with her husband Luca, a photographer from Milan, and her two boys, Ethan and Miles, both bilingual Girotondo graduates who always look forward to their summertime in Italy.

Also the oldest of four and hailing from Boston, Elizabeth moved to Italy after college with an Italian vocabulary of one word – “ciao” – and left six years later a fluent speaker and a tireless, dedicated Italophile. A former professional ballerina and current wellness coach to pre-professional ballet dancers, Elizabeth coaches young dancers and their parents in her private practice, helping them navigate the ins and outs of the dance world. She lives in Williamsburg with her daughter Julianna, 12, who has vivid memories of being fed bowls of custard by Italian waitresses and is a proud Giro graduate.