Little Graces Playgroup

Graduation week is here and we’re feeling all of the feels: excitement for what’s to come for our littles, sadness for what we’ll no longer have and gratitude for twenty years of knowing what it’s like to be a part of such an amazing community. This labor of love has been such a gift to me.

And our last “meet the staff” post is Sharon Amorosi, our founder, webmaster, bookkeeper, enrollment & business manager and jack of all trades.

Born and raised in Tampa, Florida, Sharon earned her Ph.D. from the University of Florida before moving to DC in 1999, where she worked as Assistant Professor and Director of Evaluation at Georgetown University School of Medicine. A Spring Valley resident since 2001, Sharon co-founded Little Graces Playgroup in 2006 as a way to meet other parents of young children and to become more involved in her neighborhood. Sharon is an active community member and loves working with Little Graces parents, caregivers and children. All three of Sharon’s children are also Little Graces Playgroup graduates!

It’s time to meet Miss Suzette (Suzette Winslow, Director)!

Miss Suzette has been delighting our children with her guitar playing and circle time program since we opened our doors in 2006. Miss Suzette is also our American Sign Language teacher, Baby Music Class Teacher, graphic design guru, in house photographer and end-of-the-year video montage creator for our graduation celebration. Mother to Cole (LG graduate) and Juno, Suzette is a kind, calm, talented and loving person. To know her is to love her!

And time to meet Miss Lindsey! A former Little Graces mom and good friend, Lindsey Akridge, joined our team during the 2024-25 playgroup year, tasked with reinventing our popular Two-Time Program. Born in DC, raised in Oxford, MD and a graduate of Bucknell University, Lindsey has taught pre-k, kindergarten and 2nd/3rd grade at St. Patrick’s School in DC as well as a school that specializes in language-based learning differences.

It’s that time of year! Meet our staff and see why Little Graces is so special! This is Brooke Barquin, MA our Director of Parent Programming, Two-Time Teacher, Admissions and an all around great lady! Brooke is a former Little Graces Playgroup parent (to Bea and Philip) who holds a master’s degree in elementary education. Upon graduation from Bank Street School of Education, Brooke taught at Brunswick School in Greenwich, CT and now has a robust roster of DC students under her tutelage.

Thank you to these special families for helping us welcome everyone back! ❤️

What did you do this summer? It’s my turn! The Amorosi crew kicked off the summer with a quick birthday trip to NYC, 4th of July in Rehoboth and a few weeks in Georgia fishing, golfing, eating and lounging!

What did you do this summer? It’s Miss Lindsey’s turn! The Akridge family kicked off the summer celebrating Carter and Quentin’s college graduations! Tucker and Izzy returned to Camps Seagull and Seafarer in NC to work, (our 11th! summer at this special place). They all treasured slowing down with extended family in Oxford, MD and managed to sneak in a great trip to Sea Island between the comings and goings.

Summer Update. It’s Miss Brooke’s turn! The Barquin family traveled throughout New England visiting friends and family. Philip had a great first summer at sleep away camp and we all loved visiting Squam Lake in New Hampshire when we picked him up!