ABOUT US
Our Philosophy
You’re looking for a school that provides the very best for your child. At Dillon, we provide the essential tools to build young minds. Click here to learn more about the philosophy behind our curriculum.

5
CLASSROOMS
Modern, bright and spacious classrooms foster growth and learning for every child.
15
TEACHERS AND STAFF
Experienced early childhood specialists help develop each child’s uniqueness.
80
STUDENTS
Dillon boasts a student-to-teacher ratio that ensures individualized attention.
4
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
A full range of additional programs appeal to our students’ various skills and interests.
Our Teachers
Susan Straut Collard, Ph.D.
Director
Susan has been a professor in the Child Study department of St. Joseph’s University since 1988. She served as the Director of the Dillon Center from 2004-2013, and now she is back as the Director. Susan earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from Columbia University. Working with children who have special needs has always been her passion. Susan has 4 children, all of whom attended the Dillon Center!
Katherine Goldsmith, RN, BSN
Executive Administrative Assistant
Katherine Goldsmith has been the school nurse at the Dillon Center since 2001. During this time Katherine also ran the Toddler playgroup as well as the After School Program. Starting in August of 2017, Katherine took on a new challenge of being the Executive Administrative Assistant at the Dillon Center.
Gina Guglielmo
Special Education Teacher in Classroom One — Inclusion
Gina has been the special education teacher in Classroom 1 since 2017. She completed her M.A. in literacy and cognition at St. Joseph’s University. In the classroom, Gina loves to read stories, play pretend, and do cooking activities with her students!
Eva Jefferson-Page
General Education Teacher in Classroom One
Eva is the General Education Teacher in Classroom One. She completed her B.A. in Child Study at St. Joseph’s University, and is enrolled in a master’s program in special education at SJNY. Eva’s favorite things to do in the classroom are finger painting, making and using playdough, and matching games. She loves playing with children!
Merlina Pollidore-Joseph
Special Education Assistant Teacher in Classroom One — Inclusion
Merlina is the Special Education Assistant Teacher in Classroom One. She has been working in the Inclusion classroom since 2002. She is the mother of three children, the oldest of whom is a Dillon Center alum. She has a passion for working with young children, and helping them to grow. She loves planning big art projects such as murals, paper mache, and puppet making.
Kelly O’Donnell
Assistant Teacher in Classroom One
Kelly is an Assistant Teacher in Classroom One. She enjoys cooking, doing puzzles and reading books. She got to know and love Dillon when she was a student at St. Joseph’s University.
Sameena Rahman
Head Teacher in Classroom Two
Sameena Rahman was born in India and immigrated to the United States in 1983. She completed her M.A. in literacy and cognition at St. Joseph’s University. Sameena has worked at the Dillon Center since 1995.
Roderick Jones
Assistant Teacher in Classroom Two
Rod is an Assistant Teacher in Classroom Two. Rod started at the Dillon Center in 2021 but has 9 years of experience working in early childhood. He loves to read books, explore nature and learn what fascinates his students. He enjoys doing messy art projects in the classroom that allow the children to express themselves.
Emily Figueroa
Head Teacher in Classroom Three
Ms. Emily loves young children and enjoys learning from them as well as teaching them. She is a graduate of St. Joseph’s College with a Master’s in Literacy and Cognition. Ms. Emily is the mother of eight grown children and a Girl Scout Leader for over 25 years.
Margaret (Peggy) Donovan
Assistant Teacher in Classroom Three
Miss Peggy has been at the Dillon Center since 1995. Even after all that time, she is still excited to play with the children every day. She especially likes to bake and cook with them.
Cara Hayden
Assistant Teacher in Classroom Three
Cara is an Assistant Teacher in Classroom Three. She started working at the Dillon Center in January of 2022, after graduating from St. Joseph’s University. She loves to play with children, and enjoys all of the various centers in the Dillon classrooms.
Emily Sabando
Head Teacher in Classroom 4
Emily has been teaching at the Dillon Center since 2016. She has an M.S.Ed. in Early Childhood Education with an extension in Special Education, from Brooklyn College. She loves to work with young children, nurture their curiosities, and plan activities and experiences based on their interests!
Candice Joseph
Assistant Teacher in Classroom Four
Candice is an Assistant Teacher in Classroom Four. She enjoys reading stories, doing arts and crafts, and music, and she is looking forward to doing these things with her students at Dillon. Candice has been involved with the Dillon Center for many years as a substitute teacher, and she also graduated from St. Joseph’s University.
Sister Patricia Dittmer CSJ
Head Teacher in Classroom Five
Sister Patricia Dittmer received her B.A. from St. Joseph’s University, her M.S. in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education, and her P.D. in Supervision and Leadership. She is the co-author of the book Look Listen and Plan — Developing Literacy in Young Children. Sister Patricia is also a Consultant at Catholic School Academy, and an Instructor of Early Childhood Education at St. Joseph’s College. She has a passion for art and creativity, music and movement, and learning.
Victoria Contreras
Assistant Teacher in Classroom Five
Victoria Contreras has been at Dillon since 2001. She enjoys singing songs, reading stories and cooking with the children. Sometimes she plans activities in Spanish because she is bilingual.
Our Programs

Classroom One — INCLUSION
Age Group: 3s and 4s — A unique and child-driven class based on inquiry and discovery. Read more.
Class Size
20
Teachers
4

Classroom Two
Age Group: mixed 2s/3s — These oldest 2s and youngest 3s learn about going to school, perhaps for the first time, and expand on language and social skills. Read more.
Class Size
12
Teachers
2

Classroom Three
Age Group: 3s — Designed for Dillon's middle three year olds, children explore the school environment and learn how to function and thrive with other students. Read more.
Class Size
15
Teachers
3

Classroom Four
Age Group: 2s — In this classroom, children work on navigating the world of preschool. Read more.
Class Size
12
Teachers
2

Classroom Five
Age Group: Pre-K/K — In Dillon’s Pre-K classroom, we involve the children in the study of things nearby that interest them and are worth knowing more about. Read more.
Class Size
15
Teachers
2
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS
Gymstars
Gymstars provides a fun-filled class with exciting skills to learn, brightly colored equipment and choreographed movement routines to motivate and challenge your child, while offering a tremendous amount of fun!MORE ABOUT ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS
Music
Young children will have enriching and vital musical experiences that help them gain a sense of themselves and a connection to the world they live in.MORE ABOUT ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS
Created by Kids
Created by Kids is excited to offer our ceramics class at the Dillon Center. The integration of art in a child’s development can advance creativity and imagination while refining important fine motor skills.MORE ABOUT ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS
After School Program
Parents of children currently enrolled at the Dillon Center may opt to have their children stay until 5 p.m. in our After School Program. The program is staffed by Dillon Center teachers, and is an extension of the school day. The program is limited to 18 children on any given day, and enrollment is first-come, first-served. Parents may choose to send their child Monday-Friday, Monday/Wednesday/Friday, Monday/Wednesday, or Tuesday/Thursday.MORE ABOUT ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS