About
It Takes a Village offers children activities such as dance, yoga, painting, music, singing, and foreign language. The program includes enrichment classes taught by committed members of the community and uses a nationally Certified Outdoor Classroom and certified Nature Explore outdoor classroom as part of its setting.
• Ages: 3–5 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9am–3pm
It Takes a Village is a collaboration between three local mothers seeking the best quality education for their children and community, and it is described as a grassroots movement between mothers and friends who are choosing to create this program themselves. The mission of It Takes a Village is to create a community-based school where three- and four-year-old children can take advantage of teachable moments that happen every day, with professionals fostering the intellectual, creative, social, emotional, and physical development of students while inspiring a lifelong commitment to learning. The mission also states that the school seeks to create a caring and cooperative environment that will promote civic mindedness and support positive social relationships and respectful interaction inside and outside the school community.
It Takes a Village is 1 of only 7 preschools in Suffolk County that has a nationally Certified Outdoor Classroom and is one of only fifteen certified Nature Explore outdoor classrooms. The Nature Explore Classroom at It Takes a Village is described as playing an integral part in promoting confidence and awareness, and the program states that it is grateful to teach children in an outdoor classroom every day. The program states that it is a true blend of educational philosophies that naturally interlace to provide a unique whole-child approach, that each child’s physical, emotional, social, and academic needs are met with equal importance, and that whole child development needs to happen both inside and outside the traditional classroom. It also states that it is committed to meeting every student’s needs through a child-led learning experience with a deep connection to nature and that it is unique in offering many students an opportunity to foster the development of fine and gross motor skills through its enrichment classes.
The leadership team includes owners/directors Maryann McCormack and Hilary Rose, owner/head teacher Michelle Kelly, head teacher Michele Chekijian, head teacher Brianna Wilds, and assistant teachers Ms. Anja, Ms. Maddie, Ms. Ally, Ms. Regina, and Ms. Mellissa. Maryann has been practicing physical therapy for over twenty years with expertise in pediatric, early intervention, and school-based settings, and she has worked with children with multiple disabilities and diagnoses in homes and school settings. Hilary has well over twenty years of teaching experience, many of those years in the early primary grades, and she is dually certified to teach preschool and special education in New York State; beginning in 2016, she became a trustee on the Hampton Bays Public Library board. Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin and a degree in Health Science from the Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy, worked as a nanny in New York City for over 12 years, and has pursued Child Development Certification. Michele obtained a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Pace University, a master’s degree in literacy from LIU, has experience as a published author, and completed a Yoga and Social Emotional facilitation certification. Brianna studied behavioral science with a focus in early childhood education.
In terms of community involvement, It Takes a Village states that it seeks families who are committed to the educational well-being of their child and the rest of the community. Beginning in 2016, Hilary’s role as a trustee on the Hampton Bays Public Library board is part of this community connection. Michelle created and facilitated Baby Bliss, a support group for new or expectant mothers, is a co-president of the Hampton Bays Mothers Association (HBMA), and is active on the board of the Long Island Birth Network (LIBN).
Last updated May 28, 2026.
• Ages: 3–5 years old
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, 9am–3pm
It Takes a Village is a collaboration between three local mothers seeking the best quality education for their children and community, and it is described as a grassroots movement between mothers and friends who are choosing to create this program themselves. The mission of It Takes a Village is to create a community-based school where three- and four-year-old children can take advantage of teachable moments that happen every day, with professionals fostering the intellectual, creative, social, emotional, and physical development of students while inspiring a lifelong commitment to learning. The mission also states that the school seeks to create a caring and cooperative environment that will promote civic mindedness and support positive social relationships and respectful interaction inside and outside the school community.
It Takes a Village is 1 of only 7 preschools in Suffolk County that has a nationally Certified Outdoor Classroom and is one of only fifteen certified Nature Explore outdoor classrooms. The Nature Explore Classroom at It Takes a Village is described as playing an integral part in promoting confidence and awareness, and the program states that it is grateful to teach children in an outdoor classroom every day. The program states that it is a true blend of educational philosophies that naturally interlace to provide a unique whole-child approach, that each child’s physical, emotional, social, and academic needs are met with equal importance, and that whole child development needs to happen both inside and outside the traditional classroom. It also states that it is committed to meeting every student’s needs through a child-led learning experience with a deep connection to nature and that it is unique in offering many students an opportunity to foster the development of fine and gross motor skills through its enrichment classes.
The leadership team includes owners/directors Maryann McCormack and Hilary Rose, owner/head teacher Michelle Kelly, head teacher Michele Chekijian, head teacher Brianna Wilds, and assistant teachers Ms. Anja, Ms. Maddie, Ms. Ally, Ms. Regina, and Ms. Mellissa. Maryann has been practicing physical therapy for over twenty years with expertise in pediatric, early intervention, and school-based settings, and she has worked with children with multiple disabilities and diagnoses in homes and school settings. Hilary has well over twenty years of teaching experience, many of those years in the early primary grades, and she is dually certified to teach preschool and special education in New York State; beginning in 2016, she became a trustee on the Hampton Bays Public Library board. Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin and a degree in Health Science from the Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy, worked as a nanny in New York City for over 12 years, and has pursued Child Development Certification. Michele obtained a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Pace University, a master’s degree in literacy from LIU, has experience as a published author, and completed a Yoga and Social Emotional facilitation certification. Brianna studied behavioral science with a focus in early childhood education.
In terms of community involvement, It Takes a Village states that it seeks families who are committed to the educational well-being of their child and the rest of the community. Beginning in 2016, Hilary’s role as a trustee on the Hampton Bays Public Library board is part of this community connection. Michelle created and facilitated Baby Bliss, a support group for new or expectant mothers, is a co-president of the Hampton Bays Mothers Association (HBMA), and is active on the board of the Long Island Birth Network (LIBN).
Last updated May 28, 2026.
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