About Us

Our Team

Dr. Veronika Laughlin
Senior research scientist
Veronika was born and raised in Germany, and spent time as a student in England, Mexico, and the United States where she studied and taught German, English, and Spanish. Eventually, she graduated with a Ph.D. in Applied linguistics/TESOL and turned her passion for languages into a career. For the past decade, Veronika has been working as a research scientist at Educational Testing Service in Princeton, NJ, investigating how to best facilitate language learning, teaching, and assessment. When she is not doing research, Veronika enjoys spending time with her family, running, and traveling.
Dr. Lorraine Sova
Assessment specialist
Lorraine has a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics, is a certified English as a Second Language and elementary education teacher, and has taught English as a Foreign Language to children and adults in Poland. Since 2011, Lorraine has been a test developer at Educational Testing Service, developing English language proficiency assessments for young learners as well as teaching and learning content for English language educators and their students.
Kylie Peslak
Lead early education teacher
Kylie is a passionate educator with over a decade of experience working directly with children and families. She holds a BA degree in Family and Child Studies, and is certified to teach grades P-3. For the last nine years, Kylie has been teaching Pre-K at a leading nonprofit early education center in Northern New Jersey.
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Our values and beliefs

Build

on educational research

Let’s ensure that support is evidence-based and grounded in high-quality research, so children’s learning and development is truly effective.

Respect

the uniqueness of every child, family and classroom

Let’s do this together, with families and in early educational settings, building on the unique language and cultural strengths and assets that every child naturally has.

Learn

through diversity and inclusion

Let’s work to create a world in which all languages, cultures, and people are cherished and appreciated.

Create

a solid foundation for life

Let’s start with children because childhood is an important learning period, and support them in understanding all the wonders that different languages and cultures have to offer us, and how they enrich us.

Nurture

the whole child

Let’s provide that support in ways that are playful, engaging, developmentally appropriate, and meaningful to children, so that their learning experiences are positive and lasting.