Administrative
Chad W. Underwood
Executive Director
Chad W. Underwood
Chad W. Underwood, MPA has served as the PIL Executive Director since 2019. Chad oversees the administration and management of PIL, including the facilitation of Board oversight, operations, fiscal management, human resources, compliance, communications, strategic planning, advocacy, and program operations. Chad has a Master of Public Administration degree from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School.
Adult Learning
Morné Cilliers
ENL Instructor (DEEC)
Morné Cilliers serves as PIL’s ENL Instructor and Early Childhood Education Career Coach for PIL’s Diversity in Early Education & Care (DEEC) Program. Morné provides instruction and facilitates individual and group learning activities for emergent bilinguals relating to early childhood education and care. Morné has a B-Tech Marketing Degree from the University of South Africa.
Theresa E. Pagano
Language & Career Coach (bilingual)
Theresa E. Pagano, MS is the Founding Director of PIL. She spearheaded the creation of PIL in 1989 and helped lead the organization’s evolution for more than 30 years. During that time, she served in a variety of capacities, including administrator, program coordinator, career coach, volunteer, and Board Director, among many others. Theresa currently serves as a career coach for PIL’s Vocational and Educational Services for Emergent Bilinguals (VESEB) Program and Diversity in Early Education & Care (DEEC) Program. Theresa focuses on helping emergent bilinguals achieve personal and professional goals, primary related to early education and care.
Anymir J. Tovar
Career Coach (bilingual)
Anymir J. Tovar serves as Career Coach for PIL’s Vocational and Educational Services for Emergent Bilinguals (VESEB) Program and Diversity in Early Education & Care (DEEC) Program. Anymir facilitates individual and group learning activities for emergent bilinguals to help them achieve education and employment-related goals. Anymir coordinates PIL’s monthly Intergenerational Learning Circle initiative and oversees PIL’s collaboration with the CNY Diaper Bank to distribute diapers to families in need. Anymir has a Master in Educational Management degree from the Universidad Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho in Venezuela.
MANOS Program
Nicole Collazo Cruz
Program Coordinator (bilingual)
Nicole M. Collazo Cruz, MSW, serves as PIL’s MANOS Program Coordinator. Nicole manages the daily operations of the MANOS Pre-K program and the MANOS Home-Based program. Nicole coordinates the delivery of high-quality early childhood education programming for 80 children ages birth through five years. Nicole has served in a variety of roles at PIL since 2019, including Career Coach and Program Coordinator. Nicole facilitates essential cross-program collaboration. Nicole has a Master of Social Work degree from the American University of Puerto Rico.
Jody M. Schappert
Instructional Coach
Jody M. Schappert, MS has worked as an Instructional Coach and Consultant for PIL’s MANOS Program since 2017. Jody brings to PIL more than 45 years of experience in the early education and care profession and has specialized expertise with teaching literacy. Jody has a Master’s in Early Childhood Development degree from SUNY Oswego, and has NYS Permanent Certification for N, K, and Grades 1-6.
Nezalee Vega
Program Assistant (bilingual)
Nezalee Vega serves as Program Assistant for PIL’s MANOS program. Nezalee provides primary program and office support with the oversight of service delivery to children and families. Nezalee liaisons between classroom teams and administration, serves as Teacher Assistant as needed, and helps coordinate program events and activities. Nezalee has seven years of experience working in the early childhood education field.
Yasleydy Contreras Bastida
Early Learning Specialist (Bilingual)
Yasleydy Contreras Bastida serves as Early Learning Specialist and delivers home-based early education and care services for children ages birth through five years and their families. Yasleydy has a Master degree in physical activity and was born in Cuba.
Livianel Bandel
Teacher Assistant (bilingual)
Livianel Bandel serves as the Teacher Assistant for PIL’s Seymour Room 105 class. Livianel provides primary assistance to the Lead Teacher in the provision of classroom-based services for up to 18 three-year-old children. She rejoined PIL’s MANOS Program in 2022 (previously worked with PIL from 2018 – 2020). Livianel has a Bachelor of Science degree from the Universidad del Caribe in the Dominican Republic.
Aracelli Cullipher
Lead Teacher (bilingual)
Aracelli Cullipher serves as the Lead Teacher for PIL’s Bellevue Room 116 class. Aracelli oversees the delivery of early childhood education, classroom-based services for up to 18 four-year-old children. Aracelli also serves as OCFS Site Director for MANOS programming at Bellevue Elementary. She has worked with PIL’s MANOS Program since 2021 and has ten years of experience working in the early childhood education field.
Felicia De Jesús
Lead Teacher (bilingual)
Felicia De Jesús serves as Lead Teacher for PIL’s Seymour Room 104 class. Felicia oversees the delivery of early childhood education, classroom-based services for up to 18 three-year-old children. Felicia has more than 20 years of experience working in the early childhood education field.
Wanda Ivette De Jesús De Jesús
Teacher Assistant (bilingual)
Ivette De Jesús serves as the Teacher Assistant for PIL’s Seymour Room 103 class. Wanda provides primary assistance to the Lead Teacher in the provision of classroom-based services for up to 18 four-year-old children. She rejoined PIL’s MANOS Program in early 2021 (previously worked with PIL from 2007 – 2009). Wanda has 15 years of experience working in the early childhood education field.
Evelyn Hernandez-Febus
Lead Teacher (bilingual)
Evelyn Hernandez-Febus serves as the MANOS Lead Teacher for PIL’s Seymour Room 103 class. Evelyn oversees the delivery of early childhood education, classroom-based services for up to 18 four-year-old children. Evelyn also serves at OCFS Site Director for MANOS programming at Seymour Dual Language Academy. Evelyn has worked with PIL’s MANOS Program since 2017. Prior to joining PIL, Evelyn was an Elementary School Teacher in Puerto Rico. Evelyn has a Bachelor of Special Education degree from the American University of Puerto Rico.
Wilmarini Hernandez
Teacher Aide (bilingual)
Wilmarini Hernandez serves as Teacher Aide for PIL’s Seymour Room 103 class. Wilmarini helps the Lead Teacher and Teacher Assistant with the provision of classroom-based services for up to 18 four-year-old children. She has worked with PIL’s MANOS Program since 2005. Wilmarini has 17 years of experience working in the early childhood education field.
Dailyn Lopez Guerra
Teacher Aide (bilingual)
Dailyn Lopez Guerra serves as Teacher Aide for PIL’s Seymour Room 105 class. Dailyn helps the Lead Teacher and Teacher Assistant with the provision of classroom-based services for up to 18 three-year-old children. She has worked with PIL’s MANOS Program since 2024. Dailyn has 1 year of experience working in the early childhood education field. She is from Cuba.
Maria Elena Munoz
Lead Teacher (bilingual)
Maria Elena Munoz serves as the MANOS Lead Teacher for PIL’s Seymour Room 105 class. Maria Elena oversees the delivery of early childhood education, classroom-based services for up to 18 three-year-old children. Maria Elena has worked with PIL’s MANOS Program since 2018, when she started as a Teacher Assistant. She Maria Elena has a Master of Marketing degree from the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
Janice Pinet Davila
Teacher Assistant (bilingual)
Janice Pinet Davila serves as the Teacher Assistant for PIL’s Bellevue Room 116 class. Janice provides primary assistance to the Lead Teacher in the provision of classroom-based services for up to 18 four-year-old children. She has worked with PIL’s MANOS Program since 2016. Janice has 16 years of experience working in the early childhood education field.
Rozlynn Rodriguez
Teacher Assistant
Rozlynn Rodriguez serves as the Teacher Assistant for PIL’s Seymour Room 104 class. Rozlynn provides primary assistance to the Lead Teacher in the provision of classroom-based services for up to 18 three-year-old children.