Luke and Friends Child Care Center Monroe, New York

MONROE

Ms. Jennifer - Owner

Hi! I’m the proud owner of Luke and Friends in Monroe and Luke’s Other Friends in Goshen.

From a young age, I always dreamed of becoming a mother and having children at the center of my life. By the age of 34, I was blessed with six children—four boys and two girls, including two sets of twins. Motherhood has been my greatest joy and continues to inspire everything I do.

After graduating high school, I pursued my passion for early childhood education at Orange County Community College, where I earned my Associate’s Degree. I knew early on that I wanted to create a child care program of my own, and I was excited to begin that journey.

While in college, I worked in retail management for Phillips Van Heusen, where I advanced to the role of Area Supervisor overseeing 12 stores. This experience provided me with a strong foundation in leadership, team development, and customer relations—skills that have been invaluable in building my business.

As a working mom, I struggled to find child care that felt right for my own children. I was searching for a place that felt warm, clean, and intimate, with caring staff and a positive, welcoming atmosphere. When I couldn’t find that, I decided to create it myself.

Shortly after my fourth child was born, I opened my home and began caring for a small group of children, including my nephew, Luke. Those early days were incredibly meaningful—caring for my own children alongside others in a loving, nurturing environment.

After 10 years of running a successful group family day care, I felt ready to grow. I found a charming, cozy barn in the Village of Monroe and opened Luke and Friends. It quickly became a special place filled with warmth, laughter, and a strong sense of community.

As our program grew, so did our vision. We expanded to a second location in the Village of Goshen—Luke’s Other Friends—which reflects the same values, care, and quality as our original center.

Today, both locations are truly hidden gems. We are committed to providing high-quality child care in safe, nurturing environments where every child feels valued, supported, and loved.

My nephew Luke is now an angel, and his spirit remains a guiding presence in all that we do. I am reminded of him often, and I believe he continues to watch over our centers, helping to keep our children safe and surrounded by love.

Ms. Audra - Director

Welcome to Luke & Friends! I have been part of this wonderful program since we opened in 2014 where I started as the Pre-K 4 teacher. 5 years ago, I was given the opportunity to become the Director, which I happily accepted. I have a strong foundation in early childhood education and experience in Early Intervention. My Bachelor of Science degree is in Elementary Education and my Master’s degree is in Early Childhood.

Outside of work, I have been married for over 30 years, have been blessed with 5 children (3 boys & 2 girls) and recently became a Grandma to a beautiful little girl. My children are my biggest accomplishment, and I am extremely proud of them. 2 of my boys are engineers, my oldest daughter is an Occupational Therapist and my other daughter followed in my footsteps and is a teacher. My youngest is still in high school. I have spent many years sitting at sports fields watching countless football, baseball and soccer games as all my children were involved in school and travel teams from their elementary days into their college years. When I am not being a sports mom or spending time with my family, I enjoy reading and hanging out with my girlfriends.

Ms. Ilene

Hello, my name is Ilene. I have had the privilege of being part of the Luke & Friends family for 8 years now. I have been married for 29 years, am the mom to 5 wonderful children and also have a grandson. In my free time, I enjoy gardening, spending time with my German Shepard and DIY projects. I am originally from Brooklyn, NY but have lived in Monroe for ten years now. I have worked with children from 6 weeks to 5 years old for about 18 years. Over the years, I have found inspiration through working with children and knowing that I am part of their first school experience. I love working with the staff and getting to know all the children and their families here at Luke & Friends.

Ms. Karen

Hello! My name is Karen and I am the Infant Purple teacher this year. I started with Luke and Friends 4 years ago in the infant room and then was the Toddler teacher. I love what I do and have been sharing my days with children for over 34 years. I have a degree in Early Childhood Education. I have 3 grown children, 2 of which have flown the nest! I am a Grandma (Grandy) to my beautiful granddaughter, Genevieve and am expecting another granddaughter soon. I hold each child in my heart that passes through my classroom. My first class are now parents of their own. Looking forward to many more fun filled days with these precious children.

Ms. Jessica

Hi! My name is Jessica. I have over 12 years of experience working with children, which has shaped my patience, compassion and love for helping others grow. I joined Luke and Friends 6 years ago starting in the toddler room. For the past 3 years I have been the Pre-K 3 teacher. I enjoy spending time outdoors, where I can relax, recharge and appreciate nature. At home, I share my life with my husband and our two-year-old who brings so much joy and energy into every day. Being both a parent and someone who has dedicated years to working with children has given me a deep understanding of their needs and a strong passion for nurturing and supporting their development.

Ms. Lisa

Greetings, Parents! My name is Lisa, but all my little friends warmly call me Ms. Lisa. I was born and raised in Staten Island, New York, and have called Monroe home for the past 26 years. This September marks my 10th year of joyfully greeting happy, smiling faces every day at the Luke and Friends door. Before joining this wonderful community, I spent 20 years working in NYC, in the computer consulting field and the fashion textile industry. I feel incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to stay home and raise my two beautiful daughters, who are now 28 and 25. I am blessed with a husband who supports my love of buying way too many things! In my spare time, I find joy in creating beautiful crochet pieces, and I am an avid reader who gets lost in stories. I truly cherish indulging in old movies, sipping tea, and immersing myself in the timeless spirit of classic rock.

Ms. Wanda

Greetings! My name is Wanda, also known as Ms. Wanda by our precious little ones. I have been a member of the Luke & Friends staff for the past 5 years as a Teaching Assistant. I have taught in the Pre-K 4 classroom and am now one of the Toddler teachers. I enjoy working with all ages. Before joining Luke & Friends, I had my own family home daycare in the Bronx which I ran for over 10 years before moving to Monroe into our dream home.

I have 3 great boys which are my pride and joy along with my labradoodle, Chewy. I have been happily married for 26 years. In my free time I like to watch movies and spend time with my family. I am self-efficient and strive to provide the best care possible for my little friends as they grow.

Ms. Lissette

Hello, I’m Ms. Lissette. I have lived in Monroe since I was 3 years old…, which means, a long time! Over the past 7 years, I have worked with every age group here at Luke & Friends. Although I used to work specifically in the toddler room, I currently don’t work in one specific room. I have the pleasure of greeting your children in the mornings with Ms. Lisa and getting the day started for your little ones. Having raised 2 boys, I am used to all things rough and tumble! Out of the many jobs I have had over the years, none of them have been as much fun or as rewarding as being with your precious children.

Ms. Vangie

Hello my name is Vangie. A mom of 4 wonderful boys and happily married for the last 19 years! I'm originally from the Bronx but moved up to Monroe in 2015. I have been working as a teachers assistant for 7 years, of those, 2 years have been with Luke & Friends and I look forward to work everyday. I love seeing all the children learn something new everyday.
In my free time I like to spend quality time with my boys, visit new places and create memories.

Ms. Donna

Hi, my name is Miss Donna.

Being around children has always been my true passion. I have been caring for and supporting families in the community for over 50 years, and it has been one of the greatest joys of my life.

I am the proud mother of three grown children, and a loving grandmother to eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Spending time with my family means everything to me, and they continue to inspire the care and love I give to the children I work with each day.

I have always loved making a difference in the life of a child and watching them grow, learn, and gain confidence. It is so important to me to provide each child with the extra special care, attention, and encouragement they need to thrive. I believe every child deserves a nurturing environment where they feel safe, valued, and supported.

I love helping children grow, learn, and feel confident. Giving each child the care and attention they need to feel safe and happy is very important to me.

Ms. Marrissa

Hello! My name is Marrissa and I have been working at Luke and Friends for the past 4 years. For the past 2 years, I have proudly served as a Head Teacher. I truly love working with children and enjoy helping them, learn, grow and build confidences each day. Teaching has always been a passion of mine and I find so much joy in creating fun and meaningful learning experiences. Outside of the classroom, I am the proud mom of a wonderful 16-year-old daughter. I also love being a supportive dance mom and spending time cheering her on at her events. Watching children both at work and at home develop their talents and personalities is incredibly rewarding to me

Ms. Alyssa

Ms. Angela

Hello Friends! My name is Angela. A little bit about me is that I was born and raised in Rockland County and then moved to Goshen in 2018. I have an amazing fiancé, one beautiful little boy and 3 sweet cats. I love adventures, arts and most of all spending time with my family. Working with children is a huge passion of mine and it brings me much joy to help shape their young minds. I recently graduated from Rockland Community College with my associate's degree in early childhood education with a minor in Special Education. My goal is to further my schooling by getting my Master's Degree so I can be a NYS certified teacher.

Ms. Katherine

Welcome to Luke & Friends! My name is Katherine, better known as Ms. Kat. I am a mom to an amazing 4-year-old boy, who will be starting school soon! I have been blessed to be an assistant teacher here over the past year. I have been working in childcare nearly half my life and it's been an absolute pleasure. I enjoy being fun, silly & creative but most importantly reading my Bible and spending time with my son. Looking forward to an adventurous school year with your little ones.

Ms. Anjie

Hi my name is Anjelica but the kids call me Miss Anjie. I was raised here in Monroe and am from a big family. I have 3 older brothers and 3 older sisters. I am an aunt to 5 nieces and 3 nephews whom I love to spoil. It was never boring in my family. We loved to laugh, play and make memories. My family taught me the importance of having patience and how to be loving to those who need a little guidance. Working in childcare, these skills have helped me tremendously. A couple of talents I learned from my siblings, such as, drawing and doing hair, I bring with me into the classroom. I enjoy being creative and making crafts with the kids. The girls love when I do their hair and it helps me create a bond with them. I like seeing how the children express themselves through their play and art work.

I joined Luke and Friends 2 years ago where I started as a floater helping where needed. This past year I was given the opportunity to become the full-time assistant in the toddler room. I have learned so much since I began, and am excited to continue supporting the children as they grow and learn. It has been such a pleasure to watch them develop new skills and build friendships.

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