Born in Chicago and raised in Zurich, Lydia grew up in a bilingual home filled with music, dance and art. After graduating from a specialized music high school, Lydia moved to Vermont to study dance and voice at Bennington College. Lydia moved to NYC in 2012 and has been teaching music and movement in public and private schools grades PreK – 4th grade through Third Street Music School and Turtle Bay Music School. Lydia is excited to broaden the curriculum to include German songs.

My name is Maresa Carney and I am so excited to be teaching the Kindergarten class this year. I will be joining the  GSM family not only as a teacher, but also as a parent – my son, Constantin, is starting 2nd grade at GSM this fall. I am most looking forward to explore fun art projects with the children, while gently guiding them through the transition into a new routine. My background is in arts and education. I obtained my bachelors degree at Hunter College, where I majored in studio art as well as art history. Currently I am pursuing my masters for arts and education, also at Hunter College. I have taught at a German pre-K in Manhattan, at art after schools in Brooklyn, and have led a weekly German arts class for bilingual children on weekends. I can’t wait to meet everybody soon in person!

As a born & raised New Yorker, Sydney holds a unique perspective on what it means to live in a city that has such rich history. She holds a B.A in Sociology from SUNY Purchase and will be earning her M.S degree in Early Childhood Education from Hunter College at the end of 2020. Throughout her studies, Sydney has taught young children from all walks of life and makes it her mission to incorporate diversity & inclusion into her daily pedagogical practice. Sydney values the importance of every child’s feelings, experiences, and culture. She makes it her mission to foster a classroom that is full of independent, empathetic, and curious learners.

Having moved to NYC only in 2019, Lara is a “freshly-baked New Yorker.” She holds a B.A. and a Masters of Education from Cologne University (German and English literary studies and Special Education) and she has taught at elementary and secondary schools in Germany and also at the German School Nairobi. Her teaching experience includes teaching social and behavioral skills to underprivileged children, children of refugees and students with learning difficulties. Lara trusts that every child is a capable learner. She strives to foster individual and independent learning to empower and enable students to make socially responsible and conscious decisions.

Dyala Kasim is a Masters student at Columbia University’s American Studies program, where she specializes in immigration literature. Dyala has previously taught ESL courses and a class on 20th century immigration to New York City, and is extremely interested in the intersection of language, culture, and education. Dyala believes that the best classroom is one of reciprocal learning. Thus, she is very excited to teach at GSM, where this learning is constantly occurring.