Administration

Deb Sobelman
Executive Director

Deb joined us as Executive Director in March 2024 after a 15 year career in marketing and advertising. Prior to joining NHNS, she graduated from Colgate University and held leadership roles at The Planning Shop, McCann Health, and Cramer-Krasselt. Her passion for children and the community is evident in her volunteer work coaching youth soccer, basketball, and track and field. She was the recipient of her community's RECognize Award in 2024 in recognition of her service. Deb serves as PTO President at a local elementary school, and was active on the Board of Directors at NHNS prior to assuming the Director role. She loves going to concerts, musicals, and traveling with her husband and two sons (both of whom are NHNS alumni!).

Jessica Miller
Assistant Director

Jessica has been at Neighborhood House for three years as Assistant Director, managing the school's billing and maintenance of our historic building. She comes to NHNS following a long career in the business and non-profit worlds. She graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Business & Design. She has been an active member of numerous local organizations, including the Chatham Newcomer's Club and serving on the Board of Directors of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum. Jessica has two children and is an animal lover who opens her home to foster kittens.

Our 3s Classroom

Michele Sofo
3s Head Teacher

Michele joined NHNS in 2010 as our Garden Enrichment Teacher before assuming the role of 3s Assistant Teacher and finally 3s Head Teacher in 2019. Michele holds a Master's Degree in Psychology and Social Work from NYU and is a licensed social worker who began her career as a psychiatric counselor in a community mental health setting. She now also holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Michele is an avid gardener who happily spends the growing season tending to our school garden, her local community garden, and her garden at home, where she loves spending time with her husband, two young adult children, and adorable shih tzu.

Laura Keenan
3s Assistant Teacher

Laura has been part of the NHNS staff since 2014. She's a graduate of Providence College and Seton Hall Law School, where she was published in a law journal. Prior to working here at NHNS, Laura had a career as an attorney. She is a former longtime Chatham resident and raised her 3 children in Chatham, serving as a Girl Scout leader and PTA Board member there for many years. She is a dog lover, an avid reader, and a novice gardener who gets lots of practice putting her skills to work alongside the 3s in our school garden.

Our 4s Classroom​

Sharon Leitgeb
4s Head Teacher

Sharon has been here at NHNS for 13 years and is the Head Teacher in our 4s classroom. She has a BA in Elementary Education and began her career as a 1st grade teacher in Butler, NJ. She then spent seven years at a preschool in Montville, teaching 2.5s, 3s, 4s, and Transitional Kindergarten. She was involved on her sons' school PTA Board when they were in elementary school, as well as managing hockey teams for four years. Sharon has two sons, two dogs, a cat, and is an avid NJ Devils fan.

Joyce Fitz Maurice
4s Assistant Teacher

Joyce has been part of the NHNS staff since 1999 and part of our local community for even longer, growing up in Maplewood and moving to Millburn in 1990. Prior to joining NHNS and starting her own family here in town, she worked for Hess Oil. If you know Joyce, you won't be surprised to hear that she's been the recipient of two congeniality awards, as she is always smiling (especially when talking about her baby granddaughter!).
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Christy McElynn
4s Assistant Teacher

Christy joined NHNS in 2024 after two years at the Maplewood Health Department. She was a Girl Scout leader and has held multiple volunteer positions in both the preschool and elementary school environment. Christy holds an MBA in Marketing from NYU and has over 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, and brand management. She enjoys music, movies, and spending time with her family.

We're also so fortunate to have substitutes and enrichment professionals on staff to supplement our classroom teachers and administration. We can't wait for you to meet our whole NHNS community!

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Reach out for more information about Neighborhood House Nursery School anytime.