Wallaby - a family development center

Ericka Tullis, MPP, Owner-Director

Besides being a mother to two young daughters, Wallaby’s owner-director has worked as an early childhood researcher and policy analyst at the Chapin Hall Center for Children, the UCLA Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities, and the Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Development at Cal State University Channel Islands. She is also a former preschool teacher, and has a master’s degree in child and family policy from the University of Chicago. Ericka shares her Eagle Rock home with her husband Paul and their two daughters, along with Honey and Lucy (woof!), Gus (meow!) and Swimmy (blub blub!).

Annie Dubrinsky, Baby Joeys Teacher

Annie graduated from University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Music History, where she received the Robertson Award for Outstanding Performance in Music. She is a singer-songwriter and piano player who performs under the name Annie Stela. She was signed to Capitol Records from 2003-2007 where she recorded her first album, Fool, available on iTunes. Annie teaches private piano and voice lessons for kids and adults, as well as group voice lessons at Wallaby, and is a certified Music Together teacher. She has also spent several years as a nanny to two very special families here in LA. Wallaby is the perfect place for Annie to combine her two greatest loves: music and children!

Alana Gentry, Big Joeys Teacher

As a certified Kundalini Yoga instructor, singer-songwriter, dancer and certified massage therapist, music and movement is something Alana loves to share with kids. Teaching and caring for children comes naturally to her, and for the past four years she has devoted her time to working as a caregiver for three different families. She has been writing, recording and performing music since 1996, and recently finished writing a children’s book series, including original songs for 1-3 year olds, under the name Alana Banana. Alana was born and raised in Los Angeles, and is thankful for all of the amazing parents and children in her life who continuously teach and help prepare her to have her own family someday.

Deborah Lederer, Little Joeys Teacher

Deborah hails from Tucson, Arizona, where she worked for many years at The Gaslight Theatre as an actress, singer and dancer. She has been a certified Hatha Yoga teacher since 2004, received additional certification in 2006 as a children’s yoga instructor, and is a certified White Belt Nia instructor (dance). In addition to her love of sharing yoga with kids, Deborah has enjoyed caring for children as a nanny, has been an acting, vocal, and movement coach to children, was a volunteer literacy advocate for Bookpals, Inc., and toured children’s schools while at North Carolina State University with Happ’nin’ Tales Children’s Theatre and with The National Opera Company. Deborah is proud to be a part of the Wallaby family, and enjoys teaching in such a wonderful, playful and caring environment.

**

To ensure your children’s safety, in-depth criminal background checks have been completed for all Parent & Me teachers.  These staff are also are Red Cross-certified in pediatric CPR and first aid, and have received training by the Center for Nonviolent Education and Parenting/Echo Center.

**

Laura Ferrari, Circus Class Teacher

Laura attended the Clown Conservatory at the San Francisco Circus Center from 2008-2010, and holds a Bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Cruz, where she began her work in clown and physical theater. In addition to founding Laura’s Little Top, Laura studies and performs clown, improv and sketch comedy in LA. Laura has taught clown and circus arts to children and teens at the Country School, the San Francisco Circus Center, the Edgewood Center for Children and Families, and privately. She has worked as a hospital clown at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View, CA.

Vicki Hill, Guitar Teacher

Vicki has been teaching guitar at the world famous McCabe’s Guitar shop in Santa Monica for 13 years. She performs her original songs with her band, Hill and House, singing lead and harmony, and playing guitar and banjo.

Sundra Oakley, Baby Sign Language Teacher

Sundra is a native New Yorker who graduated from New York University with a degree in theatre and has called Los Angeles home since 2004. An actress, dancer, martial artist, novice skier and surfer, hopeful future snowboarder, and mother of two wonderful and active boys, she fell in love with the beauty and expressiveness of sign language after being introduced to it in high school. Sundra has taught Signing Time and ASL classes and workshops throughout Los Angeles, and in Jamaica where she is currently in talks with the Ministry of Education to implement Signing Time and ASL into the country’s early childhood curriculum.

Marc Smollin, Knitting & Crocheting Teacher

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Marc has been knitting for over 13 years. For the past five years, Marc has taught knitting and crocheting classes at The Little Knittery in Atwater Village. Alongside the owner of the Knittery, Marc has performed world-wide in their two-person rock band, The Pity Party.