About Us
Meryl Opsal, M. Ed.
Director and Lead Instructor
Meryl received her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Education from Bank Street College of Education in 2013. She has taught in a wide variety of settings, from independent Pre-K to public 5th Grade. She then transitioned into working with families in their homes providing support for both parent and child; to identify academic and behavioral challenges and to create a plan towards resolution. She has also worked as a Curriculum Consultant, developing and instructing preschool teachers in profession development workshops. Fun fact: before Meryl was a teacher she had many different jobs including project manager, actress, and architectural lighting design assistant.
Favorite Romp & Rollick Art Activity: Tray Painting
Favorite Romp & Rollick Sensory Material: Quinoa
Mary Kumar
Assistant Teacher
In 2010, Mary decided to put her two passions together and received her Master’s Degree in Theatre Education from Emerson College. She has worked in many settings including after-school programs, summer camps, independent, charter, and public schools. She has directed full-length plays and devised work with children as young as 6. Mary has two children of her own and is always amazed by the creative capabilities of young children. Fun Fact: Mary loves cooking and still takes to the stage in her free time.
Favorite Romp & Rollick Art Activity: Ice crayons
Favorite Romp & Rollick Sensory Material: Mud
The Story of Romp & Rollick
When Meryl became a mother in 2015 she wanted to attend a parent and me class with her son, and couldn’t find one that contained all the elements she desired. Frustrated that the class she imagined attending didn’t exist, she made her dreams a reality, and that is how Romp and Rollick was born! As of right now Romp & Rollick is still a baby and Meryl’s not done dreaming yet! Her goal is to offer a whole suite of classes to appeal to every age, stage and interest. This goal is a work in progress and we appreciate your support!
Our Approach
Meryl bases all of the curriculum she designs on The Developmental Interaction Approach. This is a pedagogy that emphasizes the role of the teacher as a facilitator of children's learning through open-ended, child-directed, hands-on experiences. It is based on the ideas of Lucy Sprague Mitchell, Jean Piaget, John Dewey, and Constructivism, which posit that children learn best through active exploration and discovery, rather than through passive absorption of information. This approach focuses on creating a supportive learning environment where children can engage in real-world, meaningful experiences and make connections between new information and their existing understanding. This approach also emphasizes the importance of social interaction and collaboration in the learning process and often includes opportunities for children to reflect on and share their experiences with others.