About Us

  1. Berwyn Early Learning Academy
  2. About Us

About Berwyn Early Learning Academy

At Berwyn Early Learning Academy, we are dedicated to meeting the needs of families in our community by nurturing their children’s development and providing outstanding care. In 2024, we began to expand our center to provide a full-time program for children from 6 weeks old to 5 years old. To reflect this growth and our ongoing commitment to excellence, we changed our name to Berwyn Early Learning Academy and began building out a program to continue our mission.

Since our founding in 1994 as Berwyn United Methodist Nursery School, we have been a cornerstone of early childhood education in Berwyn Pennsylvania. For over three decades, we have provided a safe, positive environment where learning is fun, and every child feels valued. Our mission has always been to foster self-esteem, create an enthusiasm for learning, and help our children build positive relationships with peers and teachers.

We continue to embrace the whole child approach by addressing the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs of young learners through play and engaging learning experiences. Our curriculum, Funny Daffer, is thematically oriented with projects and activities designed to immerse children in learning and to spark curiosity and creativity.

At Berwyn Early Learning Academy, we are more than just a school — we are a community dedicated to building upon every child’s unique potential while empowering them to become strong and curious future leaders!

Our Staff:

Alexander Smith Picture
Alexander Smith
Director

A dedicated father and husband, Alex Smith has spent over 20 years shaping young minds as a preschool teacher. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Administration from Purdue University Global and a Master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Pre K-12 Educational Leadership. As a PA-certified teacher, he brings both expertise and heart into every classroom he leads, inspiring children to grow with curiosity and confidence.

Outside of teaching, Alex is an avid reader who enjoys traveling, going to the movies, and spending time with friends and family. A lover of good food—especially sushi and pizza—he also collects vinyl records, always on the lookout for the next great addition to his collection. 

Tamar Fremont Picture
Tamar Fremont
Infant Room Lead Teacher

Meet Ms. Tamar

Tamar Fremont, originally from Roanoke, Virginia, has called Pennsylvania home for the past three years. At 23, she has already discovered one of her greatest joys—caring for babies. Tamar finds deep fulfillment in supporting children through their earliest milestones, from first smiles to first words, and loves helping them feel safe, curious, and confident as they explore the world around them.

Outside the classroom, Tamar enjoys reading, writing, and singing. These creative passions inspire the patience, imagination, and joy she brings into her work with children. She especially loves weaving music, stories, and self-expression into her daily care as powerful tools for connection and growth.

Looking ahead, Tamar hopes to pursue a career as a therapist, continuing her commitment to supporting children and families in meaningful ways. For now, she is grateful for the opportunity to nurture, guide, and grow alongside the little ones at BELA each day.

Gianna Bagola
Preschool Lead Teacher

Meet Ms. Gianna

Gianna recently graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science. During her college years, she discovered her passion for working with children while serving in the childcare division at the YMCA’s BASE program and Summer Camp at the Spring Valley location. There, she not only supported daily activities but also designed and led engaging STEM programs for children of all ages.

She shares, “Being in the classroom and feeding off the kids’ energy is my favorite part of teaching!” That joy and connection inspired her to pursue a career in early childhood education.

When she’s not teaching, Gianna enjoys going to concerts, adventuring with friends, and spending time with her cat, Felix.

Gianna is thrilled to begin her journey as a preschool teacher at BELA, where she looks forward to helping children grow, learn, and thrive every day.

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