Our classes are taught by experienced, state Certified teachers, all of whom provide high quality instruction that educate the whole child, each mind in its own time.

Our teachers all have Bachelor’s Degrees, are specialized in the age they teach, and have Tools of the Mind Curriculum training. Our teachers are the heart of our school, whose primary focus is to connect with each child and help them reach their fullest potential. Our fun specialty teachers are educated and experienced and bring so many great elements to our school day.

Our Teachers

Judith L. Serra

Head of School

Judith Serra has been teaching for 35+ years. Judy Serra is a highly qualified and NJ certified teacher.
She graduated from Cabrini College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education/ Elementary Education. She has been trained in Teaching Strategies Gold, Tools of the Mind and she is a member of the Monarch Teacher’s Network. She began her teaching career in Hillsborough Township Schools where she taught Kindergarten for 10 years. After that, she taught first grade at Whitehouse Elementary School for 3 years and then taught kindergarten for 7+ years at Whitehouse Preparatory School. Judy Serra was a Turn-Key Trainer, Lead Teacher and curriculum writer for both school districts. Judy is also trained from the Gesell Institute as a developmental screener. She teaches here at Whitehouse Preparatory School and has been since the school was established in 2009. As the Head of School, Judith Serra does teacher training and curriculum writing for the programs at Whitehouse Preparatory School. She also provides enrichment instruction in the Preschool I,II and Jr. Kindergarten Classes here at Whitehouse Prep. In addition she teaches a Reading Enrichment Program here at Whitehouse Prep. Whitehouse Prep is a fulfillment of her lifetime dream of creating a special school that will provide an excellent preschool foundation for a life time of learning.

Stephanie Tamn

Preschool II Teacher

Stephanie Tamn is a graduate of Penn Foster College with a degree in Early Childhood Education.
She has also been trained in the teaching curriculum of Teaching Strategies Gold and Tools of the Mind. Stephanie has also been trained by Judith Serra in literacy and math enhancement programs here at at Whitehouse Prep. She is a member of the Monarch Teacher’s Network. Stephanie has been a preschool teacher for 7 years and she has had experience in teaching children from toddlers through Pre-K. Her passion is in teaching young children and it comes through each day in the work that she does with her students. She teaches the Preschool II Class here at Whitehouse Prep. Stephanie’s ability to connect with young children and her teaching experience help her to create such a loving and enriching Preschool II learning environment.

Janell Lachner

Preschool Teacher

Janell has been in the teaching field for over 15 years in both private and public school settings. She worked in Senior Healthcare for 5 years and now she is delighted to be back to teaching Preschool here at WPS! She lives in Flemington with her husband and she has 7 children and 3 grandchildren. Some of Janell’s favorite things are swimming, hiking, walking, traveling and anything outdoors. She especially loves spending time with her family.

Alyssa Coccio

Preschool Teacher

Experience:
I have worked with kids since high school. During college I did placements, volunteer work, and a senior year Internship in different childcare centers in the area. I’ve worked at WPS since last school year.

Education:
I graduated from West Virginia University in May 2023. I have a Bachelor of Science in Youth and Family Sciences with a minor In Psychology. I also have my Preschool-3rd grade certificate of eligibility and am working towards my provisional teaching license.

Cheryl Doerfer

Jr. Kindergarten Teacher

Cheryl lives in Phillipsburg with her husband Gary. She has two married daughters. They are Karen and Kelsey. She has a wonderful little grandson, Vincent. Cheryl has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with P-3 Certification. She has been working in the field of education for many years and has taught many grade levels. Her favorite grade is Preschool. She enjoys this age very much. Her excitement shows everyday in the work that she does here as the Jr. K Teacher at Whitehouse Prep!

Specialty Teachers

Stephen Agnew

Music Teacher

Stephen Agnew (“Mr. Steve”), the founder of Lifelong Music School, has well over a decade of experience teaching music to students of all ages from infants to adults, in group classes as well as private instrumental instruction. At Whitehouse Prep and online, he teaches private lessons and music classes for students of all ages during the school day, afternoons, and weekends. Stephen began taking piano lessons in kindergarten, adding guitar lessons in middle school, and continuing lessons in both instruments through college. Upon graduating, he performed as a guitarist in a series of bands. He has experience in recording, synthesizer programming, MIDI and digital audio production, arranging, and composing. He frequently creates personalized arrangements of pop and rock songs for his older students to perform in recitals. Stephen graduated with honors in music from Hamilton College in 2001, with a double major in economics. He went on to earn his Master’s in Teaching from Montclair State University in 2006. He worked as a long-term substitute teacher in various elementary and middle schools, while also working as an SAT math tutor, and then spent a few years as a preschool teacher before shifting to teaching music around 2010. In 2012, Stephen began teaching music classes at Whitehouse Preparatory School, implementing his own early childhood music curriculum. In 2013, he also began to offer private guitar and piano lessons at Whitehouse Prep for students of all ages. Stephen teaches guitar, piano, bass guitar, ukulele, banjo, rock band classes, early childhood music classes, music technology, music theory, recording and sound design, composition, and ear training. He is comfortable instructing students of all ages, from very young children to senior citizens, and has experience in a wide range of musical styles, including classical, rock, folk, blues, jazz, and popular music. He is very comfortable teaching students with special needs and has several current students who fall at various points on the autism spectrum. He has successfully prepared countless students to perform in annual recitals, graded music competitions and evaluations, high school jazz band auditions, and college entrance exams. For more information, email LifelongMusicSchool@gmail.com or schedule a phone or video call.
Whitehouse Preparatory School