OUR EDUCATORS

Family Is Our Core

We are a family owned and operated center committed to the success of each child who comes through our doors.

We treat every child as our own, dedicating ourselves wholeheartedly to their success.

Meet the people who will be caring for and teaching your little one(s).

Melissa Gozzo

Preschool Teacher

Enrichment Instructor (Music, Movement, Arts)

  • About Mrs. Gozzo

    Melissa graduated Summa Cum Laude from Merrimack College, where she majored in Human Development with concentrations in Elementary Education and Moderate Disabilities.


    Melissa has passed all the required Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure and received her Elementary (1-6) and Moderate Disabilities (PreK-8) Licensure from the state of Massachusetts.


    Melissa has extensive experience in the field of early childhood and elementary education including Math Interventionist for the Billerica Public Schools, Grades 1 -4 Religious Education Coordinator for the Catholic Community of Billerica, and Preschool Teacher for St. Raphael's School.


    Melissa looks forward to the opportunity to share her knowledge and enthusiasm with you and your child! Her goal is that your child should experience success and gain a positive self-image. Melissa's mission is to foster a love of learning!


    Honors, Awards, Trainings:

    • Merrimack College Dean’s List, 2011-2014 
    • Kappa Delta Pi Member
    • Presidential Scholar
    • First Aid and CPR Certified through the American Heart Association
    • Lively Letters Certified
    • Zumbini Certified
    • Adaptive Dance Teacher Training, Boston Ballet
    • Augmentative and Alternative Communication Language & Conversations: Make It Fun And Interactive!, Easter Seals Massachusetts
    • Evidence-Based Strategies for Learners with Special Needs and Autism, Dr. Jim Ball
    • Andover Bread Loaf Literacy Training Session, Louis Bernieri 

    Melissa is married to her hardworking husband, Anthony, who owns and operates Specialty Motor Cars. They adopted their daughter, Noelle Janette a week before Christmas 2017. Noelle truly is their ”Christmas gift from God!” Noelle will be going into Kindergarten in the Fall.

Vicki Gambale

Preschool Teacher

Extended Day Provider

  • About Mrs. Gambale

    Vicki graduated from Salem State University, where she majored in Biology with a minor in Psychology.


    Vicki has extensive experience in the fields of elementary and special education including over 20 years as a paraprofessional at the Hajjar Elementary School in Billerica which she retires in June 2023.


    Her goal is building self-esteem and developing positive mindsets in your child. Vicki's mission is to foster social-emotional skills to help your child learn and get along with others. Vicki looks forward to an exciting and fun-filled year with your child!


    Honors, Awards, Trainings:

    • First Aid and CPR Certified
    • Lively Letters Certified
    • Honor Thy Teacher Award for eight consecutive  years

    Vicki has been married to Bob for 36 years. They have three children and four grandchildren whom they enjoy. They are excited to start this new Preschool and Enrichment Center together with their daughter, Melissa Gozzo.

Bob Gambale

Enrichment Instructor (Sports and Games)



  • About Mr. Gambale

    Bob studied at the Computer Processing Institute and secured a job at Staples in Framingham. 


    His passion for sports never waned since high school and he continued to play tennis  in countless USTA tournaments until he rose to the #1 ranking in New England in the Men’s B division. Afterwards he competed in the Men’s Open division and secured a top 20 ranking.


    Bob passed on his passion for sports and learning abilities to his kids. His daughter, Mary, took up tennis and by age 7 was beating high school players. By age 12 she was already traveling the world as an experienced player and took 7 national titles in the USA (Copper Bowl, Easter Bowl, 18’s girls’ Nationals, Little Moe Nationals, etc.). By age 16 she had a world ranking of 224 and played in the main draw of the US Open.


    Bob also worked with his son, Robby, who went on to compete in his first Pepsi Pitch Hit & Run event in 2006 at age 10. Robby made his way to the National 10 age division held in Pittsburgh during his first year and actually won it. When he played sports in high school, Robby was the first player at Billerica High to ever start six seasons on varsity sports (sophomore, junior, senior years in two sports) and have all six teams qualify for the Division 1 state tournament.


    His middle child, Melissa, is another champion. She is a cancer survivor/wish recipient who made local headlines for her annual charity Cupcakes for Chemo where she would make and sell cupcakes and donate the proceeds to Tufts Medical Center. 


    Bob enjoys working with students of all ages and levels. For our aspiring athletes and families, Bob is a wealth of information and insight we encourage you to tap into.


    He lives with his wife Vicki and they enjoy keeping up with their kids and grandchildren.

OUR PHILOSOPHY

Learning Is Natural

Young children have lively minds from the start. We strive to make the most of this natural quality by enabling them to experience, explore, investigate, care about others, interact, develop and create. We strive to deepen and strengthen children’s natural abilities by providing them with the healthiest environment possible.


Our philosophy is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach of early learning. This approach is a very ‘child friendly’ way of educating children, allowing them to just ‘be’ children.


We incorporate the Reggio Emilia Approach into our programs by embracing:

  • A positive image of children as capable, curious, creative, and full of potential
  • Children have hundreds of ways of thinking, expressing, understanding, and encountering the world around them
  • Children learn by being active participants
  • Learning happens through exploration, discovery, and play
  • "There are three teachers of children: adults, other children, and their physical environment."

“What children learn does not follow as an automatic result from what is taught. Rather, it is in large part due to the children's own doing as a consequence of their activities and our resources."


 - Loris Malaguzzi, Founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach

THE REGGIO EMILIA APPROACH

“Our task, regarding creativity, is to help children climb their own mountains, as high as possible. No one can do more.”

Loris Malaguzzi, Founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach

OUR MISSON AND VALUES


The first few years of your child’s life is a time of magic and wonder. We understand the importance of these years, and dedicate ourselves to making them positive and productive.


 Our mission is to cultivate joyful learners by equipping them with age appropriate educational experiences that assist in the optimal growth and development of the whole child.


Our vision is to lay the foundation that supports and equips children with the confidence, compassion, courage, and creativity to succeed in school and beyond.


Joy of Learning

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Age Appropriate Academics

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Nature-Based

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OUR FACILITY

Our Home Is Your Home

We are a home-based center, offering a warm, welcoming place for preschool, school age, extended day, and enrichment programs. We are located on the first floor of our two-floor home. There are two separate private entrances and exits to our center on the first floor.


Our Educators, Vicki and Bob Gambale, live on the second floor of this two-story, two family home, which has its own separate entrances and exits as well. The first floor was previously occupied by the late Jan Gambale and has been transformed into a preschool and enrichment center in her memory. Jan's passions and values are woven into all of our programs with the goal of upholding her legacy by making a difference in the life of your child.


We recognize that families seek to find the highest quality care for their child, much like the care that they would receive at home. We want to assure you that providing a safe, loving, and nurturing environment for your child is our upmost priority.


In the Reggio Emilia philosophy, the environment is considered the third teacher. We incorporate natural colors and materials, wooden toys, lack of clutter and light-filled rooms to create a relaxed environment where children feel at ease. We seize all opportunities to learn outdoors to utilize the many benefits it provides.


Our goal is to focus on each individual child and their needs. We believe in building a sense of home and community where our children will be encouraged to be brave, creative, resilient, and kind.

Book A Tour

“Play is the highest form of research."

- Albert Einstein

Jan's Place Preschool and Enrichment Center, LLC by Victoria Gambale is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).


Jan's Place Preschool and Enrichment Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, cultural heritage, political beliefs, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or marital status.    


We foster a culture of respect that values differences. Our environment is set up to identify individual’s special rights and needs. When required, we liaise with other professionals to provide the required support, so that the child and their family can achieve their goals. If we cannot meet the family’s goals, we will do our best to facilitate another solution.