Meet the ACP Staff

Carnesha Banks

Director
I am a native Marylander and I have lived all over the state. I grew up on the Eastern Shore, where I first found my interest in preschool education. I was an toddler teacher for a small child care center while attending Chesapeake college and obtained my associates degree in Early Childhood Development. Then I moved to College Park to attend University of Maryland where I worked as an infant teacher; while obtaining my bachelors in Psychology. Then moved to Howard County while attending Champlain College and Masters in Early Childhood Education. During this time I was an education coordinator, assistant director, preschool teacher for Head Start and later a preschool director. Now I am here at Notre Dame. I am married with one daughter. I currently live in Carroll County.

Arielle Gibson

Lead Preschool Teacher
I am 24 years old and I am from Baltimore, MD. I am a graduate of Notre Dame of Maryland University, and I joined A Child’s Place team in 2022. My certifications include the 45 hours for infants and toddlers. I have my CPR/ First Aid / AED, Medication Administration, ADA, 99 hours for preschool teaching certification, and SIDS certification.  My dream is to become a maternal fetal medicine OB/GYN surgeon. I would love to live in Hawaii or New York City in the future. I am creative, focused, very determined, and have a lot of perseverance.

Robin Lopez

Lead Twos Teacher
I graduated from Towson University with a degree in education and the Institute of Children’s Literature with a focus in Special Education. I also earned a Music Education degree from Essex Community College. I have been teaching for over 30 years. I am also a graduate from the Ringling Brothers College. I am passionate about sharing with others. I use my skills in drama, music, and sign language when working with young children. I believe “teamwork makes the dreamwork” and “keep reaching for the stars, for only as high can I reach will I grow!”

Cecelia Crowell

Lead Teacher, Preschool Threes
I was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland.  I have an Associate Degree in Business.  I worked for the Baltimore County Public Schools for twelve years as an Instructional Assistant.  Six of those years were spent working in special education programs. For the last fifteen years, I have worked in the three-year-old preschool program at A Child’s Place.  I am a member of the Maryland State Department of Education Credentialing Program, and I hold a Level 4 Certificate.  I believe that all of the useful knowledge that I have gained has come from the children that I have had the pleasure of working with and learning from.  As a teacher, I find working with three-year-olds to be rewarding, challenging, inspirational, and educational on a daily basis.

Anita Ford

Assistant Director and Lead Teacher, Prekindergarten
I am a native of Baltimore City.  I graduated from the University of Virginia at Wise with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.  august 2021 marks my 20th year of teaching at A Child’s Place.  During that time, I have served as a prekindergarten and kindergarten teacher as well as Assistant Director.  My philosophy is that young children learn best through play.  Therefore, that is how I have always planned and implemented my lessons based on early learning standards.

Donna Howard

Preschool Assistant Teacher
I have been employed at A Child’s Place in the capacity of Senior Staff since 1997.  My work with children dates back to 1986 when I worked in the Baltimore County Public Schools. I was also a Family Provider of childcare in my home.  I currently participate in the MSDE Credentialing Program where I have a Level 4 certification.