Our Staff

Each staff member is committed to the children of Crofton Children's Centre. We value the opportunity to be a part of your family and strive to develop meaningful relationships with each parent who entrusts their child to our care.

You’ll always be able to find one of our co-owners on site, and we encourage parental involvement and communication with directors and teachers.

Our teachers all hold certifications or degrees, and we have an exceptionally low turnover rate among our staff that provides your child continuity of care.

Our staff members regularly pursue continuing education and professional training within the field of Early Childhood Education above and beyond the requirements of Maryland Public Schools.

Please give us a call to arrange a visit!

Ellen Dyer, Owner
Lori McGinley, Director & Co-Owner

Ellen Dyer

Owner
Child care is in Ellen Dyer’s blood. Her mother and her mother’s business partner began a nursery school in Bowie in the sixties and in the seventies Ellen worked there each day after high school. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and working in Pennsylvania, Ellen returned to Maryland and purchased the program from them.

For the past 25 years she has strived to create a program that provides a loving education for young children while never losing sight of the importance of play in children’s lives.

​Ellen and her husband Mike enjoy their five children and ten grandchildren immensely.

Lori McGinley

Director and Co-owner
Lori began her journey at CCC as a teenager in 1990. She attended Towson State University and has a degree in Early Childhood Education. She became the centre’s Co-Director in 1999 and the centre’s Director in 2002, after working many years as a Lead Teacher in the classroom.

Throughout the years, Lori has attended many education trainings, conferences and symposiums. She has training in special education, SEFEL (Social Emotional Foundation for Early Learners), has participated in MSDE’s PAS Assessment and recently completed training with the FBI on security and safety. Lori continues her training every year in the field of Early Childhood Education.

​Lori is the mother of two teenage boys that also attended CCC as young children. Her passion is to help children explore, learn and grow as individuals.

Audrey Brooks

Assistant Director
Audrey has been working in early childhood education since 2020. Originally from Pennsylvania, Audrey received her BFA in theatre from Towson University. Afterwards, she moved to Rockland, ME where she worked with children from 4 months to 5 years. Audrey returned to Maryland to be closer to family and found her way to CCC. With her degree in theatre, Audrey is passionate about the importance of the arts and learning through play in early childhood education. She has training in SEFEL, completed her IT MELDS (Maine Early Learning and Development Standards), and holds her 90 hour certification.