Staff Directory and Contact Information

Becca Bell, Teacher
rebeccabell@psych.ucla.edu

Becca began her time at IDP in the spring of 2022 with an internship in the IDP Blue Room. After completing her internship, she remained at IDP as a Graduated Intern Volunteer. In the winter of 2023 Becca graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology. She started as a floater teacher in May 2023 and is beyond excited to be working full time at IDP! In her free time she loves spending time with family and friends, going to the beach and reading.

Courtney Kumar, Lead Teacher
ckumar@psych.ucla.edu

Courtney Kumar graduated Magna Cum Laude from California State University, Northridge with a Degree in Child Development. From there she graduated with honors with a Masters in Child Development from the University of California, Davis. Mrs. Kumar is also a Certified Child Life Specialist. She has been working at IDP since February 2009 and enjoys learning new things from the children daily. In her free time, she enjoys running charity 5k and 10k races.

Amari Metcalfe, Floater Teacher
amarim@psych.ucla.edu

Amari began her time at IDP in the spring of 2023 as an intern in the Blue Room. She completed her internship and continued at IDP as a work study student throughout the school year. In June 2024, Amari graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology. Soon after, she started her position as a full-time floater teacher and was very excited to further her career at IDP! In her free time she enjoys watching TV, hanging out with friends, playing the drums, and doing puzzles.

Sam O’Grady, Teacher
samogrady@psych.ucla.edu

Sam started at IDP in the spring of 2019 as an intern in the Blue Room. After completing his internship, Sam continued at IDP as a work study student for a year. In the spring of 2020, Sam received his B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology. Following his time at IDP, Sam served as a floater and lead pre-k teacher at Sinai Akiba Academy’s early childhood center for a year. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his friends and family, reading, exercising, and watching sports. He’s thrilled to be back at IDP!

Melanie Piper, Floater Teacher
melaniepiper@psych.ucla.edu

Melanie began her journey at IDP in the fall of 2023 with an internship in the IDP Gold Room. Upon completion of her internship in spring of 2024, Melanie graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology and was hired as a full-time floater teacher at IDP. After her experience as an enrichment instructor and summer camp director throughout college, Melanie has found a passion in early childhood care and education with the children at IDP! In her free time, Melanie loves roller blading, going to the movie theater, and doing yoga.

Destiny Ramirez, Teacher
dkramirez@psych.ucla.edu

Destiny started at IDP in the Fall of 2019 as a Blue Room intern. She graduated from UCLA in the Fall of 2020 with a B.A. in Communications and a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology. After graduating, she worked as a family assistant for a family in the West Los Angeles area throughout the pandemic. Destiny was very excited to return to IDP as the floater teacher in September 2022 and in May 2023 she became a primary teacher in the Blue Room! In her free time she enjoys reading, watching sitcom TV and going out to eat and to the movies with family and friends.

Eileen Santos, Lead Teacher
esantos@psych.ucla.edu

Eileen Santos earned her AA Degree in Early Childhood Education, with an emphasis in Special Education from Santa Monica College. Ms. Santos is a wife & a mother of four daughters and a grandmother of seven grandchildren. Her two older daughters attended the Head Start Program in the State of California, where she diligently worked as a parent volunteer for four years. This program led her to pursue her career as an early childhood educator. She was a lead teacher in early childhood education for twelve years working with children ages three to five years. In the Fall of 2008, she joined IDP to work with the infant and toddler program. Here she has devoted her time and energy to young children, as well as to mentoring the students in the Applied Developmental Psychology minor.

Patrice Winn, Director
pwinn@psych.ucla.edu

Patrice started her career in Early Childhood Education right here at IDP as a student many years ago. She has a B.A. in Psychology from UCLA and a Master’s Degree in Human Development with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education from Pacific Oaks College. Patrice was lead teacher at IDP for 10 years before moving on to work with Bright Horizons for 12 years as a lead teacher and Education Coordinator with infant-preschool aged children. She returned to IDP as director in June 2016. Patrice is married with 2 children and enjoys traveling, baking, working out, and spending time with her family.