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Admissions

Rosemount Center provides early childhood services for:

Infant/Toddlers
(ages 0-3, including pregnant women)

Preschool children
(ages 3-5)

The Center-Based Option:

Well-trained, caring teachers staff classrooms at the Mount Pleasant location. Our multi-million dollar renovation provides excellent facilities for children to learn and to play.

The Home-Based Option:

This includes weekly in-home visits with a Home Visitor, who works with each family on child development activities and helps meet social services needs. There are socializations twice a month at the Mount Pleasant location for Home-Based families to meet and learn with other families.

Enrollment Options

Head Start (HS) & Early Head Start (EHS)

Financial assistance for families at poverty level who qualify. Center-Based options available for ages 0 – 5. Home-Based options available for ages 0-3.

DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)

Financial assistance for low income families above poverty level who qualify for partial tuition. Center-Based option only for ages 0-5.

Tuition

Center-Based option only for ages 0-5.

Pre-Kindergarten Enhancement and Expansion Program

Limited spaces based on age and eligibility. Center-Based option only for ages 3-5.

Program Times:
  • Center-Based Head Start/Early Head Start, Tuition, and Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Program service programs are from 8 AM to 4 PM. Families may apply for After Care from 4 PM to 6 PM.
  • Center-Based OSSE service program is from 8 AM to 6 PM.
Program Length:
  • Rosemount is a 12-month program, which starts in August and runs through August of the following year.
Initial Screening:
  • All children are screened for developmental disabilities upon enrollment and all children have a developmental plan that will guide their educational activities throughout the year. Progress reports are completed every quarter.
Transferring to a different program:
  • If your child is currently enrolled in the Home-Based program and you want to apply to the Center-Based program, a new application should be submitted and you should indicate your transfer in the Program Options box.
  • If slots are available, Home-Based children may transfer to the Center-Based program.

View the Admissions Applications

View Admissions Application

Submission of an application means only that your child will be placed on the waiting list. It does not mean that your child has been accepted. No eligibility documentation is requested at the time of application. However, if your child is accepted through Head Start/Early Head Start, OSSE, or Pre-K Enhancement and Expansion Program, you will have to provide the Center with proof that you meet the requirements in order for your child to be enrolled. The Department of Human Services also requires that we review this documentation every year after your child is enrolled. Please make sure that you fill out the application completely. If you move and change your phone number, you need to notify us of that change, or we will not be able to reach you when your child is next on the waiting list.

FAQs

To be placed on the waiting list for the Tuition program at Rosemount you must submit an application and an application fee (via check or money order) for each child you wish to enroll. The application can be found on the right-hand side of this page. You may also come in to the Center to get a paper copy from the receptionist.

No, the application fee is required for tuition-paying families only.

For further questions about HS, EHS or OSSE, please contact Ms. Sheila Madrid at (202) 265-9885 ext. 111

In order to remain on the waiting list and be considered for the Tuition program, you must submit a check or money order for the application fee.

In order to be considered for an open space, you must first submit an application and application fee to be placed on our waiting list.

Around June of each year we review our waitlist and the spaces available for the next school year (starting at the end of August). We will contact you if we have a space to offer your child.

No. Since each child will be filling a separate space in a classroom and our teachers provide individualized lesson plans and progress reports, we require an application and fee for each child.

Our tuition slots are constantly fluctuating, but we generally have more spaces available in the 3-5 year old range. After you apply, please contact the Enrollment Office in May to let us know you are still interested in enrolling your child.

We accept children as young as 6 weeks old, up to 5 years old.

Yes, once you have an approximate due date you can submit your application, and you will be entered into our waiting list. When your baby is born, please call to notify us of the child’s actual birthdate and name.

We encourage interested parents to learn more about the Center either before or after applying. Please contact the Enrollment Office for more information.

You don’t need to provide any documentation until you are offered an enrollment space.

Yes, Rosemount Center is accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and is recognized as a High Quality Center by the District of Columbia Division of Early Learning in the Office of the State Superintendent of Education.

Rosemount offers a dual language (English/Spanish) program using the Creative Curriculum, one of the country’s leading scientifically-based, comprehensive curricula for programs serving children from birth to age 5. For more information, please visit the Curriculum page.

Rosemount’s full capacity at the Center is 163 children. Each classroom has two teachers, and the number of children is based on best practices for teacher to child ratios. In the Infants classrooms we have a 1:3 ratio, in the Toddler classroom a 1:4 ratio, and in the Preschool classrooms we have ratios ranging from 1:5 to 1:8.

Yes, we fill spots immediately whenever there is a vacancy.

Rosemount follows the “continuity of care” model, and strives to ensure that an infant stays with the same teacher as (s)he moves each year to the next classroom until reaching preschool age. Sometimes circumstances require us to make teacher changes, but we try to adhere to this model when possible.

Yes, Rosemount is open all year except for federal holidays, closures due to inclement weather and emergencies, several teacher development days throughout the year, and a holiday vacation in December.

Rosemount is open 8:00 AM-4:00 PM, Monday-Friday for its regular program. Children enrolled in the Aftercare program may stay until 6:00 PM.

After you submit an application, Rosemount’s Finance Manager will follow up with you regarding tuition rates. Rosemount’s tuition is competitive with other early childhood centers in the area and rates are based on the age of your child as of a specific date in time. For more information about tuition rates, please contact Rosemount’s Finance Office at 202-265-9885 ext. 121.

Tuition is due no later than the 5th of each month. Tuition payments received after the 5th will incur an additional late fee.

Yes, the full monthly rate is required in order to keep your spot.

NEED MORE INFO?

For Tuition questions or clarification, please contact Eileen Gaffigan at (202) 265-9885 ext.121.

For Early Head Start or OSSE questions, please contact Ms. Sheila Madrid at (202) 265-9885 ext. 111

Vernon Kelley

Vernon Kelley, Chief Executive Officer, joined Rosemount’s leadership team as CEO on July 1, 2025. Mr. Kelley has had a successful career in business development, marketing, sales, relationship management, organizational logistics, and data research and analysis.  He has served as a Financial Sales Consultant and an Affordable Mortgage Loan Officer with PNC Bank and has been recognized as a leader among his peers in developing business banking and wealth management relationships. Vernon is a graduate of Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio and has earned credit hours toward an M.A. in International Affairs from the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University, Washington DC.

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Isela Viera

Isela Viera, Home-Based Program Coordinator, began working at Rosemount in 2013 as a Home Visitor in the Home-Based Program.  She transitioned to a Center-based teaching position in 2014.  Ms. Viera grew up in El Salvador where she earned a BA in secondary education from the Universidad Pedagogica and moved to the U.S. in 2002.  She holds a Child Development Associates Certificate and also has earned an Associates degree in arts education from the University of the District of Columbia.

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Marguerite Nutter

Marguerite Nutter,  Development Manager, joined the center in October 2024 and is responsible for stewarding and engaging Rosemount’s donors and expanding the annual fund. She’s spent the bulk of her career in development and fundraising and has worked at WAMU, The Intercept, Society for Ecological Restoration and NPR. She is a graduate of Indiana University and has her master’s degree from The Ohio State University. 

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Melvin Saravia

Melvin Saravia, Curriculum Support Specialist, joined Rosemount in August 2023. Mr. Saravia helps ensure readiness goals are met through continued support of staff and teachers. Mr. Saravia has a strong research background. He has previously worked with projects involving DC area migrant youth as well as with DC WIC clients as part of research grants at American University. Mr. Savaria earned a BA in Sociology from Temple University and a Master of Arts in Sociology Research and Practice from the American University.

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Alex Cooper

Alex Cooper, Development Associate, Events & Communications, joined Rosemount in October 2024.  His role is new to the Development Team and focused on creating an engaging communication process including external, internal and social media communications in additon to making impactful and unique events for Rosemount’s development, fundraising and community engagement efforts.  Alex has a background in non-profit and association management alongside a 20 year long career in events in both the corporate and non-profit industries.  

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Sheila Madrid

Sheila Madrid, Enrollment Coordinator – Head Start & OSSE,  joined Rosemount in January 2022. Ms. Madrid earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Relations from the Technological University of Honduras. She is responsible for enrolling children from birth to five years of age, updating the enrollment database, and ensuring that families are eligible to receive services through Rosemount’s Head Start program and through the District of Columbia’s Child Care Subsidy/Voucher Program.

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Susan Catherine Aldridge

Susan Catherine Aldridge, Operations and Enrollment Assistant, joined Rosemount as a contractor in 2018 and was hired for her current position in September 2020. Previously, Ms. Aldridge worked as a contractor for Washington, DC, organizations including Unidos US, a non-profit Latino organization, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Ms. Aldridge also worked as an administrative assistant at Casa Eiffel, Inc. preparing contracts for various clients and maintaining detailed records, generating reports, coordinating meetings, and multitasking in a fast-paced atmosphere. Ms. Aldridge obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, in Lima, Peru. As Operations and Enrollment Assistant at Rosemount, Ms. Aldridge is responsible for managing the front desk receptionist position, helping to enroll children in the Head Start and OSSE PreK programs, and providing support for the Center’s operations.

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Maria Viteri

Maria Viteri, Home-Based Program Coordinator joined Rosemount in August 2022. Ms. Viteri earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Arts with a concentration in psychology and a Master’s of Arts in Teaching with ESL and bilingual endorsements, and approval to teach a foreign language in Spanish from National-Louis University, Chicago, Illinois, Ms. Viteri has worked for the past 30 years in Early Childhood serving children of low-income communities, immigrant families, and English Language Learners in the Chicago Public School System. She has been in the classroom teaching in monolingual, bilingual and transitional programs for State Pre-K and Head Start Programs. This included working as an educational coach for Chicago Central Area Office to support, monitor and supervise teaching staff in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Viteri supervises Rosemount’s Home Visitors and coordinates Rosemount’s home-based services for our Early Head Start families.

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Marlen Torres

Marlen Torres, Family & Community Partnership Manager, began working at Rosemount in September 2005 as a Home Visitor. Ms. Torres now supports families in their role as caretakers and educators, and provides bilingual referrals to community resources according to their needs. Because of her experience working directly with families in their homes, she understands the great challenges many of Rosemount’s children face. As Family Services Advocate, Ms. Torres is responsible for coordinating services for all of Rosemount’s poverty level children. She engages families in various events and activities throughout the year. Ms. Torres received an Associate degree in Nursing from the National Institute for Learning in Colombia and an Associate degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Cincinnati. Ms. Torres also has two Child Development Associate certifications – for Infants & Toddlers and for Preschool age children.

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Ann Marie Schaeffler

Ann Marie Schaeffler, Deputy Program Director for Education, came on board in September 2016. She is responsible for curriculum planning and program monitoring for classrooms and the Early Head Start home-based program. Ann Marie works with teachers and service area managers to ensure adherence to state and local requirements and best practice in early childhood education. She has a background in early childhood special education and worked for five years with the DCPS early childhood program to implement curriculum and provide professional development. She served as an early Intervention Coordinator both for Fairfax County Head Start and DC’s Strong Start Program. She received her B.A. in Psychology for the University of Connecticut and a M.A. in Developmental Psychology from George Mason University.

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Caryn Swierzbin

Caryn Swierzbin, Education Training and Curriculum Manager, has worked in education for over 12 years and specializes in Early Childhood Education. She has trained in a variety of classroom – assessments and has previously worked for Early Head Start/Head Start as a Family Services Coordinator at Catholic Charities. Ms. Swierzbin has also taught English and Spanish at the middle school and high school level. She earned her B.A. in International Relations and Spanish and she is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Contemporary Communications from Notre Dame of Maryland University.

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Marcia Rock, MPH

Ms. Marcia Rock, MPH, joined the Rosemount staff as Program Operations Specialist in May 2019. Ms. Rock supports enrollment along with providing overall support for the Center’s programmatic activities. Ms. Rock served as a Rosemount Ignatian Volunteer Corps volunteer in 2016 and is a member of the R.O.S.E. Advisory Committee. She grew up in Washington and earned a Master’s degree in Public Health from University of Illinois-Chicago and BA from University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She has daughters in Vermont and NYC, and lives with her husband in DC’s Crestwood neighborhood. Ms. Rock enjoys the performing arts, playing piano, horseback riding and working out.

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Jacques Rondeau

Jacques Rondeau, President and Chief Executive Officer, is responsible for all operations of the Rosemount Center. He worked as the Staff Director and Committee Clerk for Council member At-Large Carol Schwartz in the District of Columbia Council from 1997 to 2001, and was the Deputy Staff Director for the Moynihan Commission on Protecting and Reducing Government Secrecy from 1995-1997. Mr. Rondeau, a retired United States Air Force Colonel and Command Pilot, served from 1968-1994. He received his B.S in Finance from Boston College and his M.A. in National Security Affairs, Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa-Arabic from the Naval Post graduate School.

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Cornett Roberts-Njoku

Cornett Roberts-Njoku, Program Director, joined Rosemount’s program staff in March 2013. Previously, Ms. Roberts-Njoku oversaw the daily operations of ten early childhood education centers of 300 children and 84 staff in accordance with the Department of Health, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, DHHS and EHS and Head Start Performance Standard requirements. She is the founding member of the Immunization Coalition for the District of Columbia. At Rosemount she is the director of programs and also provides leadership to Early Head Start/Head Start health, disabilities, mental health and family and community services for center and home-based managers. Ms. Roberts-Njoku earned a Medical Technology diploma at the Georgetown School of Arts and Sciences in 1976, a certificate in Gerontology at George Washington University, and a Bachelor of Science in Health Education/Public Health and Masters in Public Administration from the University of the District of Columbia. She is a current mayoral appointee to the Ryan White Planning Council for the Washington Metropolitan Area, as well as vice chair for the by-laws, policies and procedure committee. 

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Gustavo O. Martinez

Gustavo O. Martinez, Health/Nutrition Services Manager, has been a member of the Rosemount staff since April 1991. He was hired as a Family Partnership Specialist, promoted to Health Coordinator and became Rosemount’s Health Services Manager in 1995. Mr. Martinez is responsible for overseeing the health and nutrition of Rosemount’s home-based and center-based children and staff. He also manages safety regulations for the Center. Mr. Martinez is a graduate of University of San Simon in Bolivia SA, where he received his degree in Medicine and Surgery. He studied Pediatrics for three years at the Catholic University of Chile and served as the Medical Student’s Director of The Toxicology Clinic “Guillermo Uribe Cualla” in Bogotá, Colombia. Mr. Martinez has published a book entitled ” El Cuidado de la Diabetes.”

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Martha Johnson

Martha Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, acts as the deputy to Mr. Rondeau. Before joining Rosemount in 2003, Ms. Johnson served as Director of Development for Washington Episcopal School. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a BMus and a MMus in music, and has taught in the Michigan public schools. She has a second master’s degree from The American University in arts management, is a former Arts-In-Education Fellow at the National Endowment for the Arts, served as Development Director for the Cathedral Choral Society at Washington National Cathedral, and was a founding board member of the Children’s Chorus of Washington. She has earned a Nonprofit Management Executive Certificate from Georgetown University’s Center for Public and Nonprofit Leadership, completed HR management coursework utilizing the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Learning System, and is a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE). Ms. Johnson is a Master Trainer for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Faculty Training Academy. Ms. Johnson previously served as Rosemount’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Development Officer before being promoted to COO in August 2023.

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