Meet Ms. Suzy!
Suzana Heeren is The Nook’s founder and education director. She is a NYS Certified Teacher with a Master’s Degree in Development Education and Global Learning from the University of London, where she started her career 20 years ago. Suzana has since worked in a wide range of early childhood settings. Deeply inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, Suzana believes young children learn best through play, exploration, and hands-on experiences that are meaningful to them. Continuously curious and dedicated to early childhood education, The Nook represents her vision for a warm, purposeful environment where children are supported in their creativity and independence. She values close partnerships with families, knowing that collaboration between educators and caregivers is essential when nurturing a child’s growth. Suzana sees early educational experiences as the building blocks for creating life‑long learners. Born in Rio de Janeiro, Suzana grew up all over the world - Rio, Venezuela, Vancouver, Connecticut and Turkey. For the past ten years she has been a proud Brooklyn mom - raising her two daughters right down the street from The Nook!
Notes From Parents
Both of my daughters were fortunate to learn with Suzana Heeren for several years, and her impact has been extraordinary. Suzana fosters a true love of learning, blending art, outdoor play, and social-emotional growth in ways that inspire children every day. Even through the challenges of COVID, she created a calm, steady classroom where my girls felt safe, connected, and eager to learn. Her calm, steady demeanor not only helped children regulate their own emotions and behaviors but also modeled this same composure for the other teachers around her.
Her commitment to art and outdoor play has had a profound and lasting effect on my daughters. Today, both display advanced fine and gross motor skills, as well as a level of artistic ability far beyond their peers. More importantly, they carry with them a deep joy in creative expression, which I credit directly to Suzana’s influence.
Suzana communicates with parents and teachers openly, and she is both a compassionate leader and a gifted classroom teacher. We are so grateful for the foundation she provided—her influence continues to shape my daughters’ confidence, creativity, and love of school.
- Kayla A
My daughter Zoe and our family absolutely loved Suzana! We first met her when Zoe was only 1.5 years old, and now she’s about to turn 4. At first, we joined Suzana’s “Mommy and Me” classes, and later she became Zoe’s primary teacher.
Suzana is truly authentic, with a calm and grounded personality. She gives children the space to be themselves and celebrates their differences. To this day, Zoe still talks about Ms. Suzy. She was, without a doubt, one of the highlights of our daycare experience.
- Kristina V
More to come!