Staff Bios

Midge Cox, Owner

Midge has a Bachelors of Science degree in Special Education and an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Development. She is certified in Neurodevelopmental Treatment for Children and is a trained Birth & Postpartum Doula.

Midge is a certified educator of Infant Massage and a certified instructor of the Happy Baby Workshops by Dr. Harvey Karp. Years of experience as an infant massage educator revealed an amazing connection between POSITIVE TOUCH and INCREASED APTITUDE with babies. Midge has a deep passion for supporting parents who desire to do all they can to help their babies happily develop to their maximum potential.

Midge is thrilled that she is now an instructor of Gentle Touch Reflexology for Babies & Children!

Allison Bailey

Alison (Miss Ally) is an occupational therapist from Australia, however, is currently on a practice break after relocating to the United States in 2019. She is now currently working towards her Post-Professional Doctorate of Occupational Therapy from Jefferson University in Philadelphia. She also has her certification in Ayres Sensory Integration, and advanced practice certificate in autism. Alison loves working with children, and has a background working in school-based practice with children and adolescents. She really enjoyed being able to build relationships with the students, and work as a team to support goals and develop programs. Alison is excited to share her passion for children and bring her occupational therapy lens to Brilliant Baby. Alison is passionate about the importance of play, positive shared social interactions, and creating environments and experiences that are tailored to the ‘just right’ level to support child development.

Alison currently lives in North Wales with her husband and little boy. When not at Brilliant Baby and studying, she loves her special time with her son, and keeps him busy with lots of adventures. Prior to teaching at Brilliant Baby, she frequently attended sessions there with her son which was wonderful for both of them. Alison is excited to now be able to teach and share these wonderful sessions and community with other Moms and little ones.

Dr. Anna Bolshin, PT, DPT

Anna is a mommy of two boys and one sweet golden doodle. She always knew that she wanted to work with kids and realized that physical therapy is a combination of all the things that she loves…science, kids and PLAY!

She received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hunter College in 2005 and Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Long Island University in 2008. She has loved what she does every day since! She is dedicated to continuing education and professional development so that she can bring her patients the best possible care and outcomes.

She brings to your family over 12 years of experience in a variety of settings, including NYU/Rusk Rehabilitation, early intervention, outpatient and schools.

Amanda Cardinal

Amanda is a Board-Certified Music Therapist specializing in the early childhood population! She holds a Bachelor of Music from West Chester University and a Master of Arts in Music Therapy from Immaculata University. She has been a music therapist since 2015! She loves being able to utilize music and creativity to promote well-being, encourage growth, and facilitate connections between caregivers and children!

Amanda currently lives in Warrington with her husband and 1 year old son (who often comes to classes with her!). She loves spending time with her family and feels like getting to see the world through her son’s eyes is one of the most rewarding experiences. She’s excited to join the Brilliant Baby team and loves making music with families!

Stephanie Depestre

Stephanie is young and energized!

She holds a bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from Temple University. Stephanie has taught as an assistant teacher for toddlers aged 16 months to 3 years old at the University of Penn Children’s Center and is also a trained Doula with DONA International.

Stephanie is the middle child of 5 siblings and lives in Philadelphia, PA. She is the proud auntie of two beautiful nieces, ages 3 and 4 years old, and truly enjoys spending time with them!

She loves encouraging little ones to explore the world with curiosity. Her favorite things to do with children are reading to them, singing songs, and facilitating purposeful free play. She knows that parents are their child’s best teacher and that every young child begins meaningful learning with positive attachment. She has worked as a parent educator and her passion is instilling in the caregivers the importance of bonding and interaction with their child!

She is excited to be joining the Brilliant Baby team!

Suzanne Liggett MS Ed., E-RYT, RCYT

Suzie partners with people on their journeys of health, connection, and discovery. She helps people integrate natural health solutions for balanced mind, body, and soul and empowers clients to achieve stronger bodies and focus their energy only on that which brings happiness and fulfillment. She leads yoga classes for children, adults, and families, and brings her uniquely balanced fitness and mindfulness services into homes, schools, studios, and workplaces. As an educator and literacy specialist, Suzanne helps students find focus and master skills while honoring the curious energy of childhood. Suzanne holds an M.S. in elementary education from Mercy College and a B.S. in Business and Kinesiology from Penn State. She is a certified life coach, experienced registered yoga instructor (E-RYT) and a registered children’s yoga instructor (RCYT). Her Heart&Soles business is a Registered Yoga School (RYS), and she is certifying deeply spirited and intuitive new teachers through an extensive 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training. When she is not teaching, coaching, or healing, Suzanne dreams of traveling to tropical locations and learning to surf!

Mary Kratz

Mary holds her Bachelor of Arts degree in both Elementary Education and Special Education with her certification area in Early Childhood Education from Neumann University. She has a background in teaching early childhood education as well as art, which was also her minor in college. She is originally from Delaware County where she previously taught pre-k and kindergarten in a school setting, and also was a part-time art teacher in a progressive art studio for children.

Along with her passion for education and art, Mary believes deeply in the idea that each child learns differently and at his or her own pace. Mary strategizes to reach each and every child’s potential to learn and grow through differentiated and individualized instruction as well as through a child-led progressive approach.

Mary currently resides in Schwenksville and is a mom of two boys in which she finds her greatest joy in taking care of them! She loves to explore outside in nature with her boys especially down at the creek near her house. Mary considers herself a lifelong learner and loves learning something new everyday. She comes to each Brilliant Baby & Beyond class with a love in her heart for meeting you and your child. Her favorite classes are messy play & anything art-related!

Jackie Schwartz

Jackie is a compassionate and experienced educator. She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Penn State and a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from West Chester University. She taught kindergarten through second grade in both the Radnor Township and Upper Dublin Township School Districts. More recently, she served as the lead teacher at several local preschools in Dresher and in Philadelphia for ages three through five.

Jackie loves stimulating kids through hands-on art projects using a multi-sensory approach. She knows that children learn by talking, playing and interacting with others. She enjoys incorporating picture books to create interactive and exciting thematic child center sessions that include song, dance, cooking and art.

Jackie lives in Dresher, PA with her husband of 30 years and has two amazing daughters who are beginning their professional careers. In her free time, she enjoys boating, travel, playing with her new grand-puppy, and hanging out with her family. She is so excited to be joining the Brilliant Baby team and cannot wait for all of the fun!

Caryssa Valent

Caryssa is a Pediatric Speech/ Language Pathologist who has a passion for working with the very young child starting at birth!

She is fluent in American Sign Language (ASL) and often teaches with her baby by her side! She wants everyone to know that her classes are always family focused, educational, and FUN!

She has had training in a program called Floortime that has been known to be highly successful in increasing language with children through play!

She lives in Chalfont and enjoys spending every moment she can with her husband, Andrew, and adorable little son, Grayson!

Ruby Considine

Ruby is a registered experienced Yoga Alliance Teacher, Reiki II healer and mother of two, living in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Ruby started her journey in becoming a yoga instructor in 2011 where she studied in Skippack Pennsylvania and obtained her 200hr certification. Prior to her studies, she had been a yogi for over 2O years and even practiced prenatal yoga with both of her pregnancies. It was while she began teaching yoga to others, where she began to notice a need to facilitate those suffering with injuries and or illnesses, that she began to offer her service to corporations and the private sector. Her range of teaching began to transcend, where she has engaged all ages and skill levels; having taught preschoolers in classroom settings to the advanced living in care facilities. She was involved in the North Penn School District for many years, offering yoga lessons to six graders at their annual Science Day in the Park event. Primarily a Hatha teacher, she also taught various other styles, including kundalini that focuses on pranayama (breath work) coupled with repetitive motion. Her intuitive nature and life changing lessons have lead her on a path of rediscovery and self-awareness, thus allowing her to become fully connected to all that seek out her classes. In her class you will be guided on journey of self-discovery through intention, breath and movement. The goal is to help align these elements so that as a mother to be, or a mother for the second, third or fourth time, you will be able to leave refreshed, renewed, and relaxed. We will work on nurturing and finding space for yourselves on and off your mat. Please feel free to ask any questions about your practice- it is encouraged. This is a special time. Namaste

Kristina Thompson

Kristina is a Pennsylvania licensed massage therapist. She graduated from the Lansdale School of Business and obtained her license to massage in 2016.

Kristina realized her passion for working with the expectant mother after taking the prenatal massage course. Her focus is to help women through the pains and stress of being pregnant and caring for their unborn children. She loves the idea of being able to provide a massage to any mother to help her take some deserved time for herself so that she feels refreshed for motherhood again. She values parents and children because she believes in the strength of building strong communities.

Kristina is trained and experienced in many massage and body work modalities including; Prenatal and Postnatal Massage, Swedish, Infant, Oncology, Reiki, Reflexology, Decompression/Cupping, and Deep Tissue!

Kristina is blessed with two boys (Xander and Michael) and a partner (Mike) who all enjoy family game night, taking walks, and singing together!

Christine Golcher, CD(DONA), PCD(DONA), CLC, CBE (CBI)

Christine Golcher is a certified birth and postpartum doula, lactation counselor, childbirth educator, and newborn care specialist. (A doula is a non-medical professional that supports a woman in preparations for birth, during labor and postnatally with mom and baby ) She is the mother to three, wonderful, grown, children who are all out on their own. This allows her plenty of time to dedicate herself to caring for your family as your doula. She currently lives with Honey, her very old golden retriever, and her tortie cat Harvey-Two Face.

Over the years she has seen again and again that a safe and calm birthing environment with minimal disruptions allows your body and baby to know what to do to give birth. While this philosophy guides her care for you, her #1 priority is to support you in making informed decisions and honoring your needs and wants for your birth.

At Brilliant Baby & Beyond, she will be teaching a newborn care class which will provide the “soon to be parents” what they need to know when bringing home their brand-new baby from the hospital.

Jane Lopoten

Jane is the owner and founder of the Jane Lopoten School of Dance and she enjoys overseeing the dedicated staff, as well as teaching and choreographing. While she loves teaching tap, ballet, jazz, hip-hop and creative dance, her greatest joy is inspiring our younger students. She has been inspiring dancers since opening the studio in 1978.

Jane has been dancing since she was 3 years old, starting her mother’s dance studio and taking classes at various schools in the Pennsylvania and New York areas. She has also taught her creative dance program to hundreds of teachers across the United States at various seminars.

She takes pride in presiding over a studio that has been in the same location for decades and enjoys a reputation for the finest dance studio in the area.

Sara Medeiros

Sara holds a Masters degree in Learning Disabilities and a Bachelors degree in Psychology. She has over 10 years of experience working with children of all ages and abilities.

Since moving from the Chicagoland area in 2019, Sara has devoted her time and experiential knowledge to her two small children creating fun, developmentally appropriate activities and opportunities to enrich their learning. She is excited to bring her ideas and creativity to the Brilliant Baby & Beyond family!