CLASSES CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

our team

ALEXANDRA L. SPITZ

FOUNDER AND PARENT EDUCATOR

Certified Parent Educator
Certified Infant Care Specialist
Certified Happiest Baby Educator
Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator
Mom of two!

After having my first son in early 2011, I instantly became obsessed with everything baby! I joined a Mommy and Me group in Los Angeles where I met 11 other amazing women whose babies were born within weeks of my son. I had no idea the positive impact this group would have on all of us nor did I ever think that the women would become some of my best friends. I didn’t know it at the time, but this group would change my life.

ALEXANDRA L. SPITZ

FOUNDER AND PARENT EDUCATOR

Certified Parent Educator
Certified Infant Care Specialist
Certified Happiest Baby Educator
Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator
Mom of two!

I was born and raised in Los Angeles where I received a BA in Psychology from California State University, Northridge. I went on to be the Director of Operations of a real estate law firm and real estate development company in Los Angeles for over 10 years. After my son was born, I pursued my passion in child development and became a Certified Parent Educator and a Certified Newborn/Infant Care Specialist. As he entered the “terrible two’s” I found myself drawn to the Positive Discipline curriculum and have since become a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator through the Positive Discipline Association. I am now mom to two beautiful boys who enrich my life and have made me a better person and educator.

In early 2012, my husband was relocated to Orange County for work. The move happened suddenly which gave me the unexpected opportunity to move on to the next chapter in my life. Though I wasn’t sure what would come next, I was excited to experience the new journey. While searching for groups to join with my son during our transitional period, I researched and discovered many groups which offered activities for children, but wasn’t able to find supportive and educational groups for the moms, similar to the one I had belonged to. So it became clear what my next chapter would be. I combined my passion of bringing people together with my love of being a mom to create this program so that other moms could have the same life-changing experience that I had. And so I “gave birth” to a labor of love… OC Mommy and Me.

In 2016 after 4 years of classes and meeting over 1,000 of the most wonderful new moms and babies, we decided that we had become much more than your average mommy and me program. Our team had expanded tremendously and the topics in our classes now included such a variety of important and crucial information for new moms today. I decided that we needed a new name to describe what we really had become…a school for new moms. And so, a new chapter began as The New Mom School. I am so glad you are here and considering us to be a part of your journey. We would be honored to accompany you along the way!

our team

KATRINA CAMERON

PROGRAM MANAGER

Newport Beach

KATRINA CAMERON

PROGRAM MANAGER

Katrina is a mom to one fun little girl! Though she and her family relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 2016, she is a Southern California girl at heart with the best things in her life having happened in Orange County. She graduated from Cal State Fullerton with two BAs in Anthropology and Women's Studies. She worked as a preschool teacher's assistant, an executive assistant, a marketing account manager, and worn many hats in the nonprofit world. She clearly thrives on organization, community, connection, and a deep purpose. The New Mom School has not only played an integral part in her own journey through first-time motherhood since late 2014, it has allowed her to put her skills and strengths to good use! She hopes every mom gets the love and appreciation they deserve, as well as the opportunity to be surrounded by the supportive mommy tribe at The New Mom School.
BRITTON LUNDE

INSTRUCTOR

Newport Beach

BRITTON LUNDE

INSTRUCTOR

Britton Lunde, B.A., CCE, CPE, is one of our amazing group facilitators. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Social Science with an emphasis in Child Development from UC Irvine. She received her Childbirth Educator Certification and Postnatal Educator Certification through International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) and is a certified Kindersign Instructor. She has 12 years experience teaching Early Childhood, Kindergarten, Childbirth, Parenting and Postnatal classes. Her passion is to reach out to all new mothers and families and empower them to be the best parents they can be. She continues to support mothers and families with her fun, informative and helpful classes/workshops throughout Orange County. Britton is a proud mother of three daughters and can relate to all of the challenges that motherhood brings
NICOLE HOLLINS

INSTRUCTOR

Newport Beach

NICOLE HOLLINS

INSTRUCTOR

Nicole Hollins is a New Mom School alum and one of our group facilitators. Nicole’s experience in early childhood development started at a very young age. She spent the majority of her teenage years and early 20’s working with her mother at her developmental preschool on the East Coast. She graduated from Baylor University with a BA in Business, but spent a majority of her time studying as a Family and Consumer Science major. She has experience in child development, family theories and meal management to name a few. She also has extensive experience as a nanny for several different families with children of various ages. She enjoys getting to know new moms and sharing her experiences and knowledge. She lives in Irvine with her husband, Steven and daughters, Charlotte and Olivia.
BROOKE HARRINGTON

INSTRUCTOR

Newport Beach

BROOKE HARRINGTON

INSTRUCTOR

Brooke Harrington is one of our group instructors and a New Mom school alum. Her love for children and families began at a young age when she started babysitting in junior high. She knew early on in life that working with children is what she was meant to do. Before college, she spent her time as a nanny to numerous families, worked as a paraprofessional in a moderate-severe special education classroom, and taught dance and music to children in low income areas. She went on to receive her Bachelor’s degree in Child and Adolescent Development from Cal State Fullerton with an emphasis in Family and Community. She continued on to earn her teaching credential as an Education Specialist and taught Special Education for 4 years. In all, her passion has led her to have over 10 years of experience working with children and families. She and her husband welcomed their first baby, son Phoenix, in August 2018. As a New Mom school alum, she can confidently say this was one of the best decisions she made; to join this “tribe” of women supporting women through the transition to motherhood. Brooke is thrilled to now be on the other side and help facilitate a wonderful experience for the next group of mamas and help them feel empowered and supported to be the best parents they can be!
WHITNEY SEGURA

INSTRUCTOR

Newport Beach

WHITNEY SEGURA

INSTRUCTOR

Whitney moved from the Pacific Northwest in 2009, after graduating from college. She attended the University of Hawaii and then graduated from the University of Idaho with a degree in Communication Studies. She worked as a nanny throughout high school and college and has always had a passion for children. After moving to California, she worked in the event planning industry and medical field for several years before deciding to go back to graduate school. Because of her love for children, she attended Pepperdine University graduating with an elementary teaching credential and Masters in Education. Teaching is in her blood, with her mom being an elementary school teacher for over 50+ years. She has been an employee of Newport-Mesa Unified School District since 2015, working as an intervention specialist teacher as well as a long-term substitute teacher. Since the birth of her daughter in 2018, she has been extremely active in moms groups around Orange County. Whitney first started at The New Mom School when her daughter was only one month old, and she knows first-hand the incredible impact that this community has had on her life. She’s so excited to help new moms as they navigate motherhood, and support them to become the best mamas they can be!
LIZ KOREN

INSTRUCTOR

Newport Beach

LIZ KOREN

INSTRUCTOR

Liz has always had a passion for working with children and her caring personality helps to make a meaningful and effective therapeutic relationship. As the director of Pure Pediatric Therapy, Liz feels that the family and the child’s overall outcomes play an important role in therapy, and Liz strives to include them both in daily treatment. Liz is especially passionate about working with children who have oral motor and feeding concerns, and has worked with infants and children of all ages in a variety of settings, including the neonatal intensive care unit, outpatient pediatrics, sensory integration clinics, and school systems. Education: Bachelors of Science, Therapeutic Studies, Boston University Masters of Science, Occupational Therapy, Boston University Advanced Practice Certification in Feeding and Swallowing (SWC) In her free time, Liz enjoys spending time with her husband and her two children, going to the movies, and traveling.
Avital Shuster

INSTRUCTOR

Newport Beach

Avital Shuster

INSTRUCTOR

Avital Shuster is the founder and director of Tumble N’ Dots, Inc. Shortly after graduating from the University of Southern California (USC) with a Bachelors and Masters degrees in Occupational Therapy, she began her work as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT). Having completed post-graduate education and training in Ayers Sensory Integration and Feeding Therapy, Avital has been working with children since 2008 and has experience serving children with a variety of diagnosis in the clinic, home, school, and community-based settings. She specializes in using task analysis to develop goals and plans that support the child’s needs. Avital believes in helping parents to focus on the strength and abilities of each child while incorporating behavior plans and strategies to foster success. Avital is also the creator of OTPlan – an activity idea search engine for developmental activities. The OTPlan website is designed to help find activity ideas by matching the developmental skills you want to promote, with the materials you have, to a detailed activity that will help you strengthen developmental skills. Via OTPlan you can purchase our Skills in a Box and (OT)PlanDough – Playdough Kit products. In her free time, Avital enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 young children and dog, going to the beach, hiking, and traveling. Avital brings her love for children, understanding of parents struggling with a special needs child, and years of therapy experience to every session.
Hayley Goldberg

Instructor

Newport Beach

Hayley Goldberg

Instructor

Heart of Connecting
Melonie Baranov

Instructor

Encinitas

Melonie Baranov

Instructor

I am a Northern California girl, born and raised. I received a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UC San Diego in 1998 and became a Registered Nurse in 2003. Women’s wellbeing and the Maternal-Child Health arena have always been my passion. I have worked as a Case Manager at a battered women’s shelter, a NICU nurse, and a Labor & Delivery Nurse for nearly 15 years. Every opportunity I have been afforded has taught me invaluable lessons and has allowed me the honor and privilege of assisting women in their best and their worst life moments. Teaching classes for the hospital for many years ignited a new fire in me. It solidified my commitment to doing my part in fulfilling the essential need for prenatal and postpartum education and support. Childbirth and child-rearing are life-changing, constant learning experiences and are not meant to be done alone. I have an immensely supportive husband and three very energetic boys, all of whom (I am convinced) have made it their life mission to challenge me in new ways every single day. And I have been fortunate enough to amass an army of family and friends to help guide me through these challenges. It’s not always pretty, and I have flubbed many of these challenges, but I continue to try, to learn and to grow. One day at a time. With a village by my side.
DAWNITA WICKS, RN, IBCLC

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP LEADER

Newport Beach

DAWNITA WICKS, RN, IBCLC

BREASTFEEDING SUPPORT GROUP LEADER

Dawnita is an IBCLC Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant, Certified Public Health Nurse and Board Certified Nursing Instructor. She received her schooling from Loma Linda University with an emphasis on Social and Cultural Diversity. While working with at-risk populations, traveling to Botswana, Africa and providing health care on the Navajo Indian Reservation a deep appreciation was formed both in recognizing important differences and connecting on common ground with patients. Her most important life achievements have come at home with a full family of four children and a best friend for a husband. Specializing in her career as a Maternal Health Nurse, Dawnita has a well-rounded experience with the birthing process, care of the newborn, maternal recovery and breastfeeding. She has had the valuable opportunity to work as an IBCLC in the hospital setting and in her Private Lactation Practice in the comfort of mothers' homes. Dawnita receives referrals from several Pediatric and OB practices in Orange County and values her good relationships with the physicians she has worked with for so many years. She is honored to be able to have had a part in so many memorable moments of childbirth and families growing and looks forward to passing along knowledge and encouragement to your family as well.
SHIRA KFIR, LCSW

POSTPARTUM ADJUSTMENT SUPPORT GROUP LEADER

Newport Beach

SHIRA KFIR, LCSW

POSTPARTUM ADJUSTMENT SUPPORT GROUP LEADER

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who’s great passion is working with women and couples on their journey to becoming parents and in the transition into being a family. I received my Masters in Social Work at NYU and got licensed as an LCSW 10 years ago. I have had a private practice in both Newport Beach and Irvine for the past 8 years. I work alongside my clients as they prepare to start a family, throughout the challenges of pregnancy and postpartum, and during the transition into parenthood. Early in my career, I developed an interest in helping mothers through this emotional and physical transition into motherhood. While so much of parenthood is full of joy and excitement, there are also difficult periods of time when parents seek guidance and direction. I am here to provide that much-deserved assistance to help make this journey as smooth and joy-filled as possible.