La Piazza di Carolina is a unique Italian-language-immersion preschool located inside St. James the Less Church in Scarsdale, New York. Through fun, interactive programs, we connect children, families, and adults with rich Italian language, culture, and heritage.
We believe in nurturing bilingualism through creative learning experiences as a pathway to broader horizons in life, travel, and careers.
To provide a fully immersive environment where learners can master the Italian language while developing an appreciation for the Italian culture
Carolina Gengo felt a deep connection with her Italian roots from a young age, and a calling to learn the language and share it with others.
She studied Italian at the University of Denver and received an M.A. in Italian from Middlebury College in Florence. Working in entertainment and fashion presented countless opportunities to travel to Italy, where she immersed herself in language, culture, and customs.
In the 1990s, she finally followed her ultimate passion and began teaching Italian in schools, colleges, and universities across the New York metropolitan area. Now with over 30 years of experience, she brings her expertise to children and adults who value the advantages of bilingualism at La Pizza Di Carolina.
Led by Carolina, our experienced educators are all fluent or native Italian speakers. With New York State teaching certifications, our teachers are passionate about bilingual immersion education and helping more students discover the benefits of learning Italian.
A graduate of the Culinary Arts Institute in Agrigento, Sicily, Tania has been teaching at our asilo Italiano (Italian preschool) since 2015. She recently added the Pronti a Correre classes to her repertoire. Because of her caring, nurturing, and happy disposition, Ms. Tania is loved by our bambini and families.
With a B.A. in both Italian and Spanish, and a Master's in TESOL (Teaching English to speakers of other languages), Roxanne Franquelli is a policy board member of The Teacher Center of Central Westchester, a regional director of NYSAFLT (NY State Association of Foreign Language Teachers), and the Secretary of PoWeRFuL (Putnam-Westchester-Rockland Foreign Language Educators.
The daughter of Italian immigrants from Naples and Lazio, Maria grew up in a bilingual home with a deep love for the Italian language and culture. Her husband is also Italian, and her 6-year-old daughter is bilingual too. Maria has been teaching with La Piazza di Carolina for 4 years. She has a BA and an MS in Business Administration from NYU, where she was a teacher.
Ciao Piccoli — Mommy & Me
Parents with 1–3 year-olds, Saturdays
Asilo (Preschool)
for 3 – 5 years, Monday – Saturday
After-School Classes
for 6 – 12 years, Monday – Friday
Italian Summer Camp
for 3 – 12 years
Adult Conversation
Adult Beginner
Adult Intermediate
High School Tutoring
Travelers’ Italian
Family Sessions
