Zuleika J. Fertullien, Executive Director & Founder

Zuleika is the Executive Director and Founder of Beyond Basic Learning, the first nursery school in Hoboken, New Jersey awarded the Torch of Excellence by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Her vision for this state-of-the-art nursery school is rooted in supporting each child’s growth and development through inquiry, exploration and hands-on learning. The success of the program is further enriched through the high involvement of parents, grandparents and extended family members who collectively represent over 15 countries.

The inspiration for Zuleika’s vision was nurtured through her own early childhood upbringing as a daughter of missionary parents who traveled extensively, not only exposing her to people from diverse cultural backgrounds, but to life skills attained beyond the walls of the traditional classroom.  As a youth, she learned to play musical instruments such as the clarinet and piano, and her participation in theatrical programs also served as the impetus for imparting her own appreciation for creative expression through integration of music, art, and puppets into the nursery classroom experience.

Prior to founding Beyond Basic Learning, Zuleika was an accomplished financial practitioner, having worked for I.B.M. in Business Development and Corporate Finance.   She was also employed at American Express Financial Services where she was selected to participate in the company’s Management Development Program for future leaders.  She earned her Certification in Accounting and MBA in Finance from Hofstra University, and while enrolled, she also participated in overseas study programs which extended beyond the requirements of her degree; in Mexico she was exposed to the growing debate surrounding the NAFTA Treaty and in France she closely studied the implications of the introduction of the EURO just six months prior to its launch.

Although successful in her financial career goals, it was her heartfelt passion for learning outside of the ordinary that catapulted her to return to graduate school at Bank Street College of Education to pursue her Masters in Educational Leadership.  Through her varied business exposures, she became increasingly aware and concerned about the infusion of marketing dollars allocated for manufacturing children’s foods, but still containing either low or negligible nutritional value.  As a result, she focused her thesis on equipping young children with awareness about dietary value and food exploration through cooking, taste testing and visiting supermarkets to highlight the value of nutritional whole foods.  After completing her Master’s degree at Bank Street College, she was certified as a supervisor qualifying her to serve as a K through 12 principal.

A favorite and sought after educational public speaker, Zuleika provided a professional development presentation to over 30 directors participating in Quality New York at Bank Street College.  She also facilitated various workshops focusing on creating developmentally appropriate classrooms for young children at the Urban League of Hudson County 6^th Annual Early Childhood Professional Retreat.  She has been featured in the Hoboken Reporter advocating for green space and supporting programs such as the Hudson Cradle which provides care for homeless infants with special needs.

A strong proponent of community involvement, through Zuleika's leadership, Beyond Basic Learning supports various organizations such as the Hoboken Museum, the Hoboken School of Music and the Hudson Cradle, as well as other early childhood initiatives in Northern New Jersey.  Zuleika also serves as a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the Downtown Early Childhood Association, and the Hudson County Alliance of Independent Schools.