Meet our Staff

Executive Director

It’s a joy and privilege to work with such skillful, enthusiastic educators. We take ourselves seriously as teacher-researchers, called to be exceptionally curious and creative on behalf of our children. How far can we imagine, how exquisitely can we think and prepare, to fuel each child’s innate drive to learn, to make themselves known, to make sense of our fascinating world?

Lisa joined TCS in Spring 2020 after leading elementary and middle schools in Vermont and Massachusetts. She holds a BA in Economics from Yale University and a Masters in Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In her free time, Lisa writes poetry and hikes with her teenage son and their dog Hazel. Fun fact: At 19 Lisa soloed in a little Cessna airplane.

Administrative Assistant

This is such a fun place to be! We take such pride in what we’re creating together. I love coming to work and serving our community, especially during this exciting time of revival. Giving tours and welcoming new families—the start of long-term connections—is a favorite part my role.

Lisa joined our team in 2000 after working as a special education assistant in local public schools. She taught preK children at TCS for six years before becoming administrative assistant in the main office. Lisa earned a BA degree in English, Language and Literature from the University of Maryland. She loves to travel, hike and read. Fun fact: Lisa has her eyes set on Ireland for her next big trip.

Assistant Teacher, Robin’s Nest (Nursery)

Our work is to nurture and build on the innate goodness in every human being. I'm particularly fascinated by infants' and toddlers' explorations of nature and movement. They’re little yogis, so connected to and expressive with their bodies.

Carolyn joined our infant program in 2021. She holds a B.S. in Nursing from Northeastern University and a Masters of Public Health in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from San Diego State. She has worked as a neonatal intensive care nurse, an epidemiologist and, most recently, as a yoga instructor while raising her twins. Carolyn missed infants, so reached out directly to TCS to join our team. Outside of work, she hikes, skis, paddles and cooks. Fun fact: Carolyn was a competitive triathlete.

Lead Teacher, Songbirds (PreK) / Atelierista (Art Director)

I love working with young children, huge entities in little bodies. They explore and crate constantly. Their boundless creativity is both a wonder and an inspiration to me. The world isn’t yet a concrete place for children. Facts blend with the magical and everything is fodder for their imaginations.

Cherie joined as TCS’s art director in 2022, having previously worked as a floating teacher and After School Program leader. Cherie holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Swain School of Design and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Antioch University. She’s worked in the ECE field for more than two decades. In her free time, Cherie creates with found materials in her home studio. Fun fact: Cherie has recently taken up Tai Chi with plans to teach this Chinese martial art to others.

Lead Teacher, Robin’s Nest (Nursery) / Little Farmers Director

In the Nest the tiniest things are new and wondrous, even awe inspiring. A leaf! The texture of a friend’s hair, especially when yours hasn’t grown in yet! The sound of the door opening—who will walk through next? Everything’s cause for experimentation. Curiosity is always in play: What might I do next to fuel children’s drive to discover?

Cindy joined TCS in 2017. She graduated from Granite State College with a BS in Early Childhood Education and has been working in the field for more than 30 years. In her free time she loves to chill out with her dog Pandora. Fun fact: Cindy practices kickboxing and USA Karate.

Lead Teacher, Butterfly Glen (Toddlers) / Reggio Coach

I believe I can learn as much, if not more, from children than I can offer them. I’m particularly interested in language around conflict resolution, social skill development, and social justice at the 2-turning-3 stage. What does it mean to be inclusive and celebrate diversity when there isn’t that much diversity in our community? What does it mean to be socially aware when you are two years old?

Emily joined our team in 2021. She earned a BA in Early Childhood Education at the University of Vermont, followed by a Master's degree in ECE with a focus in Constructivism and a Master's Certificate in Infant Toddler Mental Health, both at Portland State University. She’s taught solely in Reggio-inspired settings. Outside of school, Emily loves to camp, take photos, and explore with her pit bull Moto. Fun fact: Emily collects license plates and cuts each into the shape of its given state.

Lead Teacher, Robin’s Nest (Nursery)

There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with infants. They “say” so much through their facial and body expressions. Nothing beats a baby’s smile. Life is not yet complicated. It’s about those initial connections with parents at home and us at school. Think about it: babies are forming their first relationships ever and put every ounce of trust in us to take care of them. Our essential job is to respond—so they know their needs will be met. My response to a smile, or a babble, is just as important as a response to a baby’s or infant’s cry. “I hear you. I see you. I am here for you.”

Emily joined TCS in 2021 and has been an infant-toddler teacher for more than a decade. She graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington with a degree in Early Childhood. Outside of work, she likes to knit, garden and tackle puzzles. Fun fact: Emmie used to run her own cupcake business.

Teacher, Fox Den (PreK)

Children understand that all of life is play and that the rules of play can change. When children play “store,” for instance, money may not be needed, just a secret password to acquire what you need. The next day, the storekeeper might give money to you to make purchases! Children continuously recreate the world, reminding us that anything is possible if we open our minds.

Hannah joined our team in 2023. She earned a B.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies from Juniata College in Pennsylvania. Hannah also works leading song at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Upper Valley, and has the delight of parenting an incredible preschooler of her own. Fun facts: Hannah composes and arranges a cappella pieces for her treble-voice quartet. She has traveled to 15 countries, including India, Australia, Guatemala, Norway and China.

Lead Teacher, Fox Den (PreK)

How valuable it is to be a beginner, a learner. That feeling of vulnerability, kids live here all the time: “This is hard for me and I’m figuring it out… What will happen if I try it like this?...” Children are natural researchers and engineers. My role is to help them deepen each step of the process.

Jason joined our team in 2023. He holds a B.S. in Theater from Northwestern University in Chicago, and is finishing up his Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education through the Boulder Journey School and the University of Colorado, Denver. Outside of work, Jason likes to rock climb and read science fiction. Fun Fact: Jason studied Buddhism in India.

Part-time Music Director

To develop musical language we bring attention to simple things: time, pitch, one note following the next, basic melodies. Children are right there for it and respond to my presence as much as the music. “Are you actually here with us?” kids of all ages seem to ask without words. “Open and genuine with us?”

Jes is an award winning singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and visual artist. She joined TCS in 2021 and visits each of our classrooms weekly with her banjo and guitar in hand. Jes earned a BA in Liberal Arts from The Evergreen State College in Olympia WA and, post graduation, started gigging more than 100 shows each year with her band. Fun fact: Jes is also a printmaker who works on a letter press from 1890.

Teacher, Butterfly Glen (Toddlers)

It all boils down to children’s rights — everything from the right to play and learn in a safe, beautiful environment to the right to be seen as a complete person, not a half-person or “person-to-be.” This means: I want to listen to you! Where do you want to begin?

Lucy joined our team in 2023. They earned a B.A. in Gender Studies at Barnard College in New York City. Before joining TCS, they worked as an “Explainer” at the Montshire Museum of Science, where they got to show children cool rocks and answer their questions. Outside of work, Lucy loves fiber arts and collage and playing guitar. Fun fact: Lucy studied abroad in Indonesia and Australia.

Lead Teacher, Fox Den (PreK) / Librarian

My teacher team and I constantly question our assumptions and motivations: Are we thinking about this with an adult brain or with a child’s? Are we setting up our classroom and routines with a mentality that might, inadvertently, limit our children? How can we burst open possibilities in honor of our kids?

Madison joined the TCS team in 2022. She holds a BA in Studio Art with a Psychology minor from Colby-Sawyer College where she worked with preschoolers at Windy Hill, the college’s campus school. She owns a pottery wheel and devotes her free time to ceramics. Fun fact: Madison takes her cat Echo on walks around the neighborhood on a leash.

Teacher, Songbirds (PreK)

Reggio work is very pure. At essence it’s about being present and not trying to impose my agenda on moments with children, my agenda about what a child should say, should think, should do or draw. I’m simply here, curious in the moment with you, wanting to know more. This is some of what it means to respect a child’s personhood, a child’s ideas.

Mara joined TCS in 2023. She holds a BA in English Literature from Smith College, two Masters degrees, and a Ph.D. in Learning Sciences from University of Colorado Boulder. She previously worked as an English department chair in two private schools. She practices yoga, skis, and plays with her dog Baxter. Fun fact: Mara was a competitive figure skater in high school.

Lead Teacher, Songbirds (PreK)

I'm interested in children's imaginative thinking and ways that their brains are capable of extending far beyond our own. I'm interested in imagination as a bonafide, powerful way of thinking and learning. When you are with a child, he or she sees little things everywhere that we might miss or simply take for granted. The joy in a stick. The joy in an icicle. The joy in having a friend.

Mia joined TCS in 2018. She earned a BA in Education from a university in Sweden where her primary focus was on children with special needs. Outside of school, Mia goes trail riding on her horse Sox and loves visiting her grown-up kids in Spain and in Washington state. Fun fact: Mia was a serious marathon and ultra trail runner. She won an 80-mile race with her dog beside her for 25 of those miles.

Floating Assistant Teacher, home base in Robin’s Nest (Nursery)

In the Robin’s Nest, where I often work, infants are expressing big feelings for the very first time. They’re experimenting with senses too—do I like this texture? this sound? taste? color? Children are discovering the joy found in playing with friends. There are so many firsts to support, celebrate and build on.

Olivia joined our team in 2017 and has since been a float in every classroom, serving children ages 6 weeks to 6 years. In her spare time Olivia loves traveling to the ocean in Maine, and going to Vermonster events with her son Blake. Little-known fact: Olivia is fascinated by all things medical, psychology in particular.

Lead Teacher, Butterfly Glen (Toddlers) / Little Chefs Director

It’s all there at age two. We help toddlers realize such sophisticated capabilities: how to advocate, how to listen to a friend’s opinion, how to solve conflicts with words instead of teeth. It’s fascinating seeing toddlers into language. They suddenly start saying what they’re thinking and feeling and how they see their own lives.There are worlds going on within each child.

Sophia joined us in 2021 after graduating from McGill University in Montreal with a BA in Geography. In her free time Sophia likes to cook, ski and go for long walks in the woods. Fun fact: Sophia attended a Reggio-inspired preschool when she was little.