Meet Our Team!

I grew up in Western Mass and spent my summers with my family in the White Mountains. I ended up going to college in the White Mountains as well. I received my bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Plymouth State University in 2015. Immediately after graduating I spent two years in the Marshall Islands teaching first and second grade. I had a class of 28 English Language Learners by myself! For a very drastic change of pace (and temperature) I moved to Burlington in 2017 to work at Champlain Valley Head Start. In 2020 I went back to school and earned a master’s degree in educational leadership, as well as, receiving a graduate certificate for resiliency-based approaches for family, school, and community. I’ve begun my new journey at BCS and couldn’t be happier. In my free time I love walking or running with my dog, playing board games, gardening, kayaking, reading, and being with my people.

I was born in Burlington, Vermont and lived in Winooski all my life. I own a home in Swanton on Lake Champlain, with my partner of 19 years and our daughter who is 4 years old and is currently in the preschool here at BCS. I grew up fishing and swimming in the Winooski River, exploring in the woods, and spending my days outdoors. Some of my interests outside of work are hiking, camping, crafting, photography, reading, organizing, and fishing. I am one of five children; I have three sisters and a brother. My family is the most important part of my life. I have always known that I wanted a career in teaching, primarily with young children. When graduating from Winooski High School from a class less than 40, I went to University of Vermont where I worked at the UVM Campus Children’s Center for four years as a student and substitute teacher. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education with a Major Concentration in Human Development and Family Studies. I also hold a Vermont Teaching License (birth – third grade). I have worked at BCS now for 13 years and I am constantly learning so many new things from the children and families every day. I have established many meaningful and collaborative relationships with families; making connections with families that have gone through some of the same struggles that I went through as a child coming from a low-income household. I am inspired to make a difference in children and their family’s lives regardless of socioeconomic status or any other defining factors.

TBD

I grew up in Burlington as the youngest of 8 children. I attended UVM and the University of South Florida. I began working at BCS in 1985, and my two daughters - Hayley and Emily - are BCS alumni. I feel lucky that BCS has been part of my life for so long. The children, teachers, and parents have all impacted my life in such rich, meaningful ways. I have learned so much through each and every experience. I live in the South End of Burlington with my husband John, and we get visits from our granddog Remy. I enjoy reading, gardening, and growing alongside the children every day.

I was born here in Burlington a long time ago and lived in the New North End. I was born on Friday the 13th, so 13 has always been my lucky number. I graduated from Essex High School and Essex Technical Center in 2003. When I was at the Technical Center, I Studied Child Care and Human Services. I Graduated from Saint Michael's College in 2007 and have worked at various schools and child care related programs in the area (IAA, Rock Point School, EJ's Kids Klub, and the Howard Center). I live in a small camp on the Lake in Colchester in the summertime and in the 5 Sisters neighborhood of Burlington in the cold months. I love Burlington and all my neighbors in the area! I have always found it rewarding to work with young children and look forward to learning from all the BCS children, families, and educators!

I started working at BCS in late February 2023 and have absolutely loved my time working here so far! I was adopted from Russia when I was nine months old, by my amazing mother! I grew up and have lived in the old north end of Burlington all my life with my mother and younger sister Lily, who is also adopted but from Belarus when she was three and I was five. Fun fact, I started at BCS just after I tuned a year old in January of 2000 in the baby room, then shortly moved into Shelia’s classroom! I remember coming home from preschool one day and told my mother I wanted to be a teacher. I graduated with an associate degree in early childhood education and will be continuing my education at VSU starting Fall 2023, to receive a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. I enjoy spending time with my family, and my four amazing cats named Galileo, Bender, Seven of Nine and Spock. I love to read, swim in the water in the summer at my family’s beach house, relax with friends, and most of all being or working with children in some capacity.

Hello! My name is Josie, and I am so excited to be working in the infant classroom! I have a B.A. in Theater and Dance from James Madison University, and a M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education from Champlain College. 3 years ago, I moved back to my home state of Vermont and have been working with young children and families in early education programs ever since. I am a strong believer in play-based learning as well as outdoor education in the early years! In my free time, I love practicing yoga, thrifting, singing, and snuggling with my cat, Wyatt. I am so excited to be in a role where I can help nurture and support some of our littlest learners!

I have been working at BCS since May 2022, and am super passionate about creative writing, early education, community engagement, and mental and physical health. I now have my Master's in English and my Bachelor's in Psychological Science. I love to do yoga, read, draw, have picnics with my friends, and spend time with my cat, Basil. I grew up the youngest of three girls in Thetford, Vermont, and love this state with all my heart -- I spent a couple of years away in Virginia, and am so happy to be back! Nurturing and supporting children brings me such joy and fulfillment, and I am grateful every day for this opportunity to teach and learn!

I started working at BCS in late December 2022. I really enjoy working here with the children, families, and teachers. I am also a mom of 6 beautiful children that I adore so much. Working at BCS I have gained a lot of experience and knowledge while working with children. I truthfully love working at BCS and the community of teachers and families.

My toddler years were spent living on a farm in Landgrove, VT. Once kindergarten came, I moved to Long Island, NY and grew up in a small town called Sea Cliff. I graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and completed a minor in Special Education in December 2024 from the University of Vermont. I am nearly done with my general education teaching licenses in NY and VT. I plan to get my Master’s degree in literacy instruction and special education. I started my practicum placement at BCS in 2022 and have started working here ever since! I love to spend time outdoors, reading, working out, playing the bass, and spending time with family and friends! I grew up dreaming of becoming a teacher and I am so excited to start my career here at BCS with the amazing children, families, and staff that make BCS so special!

I grew up in New Jersey and lived in upstate New York, Washington D.C., and Seattle before settling in Vermont in 1994. I taught first and second grade for 22 years before coming to BCS. I live in Burlington, am married, and have two children and two noisy beagles. I enjoy spending time with friends, being outside, and reading.

I have more than 20 years of experience working with children from 0 to 15 of many abilities from learning differences to deaf blind adolescents. I have experience in many art forms including dance, painting, sculpture and music. I really enjoy exploring the arts with children as an expressive outlet for emotions and creativity. I am the owner of Green Mountain Music Together and offer music and movement classes in the Burlington area for 0 to 5 and the grown ups who love them. I dance twice a week and sing with the Bella Voce Women’s Choir. I’m looking forward to spending even more time at BCS soon where I’ve been a part of the community for 10+ years. I have a lovely husband and an awesome twin sister. We love to hike together, cook and swim and generally enjoy things!

Hi all! My name is Emma, and I am so thrilled to be working in the Older Toddler Community here at BCS. I grew up here in Burlington, Vermont before completing my B.A. in Applied Psychology and Human Development and Africana Studies at Boston College. I am passionate about music, art, nature, and spending time with friends. I am grateful to be part of this wonderful and playful community.

TBD

I am grateful to have been teaching at BCS since 2021. Before this, I have student-taught as an Early Childhood Special Educator at Flynn Elementary and worked some time as a developmental educator in Chittenden County. I have an M.Ed in Early Childhood Special Education and am a licensed early childhood special educator in VT. Early Education is so important! The skills you learn in early ed will help you for the rest of your life. I believe that every child deserves an opportunity to make the most of this time, and I want to help make that possible.

I am a Native Vermonter of many generations. I've been teaching dance, music and theatre to all ages from baby to elder for over 30 years. I have traveled abroad to the esteemed Edinburg, Scotland Fringe Festival, both as a performer and a director, and have travelled to West Africa to study traditional Senegalese music and dance with a Griot family of cultural historians. I was the founder and director of Burlington’s forever darlings’ The Spielpalast Cabaret and am also both a founding and current member of Jeh Kulu Dance and Drum Theatre. I live in the ONE with my amazing daughter, our dog and three cats, and am pursuing an Education Degree at Champlain College.

I moved to VT in 2019 to pursue a Bachelor's degree in psychology and graduated from UVM in 2023. I was raised in Albany, NY and spent a lot of my childhood making art and reading. I started working in elementary child care in 2020 and later became a program coordinator. I have been working with kiddos ever since and am so excited to be working with preschoolers! I am passionate about trauma-informed care and building resilience. I now live in downtown Burlington with my partner and our two dogs, Levi and Bear. In my free time, I enjoy taking my dogs into nature, playing video games, reading, and spending time with the people I love!

I grew up in Jericho, Vermont and I am now living in Burlington. I recently graduated from Castleton University with a degree in Spanish and Literature, as well as a K12 teaching license or the state of Vermont. I hve spent the lst three years working in preschools located in Burlington and Waterbury. This will be my second summer at BCS! I am very excited to play and explore this summer with the old toddlers in the blue room! My hobbies include travel, art, language, music, and spending time outside.

I was a teacher here from 2015-2018 and then went on to work in a few different education settings before finding my way back to the incredible community here at BCS. I studied early childhood education in college and have a master's degree in sex and gender education. My specific area of interest is supporting children and families to understand the different aspects of identity and the different power dynamics that come with those identities (gender, race, class and ability, etc.) I believe that community-oriented care that acknowledges the needs, feelings, and experiences of children and families is one that can heal trauma and reduce harm. When I'm not teaching, I like to walk in the woods, swim, ride my bike, practice being creative and listen to podcasts.

Hi! My name is Grace and I am originally from Upstate New York. I go to UVM and am currently working on my Bachelor’s of Social Work Degree. I have danced since I was five, and still do now in college. In my spare time, I love to draw, paint, go on hikes, and find new places to go swimming. I am so excited to be a part of the BCS community!

Hello, my name is Emma, and I love being a part of the team at BCS! I am a senior at the University of Vermont studying Early Childhood Education. I first started working at BCS while completing my Infant/Toddler practicum in the Infant Classroom, and I couldn’t be more excited to continue applying what I’ve learned to my work here!

Hello! I am from Massachusetts, where my mom, stepdad, sister, dad, stepmom, and brothers still live! I’m an early childhood education student at UVM, and first came to BCS as a practicum student in the Old Toddler classroom. I couldn’t leave when the semester was over, and since then I’ve subbed in every classroom but one and loved them all! I spent the summer in the young toddler classroom working full time. I’ve always loved working with kids, since I was a kid myself! I was 8 when my first two siblings were born, and I loved taking care of them and watching them grow. I love coming to BCS to do the same with lots of other children, in an amazing community!

I grew up in Massachusetts, but I have lived in VT for the past 8 years. I currently live in Burlington and attend UVM for Early Childhood Education. I previously attended CCV where I received my Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education, as well as a certificate in after-school childcare. I began my time at BCS when I had been placed here for a practicum through UVM. I loved my experience and the community surrounding BCS so much I was absolutely thrilled when I was offered to join the team!