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 through my childhood, I now own a home in Swanton on Lake Champlain, with my partner of 21 years and our daughter. I grew up fishing and swimming in the Winooski River, exploring 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 of 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 14 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. I am extremely passionate about creating a welcoming space here at BCS for children and their families with inspiration from the Reggio Emilia Approach and all things natural and beautiful!

Hi all, I'm Rosie! I grew up in Fairfield, VT for most of my life, raised by a strong single mother, my sister, and my grandmother. I started working at BCS in 2021, and have since learned so much about fostering a healthy learning environment for kids. I am an artist at heart, with a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts from Champlain College, and I'm passionate about encouraging kids’ artistic expression. I split my time between the office and the classroom, supporting the program in many ways. I love building connections with kids and families, and hope I can bring a bit of inspiration and kindness to future generations. In my free time, I can be found snuggling with my cat, reading, doing some form of art, or gardening.

Hello! I am an adoptee originally from New York State, and moved to Vermont when I was 8 months old. The past few years, I have learned skills for emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and mindfulness. In summer of 2026, I received my 200hr yoga teacher training certificate at Sangha Studio. I am in the process of building the BIPOC yoga community here by offering free/donation based classes. As someone who enjoys meaningful work and heavily aligns with BCS's goals & philosophy to I am beyond excited to start creating food for my community's young developing brains, that I intend to fill with flavor and nutrition!

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 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.

Hello! My name is Josie, and I am so excited to be working at BCS! 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!

Hello! My name is Becket and I am one of the Young Toddler teachers! I grew up on Martha’s Vineyard before going to Bard College at Simon’s Rock, where I completed my associate’s degree in liberal arts. I attended University of Vermont to complete my bachelor’s in psychological science afterward. I have been working full-time in early childhood education for the past three years, and it has made me feel very connected to the community around me. I love working with young children and toddlers, as I find the challenges as amazing opportunities for learning, and I find the rewards of working with this age group to be unlike any other career. I have a cat named Turtle who is both very loving and very mischievous, I love to tell stories about her. When I’m not here, you can find me snuggling Turtle, going on a long walk, making a linocut print, going to live music, or cooking something yummy. I am so excited to see what this year has in store for us!

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!

Hello everyone! My name is Jamie. I've lived in Burlington my entire life, with the exception of six months spent in Essex Junction in 2025. That experience helped me realize just how much Burlington feels like home, and it strengthened my passion for serving this community. I have been working with preschool-aged children for a little over a year and have been caring for and supporting children since I was 16 years old. In 2024, I graduated from Horizons, a small alternative high school program where I focused my independent studies on early childhood development. While attending Horizons, I was student teaching at One Arts Community School, which led to a full-time Assistant Teacher position in the Older Toddler classroom. In addition, I have worked with Burlington Parks, Recreation & Waterfront summer camps, Freedom Finders Collective, and the Chill Foundation, where I supported youth snowboarders. While teaching, I also completed the Fundamentals of Early Childhood Education course at CCV. I plan to continue taking classes to further expand my knowledge. With dreams of going to school full time. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy swimming, practicing yoga, playing guitar, singing, snowboarding, and a good book. I’m truly thrilled to be part of this team!

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!

My name is Emma Machanic, and I am a third-year Early Childhood Education major at the University of Vermont. I was born and raised in Vermont, and like many Vermonters, I enjoy spending time outdoors. I come from a close-knit family, all living within a short drive of one another. Family is one of the most important parts of my life, and I look forward to building strong, trusting relationships with the families and caregivers at BCS. I completed my student teaching at Burlington Children’s Space in the older toddler classroom, where I worked alongside experienced educators and gained meaningful field experience in a supportive, collaborative environment. Although my practicum has come to an end, I knew I wanted to continue working with the BCS community and supporting the wonderful children, families and teachers here. My motivation for becoming an educator is rooted in my own experience growing up with an undiagnosed learning disability. This shaped my passion for creating classroom environments where children feel confident in their abilities, where curriculum adapts to their needs and interests, and where questions and moments of challenge are welcomed as essential parts of learning. I believe wholeheartedly that children are competent, capable learners, and I am excited to help them see themselves that way.

Hi, my name is Kyla! I grew up in the Lexington-Arlington area with my mom, dad, twin sister, and an assortment of pets. I am currently a student at the University of Vermont, entering my senior year, where I am studying business and psychology. I keep gravitating toward working with kids because I love watching them learn, play, and build relationships through the outdoors. Outside of school and work, I love to cook, hike, swim, snowboard, and create art. I am an avid adventure seeker and enjoy taking on opportunities that allow me to grow and be creative. My hobbies are always evolving; I have been a canoe guide, skateboard instructor, and even a stilt walker! I am always looking to add new hobbies to my repertoire and learn new skills that I can bring into the classroom.

Hi everyone! My name is Marisol, but I go by Solie. I'm 20 years old (almost 21) and will be a junior this fall at Saint Michael's College, where I'm majoring in Political Science. For the past three and a half years, I've had the opportunity to work with children, and it's been such a rewarding experience. While I loved my previous position, I felt it was time for a new challenge and an opportunity to grow, which led me to Burlington Children's Space. I'm so excited to begin this new journey as a substitute and continue doing what I love in a community that means so much to me. When I'm not in the classroom, I spend most of my time balancing school and personal time. I also love being at home with my family and our pets; they're a huge part of my life and keep me grounded. I'm incredibly grateful and blessed to be joining this team, and I can't wait to get to know everyone and build relationships with the children and families. I'm looking forward to a wonderful year together!