Teacher’s Assistant

Stevanie is the teacher’s assistant for the infant/toddler program at the Center. She started at the center in Summer 2023.

Past Employment
Stevanie was formerly a paraprofessional in the Pittsfield School District.

Child Care Assistant

Kristina is a child care assistant for the Little Ducklings, a classroom for ages 6 to 16 months, and also serves as an infant float supporting Lil’ Angels as needed. She has worked at the center since August 2021.

Past employment
Kristina has worked as an assistant teacher at KinderCare Learning Center in Portsmouth. She has also worked as a nanny.

Education
Kristina earned a degree in cosmetology from Portsmouth Beauty School. She is certified in CPR and first aid.

Family
Kristina has two beautiful girls that both attend the Center. She is getting married next year. Kristina enjoys riding side-by-side and swimming at the lake with her family

Teacher

Darcy is the teacher for the Cuddlebugs, a classroom for ages 2 to 3 years. She has also been a teacher for the L'il Angels, and a teacher’s aide for the Busy Bees. She has been at the center since 2003.

Past employment
Darcy has been babysitting since she was 12 years old. She came to the center shortly after college.

Education
Darcy earned an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Granite State College in 2021, and is certified in CPR and first aid. She also has an associate degree in architectural engineering from the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord.

On working at the Center
“I love working with children. They have such love and imagination. Every day is always so different.”

Teaching philosophy
“Every day you will learn something new. I want to be open minded, caring and a good listener.”

Family
Darcy has three older brothers and a younger sister.

Substitute

Hailey substitutes for the toddler program during her school breaks. She has worked as a child care assistant for the Little Owls and the Cuddlebugs, classrooms for ages 2 to 3 years. She has worked at the center since May 2023.

Past employment
Hailey was only with us full-time for Summer 2023 as she is currently a college student in Worcester, Massachusetts. She has babysat children of various ages since she was 12 years old. She has also worked at Pier 19 Country Store, Nolan’s Brick Oven Bistro, and Wolfeboro Casuals. She loves working with young children and promises to return during her winter and spring breaks.

Education
Hailey graduated from Brewster Academy in May 2021 with Citizenship Honors. She is now enrolled at Assumption University with a projected graduation date of May 2025 with a degree in Human Services and Rehabilitation.

Substitute

Sarah is a substitute for the infant/toddler program. She has worked at the center since February 2023.

Teacher

Arlene is the teacher for the Lil’ Angels, a classroom for ages 6 weeks to 12 months. She was previously a teacher’s assistant for the Dragonflies and Snapdragons. She has worked at the center since October 2021.

Past employment
Arlene has worked at Here We Grow Again Learning Center in Salem as an Associate Infant Teacher for ten years. She was also a self employed child care provider for seven years.

Education
Arlene graduated from Everett High School.

Family
Arlene lives with her husband, son, three Puggles & one koi fish.

Child Care Assistant

Bri is a child care assistant for the Jungle Cubs, a classroom for ages 13 to 24 months. She has worked at the center since January 2024.

Past employment
Bri previously worked as a Direct Support Professional at Next Steps Community Services, an organization that provides therapeutic residential services to adults.

Education
Bri graduated from Kingswood Regional High School in 2016. She is certified in CPR and first aid.

Teacher

Emily is the teacher for the Busy Bees, a classroom for ages 2 to 3 years. She has also worked as a child care assistant for the Little Owls room. She has worked at the center since Summer 2023.

Past employment
Emily has worked as a substitute teacher for all grade levels in the Manchester School District as well as the Pittsfield School District. She also worked as a summer camp counselor for The Parks & Recreation Department in Wolfeboro. Additionally, Emily has babysat young children since her days in middle school.

Education
Emily is currently studying Education and working towards her Bachelor’s Degree. She is certified in CPR and first aid.

On working at the Center
”I have wanted to be a teacher since I was in elementary school, dressing up as a teacher for Halloween almost every year. I loved to play “teacher” in my bedroom, laying down towels as if it was naptime or giving out worksheets I made my mom print out to give for homework. Teaching isn’t just my passion, it’s my heart and soul that I dedicate to my kids to watch them grow and flourish into amazing learners!”

Family
”I am originally from Florida, born and raised until I was 18. My family and I moved to NH in 2019 when I went off to college in upstate NY. In December 2020, we built a house in Alton and that is where I currently live with my parents.”

Child Care Assistant

Samantha is a child care assistant for the Cuddlebugs, a classroom for ages 2 to 3 years. She has also worked in the Jungle Cubs and the Little Owls. She has worked at the center since January 2012.

Past employment
“I started volunteering at the center when I was a junior in high school. I enjoyed it so much I started working at the center after I graduated.” Samantha also worked as a counselor at the Ossipee Recreation Department’s summer day camp.

Education
Samantha graduated from Kingswood Regional High School in 2011. She is certified in CPR and first aid.

On working at the Center
“You can learn a lot from the kids and I love watching them grow. It’s an amazing feeling to know you can make a difference in a child’s life.”

Teacher

Kali is the teacher for the Little Ducklings, a classroom for ages 6 to 16 months. She has also worked in the Jungle Cubs room. Kali started at the center in February 2020.

Past employment
Kali has experience as a babysitter, a student mentor, and a student teacher for preschool.

Education
Kali graduated from Dover High School. She is nearing her completion of her associates degree in early childhood education from NHTI.

On working at the Center
“You can learn a lot from the kids and I love watching them grow. It’s an amazing feeling to know you can make a difference in a child’s life.”

Teacher

Katie is the teacher for the Jungle Cubs, a classroom for ages 13 to 24 months. She worked as a teacher’s aide in the Little Dragons and Munchkins, and has worked at the center since 2003.

Past employment
Katie started babysitting at the age of 11. She first came to the center through the high school’s early childhood education program.

Education
Katie graduated from Kingswood Regional High School. She earned an associate’s degree in early childhood education from the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord. She is certified in CPR and first aid.

On working at the Center
“I have always enjoyed working with kids. I like knowing I am teaching them something new every day.”

Teaching philosophy
“I want to always be willing to learn something new, even if it’s from the children. Everything we do can be used as a teaching tool.”

Family
“I grew up in Ossipee, then moved to Gilmanton, where I own a home with my husband.”

Child Care Assistant

Natalie is a child care assistant for the Busy Bees, a classroom for ages 2 to 3 years. She has worked at the center since November 2023.

Past employment
Natalie is a recent graduate of the Careers in Education development program at Lakes Region Technology Center in Kingswood High School and has experience as a babysitter. She also has worked at Hannaford Supermarket in Ossipee and Harvest Market in Wolfeboro.

Education
Natalie recently graduated from Kingswood High School and is pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. She is certified in CPR and first aid.

Teaching philosophy
”Working with children makes me feel fulfilled. Being a positive example in a child’s life is a blessing.”

Family
Natalie has five siblings in her family. She has been with her significant other for two years.

Teacher

Tapanga is the teacher for the Little Owls, a classroom for ages 2 to 3 years. She has also worked as a child care assistant for the infant/toddler program and as the kitchen assistant at the center. She has been at the center since September 2019.

Past Employment
Tapanga has worked at Dunkin Donuts and at Wolfe's Tavern.

Education
Tapanga graduated from Newport (NH) High School. She is studying early childhood education at Granite State College.

On working at The Center
"I love watching and helping our little learners discover, develop, and explore. You could say, teaching children is my passion. I can not wait to help your child grow into the wonderful human I know they can be!"

Family
Tapanga and her husband love running and playing with their goats, dog named Harvey, and cat named Abby.