Director

Harriet has been a member of the Newtowne community since 1993. She has a Master of Arts in Classical Archeology and Art History, and is working on a PhD in Early Childhood Education. Harriet has visited the schools of Reggio Emilia in Italy, finding inspiration which she brings back to Newtowne. Over the years she has taught in all the classrooms at Newtowne, and is happy to be in the role of Director to oversee the thriving success of the school that she loves. She is a native of Germany.

Atelierista (All School Art Teacher)

Rachel has recently moved back to Cambridge from Providence, Rhode Island, where she was the Middle School Art Teacher at the Providence Country Day School. She is excited about joining the Newtowne community as the Atelierista / All School Art Teacher. She works with staff and students to help facilitate discovery and learning both in the atelier and in each classroom. She taught students of all ages as an Art Educator since graduating from Skidmore College in 1998. She received her Master of Arts in Elementary Education from Boston College in 2001.

Green Dragonfly Teachers

Yota began teaching at Newtwone as the Atelierista, and is now excited to bring her arts background to the Green Dragonflies classroom. She has worked for several years as a preK-8 art educator. She is currently completing a Master of Science at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where she is focusing much of her research on the Reggio Emilia approach to education.

Abby is pleased to be a new member of the Newtowne community this year. She has considerable experience with parent cooperatives, having attended one as a child and participated as a parent when her own daughters went to a cooperative nursery school. After teaching for many years in both public and private schools, she is thrilled to add the role of Green Dragonfly teacher to her experience. Abby has a Master of Science from Wheelock College in Early Childhood Education, and has been a Massachusetts certified PreK to 2nd grade teacher since 1989.

Blue Otter Teachers

Tracy is in her fourth year at Newtowne. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Suffolk University in Human Development, and has more than 20 years of experience with preschool children. She really enjoys helping young children with their social development, specifically making "connections" with each other and problem-solving. Learning-through-play is also a key part of her teaching background. She is excited to begin a new school year with families and teachers, and continues to experience the strong bonds in the Newtowne community.

Jessica moved from San Diego, CA, to Boston in 1998, and has taught in preschool classrooms as well as infant and toddler classrooms for the last 15 years. Jessica has a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development from San Diego State University, and a Master of Science in Infant and Toddler Development and Early Intervention from Wheelock College. She is very happy to be part of the Newtowne Community and is excited about this year in the Blue Otter classroom. Jessica loves spending time in the kitchen trying new recipes, traveling near and far to explore new places, and hunting for beautiful treasures at the beach.

Purple Fish Teachers

Trillian completed her student teaching in the Blue Otter classroom and was the Extended Day teacher during the 2004-2005 school year. For two years afterward she taught in the Blue Otter classroom. Trillian has a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Visual Arts from Wheelock College. In 2009 she received a Master of Arts in Bilingual Education. This will be her third year in the Purple Fish classroom, and she continues to love working with the children, families, and teachers at Newtowne!

Jenna has been teaching for five years. She has a Master of Education from Lesley University in Early Childhood Education. She started her career student teaching in the Green Dragonfly classroom and fell in love with Newtowne. She has worked in multiple roles at the school before she left to pilot a preschool program in the Netherlands. She is happy to be 'home' and is excited to be back at such a great school. She enjoys traveling, and spending time at the beach with her family and friends.

Orange Sea Star Teachers

Ursula has worked at Newtowne for five years. She started as a teacher in the Purple Fish classroom, and helped to develop the Orange Sea Star classroom and curriculum. Ursula loves to work with families and continues to enjoy our youngest children in the school. She is a native of Cambridge.

Zakia is a native of Maine where she worked as a preschool teacher for several years. Zakia has taught in the Green Dragonfly classroom, and is in her third year working with the Orange Sea Stars. She went from oldest to youngest class! Zakia first experienced Newtowne as a staff member working at the summer program. She loves the community and the teaching team. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Childhood Development and a Master of Education in Early Childhood Education.

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