BURLINGTON
CHILDREN'S
SPACE
Enrich. Empower. Strengthen.
Founded 1984 | Burlington, VT
Meet Our Team!
Dedicated & Certified
Molly, she/her
Executive Director
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.
Katlyn, she/her
Program Director
I am the Program Director and a Toddler Teacher. 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 18 years and our daughter who is 2 1/2 years old and is currently in the old toddler classroom at the Burlington Children Space. I grew up fishing and swimming in the Winooski River, exploring in the woods, and spending my days outside with my family. Some of my interests outside of work are hiking, camping, 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 have a Vermont Teaching License (birth – third grade). I have worked at BCS now for 11 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.
Rosie, she/they
Director's Assistant
I am the office assistant here at Burlington Children's Space. I was born and raised in Vermont, and grew up loving the outdoors. I was raised by a single mother and have an older sister, both of whom mean the world to me. Currently, I'm a sophomore at Champlain College, majoring in filmmaking. I love to travel, collect vinyl records, play with our dog and five cats, and one day I hope to become a great director.
Emma, she/they
Toddler Teacher
Hi everyone! I moved to Burlington from NH last summer and love it here. I have been working with children and families for almost six years now. I have my associates degree in early childhood education and my bachelors in human services with a concentration in child and family studies. Before joining BCS, I spent the past three years supporting families with parenting education, supervised visitation, connecting them to community resources, and providing in home support to families to prevent children from coming into DCF custody. In my free time I enjoy reading, writing, spending time with my partner and pup, and seeing live music!
Gracie, she/her
Infant Teacher
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!
Kathleen, she/her
Toddler Teacher & Sub
Hi! I am majoring in early childhood education with a minor in human development and family science. In my free time I love to draw and create art. I also love music and am currently learning to play electric bass. I am very excited to be at Burlington Children's Space and am looking forward to getting to know all the kiddos!
Sheila, she/her
Toddler Teacher
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 alum. 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.
Lois, she/her
Preschool Teacher
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.
Hawa, she/her
Infant Teacher
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 5 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.
Sarah, she/her
Toddler Teacher
I started working at BCS in late February 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.
Alison, she/her
Toddler Teacher
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!
Noa, they/them
Toddler Teacher
As a kid, I spent my summers swimming in rivers, climbing trees, & learning from educators who cared about telling the truth in loving ways. I'm a summer camp kid through & through & can play a camp fire song & whittle a spoon. I've learned & grown as a teacher in community at afterschool programs, in families’ homes, at public middle schools, & in university tutoring & mentoring programs. Before joining the BCS fam, (after working at Outright across the hall) I've been organizing abolitionist freedom-centered youth education projects as the project director for Freedom Side School & as an organizer & teacher for The Freedom Finders Collective. I'm deeply interested in learning with & growing beside children, families, & teachers through authentic radically loving relationships, community consent practices, and trauma-informed models like Polyvagal Theory, Internal Family Systems, Decolonized Nonviolent Communication, Restorative Conflict Resolution, and Intentional Peer Support. I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Hampshire College, a certificate in Trauma-Informed Teaching Practices from the Stockton Rush Barthol Foundation, & a certificate in Intentional Peer Support from the IPS Institute. When I'm not learning about babies brains or organizing family potlucks, you can find me eating a creemee in my car, kayaking in lake champlain, or facetiming my grandma (my first early educator).
Gilly, she/her
Toddler Teacher
Andrew, he/him
Preschool Teacher
I am grateful to have been teaching at BCS or two years. 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.
Liz, she/her
Infant Teacher
I've been teaching Early Childhood Education for the past 8 years. In 2018, I received my Master's degree in Early Childhood Education, with a focus in Special Education from CU Denver. Until this point, my focus has been using the Reggio-Emilia philosophy and conducting educational research alongside children. I enjoy spending time outside, being with my friends and family, and discovering new places and trying new things!
Asha, she/her
Toddler Teacher
I was born in Congo, Africa and lived in Vermont for the majority of my life. This is my first year as a teacher at Burlington Children’s Space. I’ve been teaching for over 5 years in Vermont and out of state. During my free time I enjoy dancing, painting and being a mama to my two kiddos. I am looking forward to meeting all of you, both children and families! Let’s have a wonderful school year!
Sam, she/her
Preschool Teacher
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.
Grey, he/they
Preschool Teacher
Grey holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a Japanese minor plus Japanese Honor’s Society from University of Vermont. He has experience working with all ages, from service-learning at King Street Center, a one year internship at Ethan Allen Residence care home, to teaching a variety of subjects to middle and high school students for a year. They recently completed a standard 120 hour TEFL, or Teaching English as a Foreign Language, course with practicum in Japan. In his spare time Grey enjoys playing bass, outdoor activities, and spending time with friends.
Rowan, he/him
Toddler Teacher
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!
Sydney, she/her
Infant Teacher
I've been in the preschool room at BCS since the fall and have been experienced in childcare for five years now. I started college with the intention of becoming a nurse following in my mother's footsteps, and ended up following in my father's as a teacher, always having an interest in human development and interpersonal growth. I've grown up with three younger siblings and two older cousins who practically are siblings. Everyone in my life has been the most wonderful support, contributing to my continual growth and self reflection. I'm currently a student at UVM going into my senior year as an Early Childhood Education major with the hopes of returning to BCS after graduation and furthering my studies in specialized services. I am extremely grateful for the relationships I've developed at BCS with all students, families, and coworkers and will take these lessons learned and memories made wherever I go. My teaching philosophy can be described as a dynamic process of child-led, teacher-framed collaborative learning that evolves from foundational safe relationships. Thank you to every member of the BCS community for this opportunity to pursue my passion of helping the next generation do the same.
Juju, they/them
Preschool Teacher
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.
Emily, she/her
Preschool Teacher
I am originally from Rhode Island and graduated from UVM with a degree in early childhood education in 2011 and have been in Vermont since. I worked in the (now-called) Wonder Room for 6+ years where we explored curriculum threads around exploring and mapping our community, giving back to the community, risky play, and gardening at the Intervale. From 2018 to 2023 I worked several different jobs including: Behavior Interventionist, infant teacher, and most recently a search-engine optimization (SEO) specialist. I missed teaching and am very excited to be back at BCS! I live in Winooski with my partner, Margaret and our little schnauzer dog, Henry. My hobbies are varied and I enjoy playing the drums, hiking, gardening, cross-country skiing, Dungeon and Dragons, and have recently begun to learn the acoustic guitar.
Aoi, she/her
Food Nutrition Intern
Hi all! I am a biology major from Connecticut that goes to the University of Vermont. I have loved working with children and trying to improve food accessibility since high school and I am so grateful to be able to join these two interests this summer! I hope to pursue a future in public health, and view access to food as one of the most important aspects of preventive medicine. I am so excited to get to know all the children and staff this summer!
Aurora, she/her
Chef
Born and raised in NYC but I moved here from Norfolk, VA. I went to the Culinary Institute of Virginia and earned my Culinary Arts (2014) and Applied Nutrition (2017) degrees. I've been working in kitchens for way more than I can believe (almost 15yrs)! I am a wife and mom of 4- my 3 teenage boys and my princess who has no idea I work here. I love all things nature and if I could convince my family I would definitely live in a tree! Anything outdoorsy, count me in. I also enjoy making jewelry, building things, dancing and meeting people. I'm currently studying Interior Architecture and Design online at Academy of Art University. I'm super excited to get to know you and your littles!