Our 2s Teacher

Bailey Zurita  joined CHT this year as a full time teacher in our two’s classroom.  She has over seven years experience working in early childhood.  Bailey graduated in 2017 from Albertus Magnus College with a B.A. in psychology and a concentration in child development.  Bailey is also the Director of the Children’s Ministry for Christ & Holy Trinity Church.  She loves spending her free time with family, most importantly her husband Kevin and 18 month old son Lorenzo.  

“Let all you do be done with love” 1 Corinthians 16:14

Maia Kloepfer joined CHT last year as our Special Education Consultant and is excited to also teach the Caterpillar Class this Fall. Maia holds a dual certification in Elementary/Special Education from Providence College as well as her Master’s Degree in Literacy. She has over 20 years of working as  a Special Education/Applied Behavior Analysis therapist for various early intervention agencies with children birth-3 years old diagnosed on the autism spectrum and just recently started her own practice Above and Beyond Early Intervention. Maia lives with her husband Chris and their two sons, Robert (13) and C.J (11) and their Golden retriever Tessa in Fairfield. In her spare time, she is often found on the sidelines at lacrosse or soccer games or freezing in a hockey rink. She also loves working out, interior design, and working on her hand knit blanket business.

"There is always more to discover."- Winnie the Pooh

Amanda Kuster is joining CHT this fall in the Caterpillar Class.  Amanda holds masters degrees in biology from DePaul University and Northwestern University. She and her family live here in Westport and are members of Christ & Holy Trinity Church. For close to 20 years, Amanda has been home with her four boys, Jack (18), Alex (15), Will (15), and Ben (11).  She has been an active volunteer in their schools and has sat on the PTA boards at Long Lots Elementary and Bedford Middle School.  If not on the sidelines of a soccer match, football game, or track meet, Amanda enjoys gardening, sewing, and cooking.  She is hoping to bring these hobbies into the classroom this year. 

“It is a happy talent to know how to play.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hilary Cummings started as a substitute teacher at CHT in 2018 and taught in the 2s for three years. This will be her second year teaching in the 3s. Hilary earned her Education Specialist Degree at the University of Colorado Denver and worked as a School Psychologist for six years at the elementary school level. She also worked for Child Find in Colorado, an organization focused on connecting children age birth to 5 with community resources. 

Hilary lives with her husband, two boys and dog Lulu here in Westport. In her free time she loves being at the beach with her kids, exercising and cooking with her husband.  

"Every child can learn, just not in the same way." - George Evans

Lori Murray has been a teacher at CHT since 2016. She has taught in both our 2s classrooms and 3s classrooms. This ia also her second  year teaching Small Blessings.  Prior to CHT,  Lori spent 10 years teaching for another preschool in Westport as a Twos teacher. Lori has a degree in Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University with a concentration in Early Childhood Education. Lori lives in Trumbull with her husband Kevin and their 2 children Kylee and KJ. She enjoys outdoor running, riding her Peloton and spending time with her family.  

"Teachers who love teaching teach children to love learning." - Anonymous

Sandy Farber is starting her third year at the preschool. Her first year in the Caterpillar class and last year in the Sky class. Prior to her time at CHT, she spent many years as a Threes teacher in a preschool in Fairfield. She truly believes 3s is her sweet spot! She also has experience as Paraprofessional in the public school system. Sandy and her husband live in Fairfield with their two daughters and their dog Boomer. Her favorite place is the beach. She also enjoys going for walks, working out and spending time with her family and friends.

"Intelligence plus character - that is the true goal of education."  - MLK Jr.

Liana Borges  was born in Connecticut, grew up in Portugal and returned to the U.S. as a young adult. She is very excited to be joining the Sky class this fall with her co-teacher, Sandy. Prior to CHT she spent the last eight years teaching at another preschool in town.
Her dream of working in the field of Early Childhood Education is evident as she dedicates herself to her class.
On her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering, buying collectible items and creating content for TikTok.

"Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn."              -Benjamin Franklin 

Jennifer Cordella joined us at CHT in 2021 in the Threes and is very excited to be part of the Fours team this year in the Moon Class. Before joining us at CHT, Jennifer worked as a Speech Language Pathologist in Merrick, NY.  She has a BS and MS in Speech Language Pathology and graduated from Towson University and Loyola in Maryland.  Jennifer and her husband Rick live in Westport with their 5 children ranging from ages 5 to 16. Her youngest graduated from The Star class this past year making her officially part of CHT alumni.  In her spare time, Jen likes to read, cook, ride her peloton, as well as, runs a charcuterie business.

"Little hands
The world is yours
Hold it close with open arms
Little feet
With miles ahead
Take it slow, see it all. take it in."

Amber McLean joined us in 2022 where she subbed across all classrooms throughout the year. She is now a full-time teacher here at CHT as she found a real passion and joy in watching the students here thrive and grow as they discovered new skills that they were good at, or uncovered new challenges, or when exploring and learning their new topics that they themselves had driven from their own interests or it simply be watching their faces light up as their minds awaken. 

Amber holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing as in her previous life before moving here she was in Brand Marketing for approx.15 years. She lives in town and has for the past 9 years with my husband Michael (Mike) and two children my son Callum (16) and my daughter Keira (14). We have a Cavapoo called Freckles, she is known to be the favorite in my household. In her free time, she likes to run outside, hitting Orange Theory, going on vacation with the family and enjoy dining out as any no cooking night is a good one.

"...a willingness to question all our own abilities, your knowledge, to become humble. Only then will you be able to listen to the child, to set off on a common search to educate each other together."  -Loris Malaguzzi

Janet Duffield has joined the Moon and Sun classes  this year as a floater teacher.  Both of Janet's children attended the Christ and Holy Trinity Preschool and she fell in love.  

Althea Heisler has been teaching since 2004; first in Boston where she grew up and then in NYC before moving to Westport. She has a Masters Degree in Education from UMASS Boston. Her focus was on early childhood and special education.  This is her second year teaching at CHT in the 4’s. She is really fond of the Reggio Emilia Approach and believes this age group is spectacular.
"Fostering independence, early literacy, and
collaborating with families are areas that I am really passionate about."
Althea lives in town with her husband Ben and their two daughters Esmé (11) and Emery (9) and an English Mastiff named Mush. In her free time she loves to ski, go to the gym, take family walks with her dog, travel to new places, spend time at her home in VT and watch her kids ski race at Okemo.
"Let the child be the scriptwriter, the director and the actor in their own
-Magda Gerber

Melinda Bell began teaching at CHT in 2003. Melinda is currently the Sun Class teacher.  Prior to joining CHT Preschool, Melinda worked in the Three's and Four's program at the Child Care Learning Center in Stamford, CT, and taught Pre-K to 8th Grade for 12 years at the Westchester Area S.D.A. School in New Rochelle, NY. Melinda's teaching experience spans over 30 years. She received her B.A. degree in Secondary Education from Queens College and her CDA from Norwalk Community College. She is fluent in Spanish and enjoys reading, traveling and gardening. Melinda is married and has two grown children.
"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."    Prov. 22:6 NIV