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
Maria Rosa-Rockoff joined our C&HT staff as one of our Star class teachers in 2015. Maria has worked in the field of Early Childhood Education in Fairfield County for 26 years. She holds an A.S. degree in Early Childhood Education from Naugatuck Valley College, and attended UCONN Stamford working towards a B.A. degree in Human Services with a focus on Women's Studies. She has worked in the field of domestic violence for 14 years in Fairfield County.
Maria and her husband Paul live in Easton. She has two children and three grandchildren that she loves spending time with any chance she gets. In her spare time one can always find her running or training in the woods, playing racquetball with friends, attending/teaching a yoga class, or just playing outside in nature immersed in all the elements.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing."
George Bernard Shaw
Kate Nelson has been with the preschool for five years working as a teacher, Program Coordinator and Assistant Director. She has also been a staff member and parishioner at Christ & Holy Trinity Church for 9 years, working with our youth and children in many capacities. She and her husband have two children (Abby, 12 and Liam, 9). Liam was a student at the CHT Preschool as well.
Before her work within the Christ & Holy Trinity community, Kate worked both in the New York City public school system as an educator, as well as a preschool teacher in a private Montessori preschool in Stamford, CT for many years. She holds an undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Services, with a minor in Child Psychology, from the University of Connecticut and a Masters in Education from Fordham University.
In her spare time, she is often found on the sidelines cheering her kids on, running, and skiing in the winter.
Dianna Walsh has been active in our school, serving as a parent volunteer, member of the parent board (serving as board chair for several years) and an alumni representative on the school governance committee. Dianna and her husband Erik have two daughters (Emma, 11 and Reagan, 10) who are both alums of our program. Their youngest, Finn, will be joining our 3-day 2’s this year. Dianna is an attorney, having received her law degree from Boston University School of Law and working at a law firm in New York for ten years. She is excited to be back at the Preschool as both a parent and an administrator this year.
The Rev. John Betit is the Rector of Christ & Holy Trinity Church and serves as Head of School. The preschool has been a treasured ministry of Christ & Holy Trinity Church for over 50 years. Regardless of a family's faith background or beliefs, all are welcome in the CHT community. Christ & Holy Trinity Church is guided by a vision of "transforming lives." Each day, the church campus is alive in this vision as young learners discover the world and grow in curiosity, confidence and empathy with love and respect for another.
Maureen Hines was our three's and four's teacher here at CHT for the past 7 years and has recently retired. She will still be here to help out in other classrooms when needed. We are very excited to see her!
Dylan Mello Bio Coming soon...
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