Meet the Faculty

Melissa is a dedicated educator with a passion for teaching math and science to young children and coaching educators to become intentional and reflective in their practice.

She has extensive experience with STEM education and is an expert curriculum developer, a seasoned and award-winning educator, part-time professor, and a proven leader in museum education.

Melissa began her career teaching 4th grade in the Middleborough and North Attleboro public schools, where she taught math and science and honed her expertise in inquiry- based education and STEM-related curriculum development. Her early work earned her the Rookie Teacher of the Year Award in Plymouth County in 2004.

Melissa has worked as a teaching mentor in various college settings, including at Bridgewater State College, Sandwich High School, Antioch University New England, and UMass Dartmouth. In the STEM arena she has coordinated science fairs and served on science and math curriculum committees.

Since 2010, Melissa has led numerous education initiatives for Heritage Museums & Gardens that have built its reputation as a prominent outdoor education center. Melissa was head of curriculum development for Hidden Hollow, developed numerous museum-wide programs for families, and helped design and lead teachers’ workshops emphasizing STEM and nature education at an early age. As manager of visitor services, she trained and supervised 25 museum educators.

Melissa is the founding director of The Hundred Acre School at Heritage Museums & Gardens where, through her leadership, two museum galleries have been transformed into a state-of-the-art STEM-focused school that is the pinnacle of educational best practice. She is the co-author of the “Collections Curriculum: A STEM-Focused Curriculum” created as part of the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care 2014 Preschool Innovative STEM Curriculum Grant. In April 2016, the Boston Association for the Education of Young Children awarded her the Award for STEM: An educator who inspires children to explore and discover our world through the use and application of science, technology, engineering, and math and encourages children to become stewards of our environment.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, awarded her a Governor’s Citation in April 2016. “On behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I am pleased to confer upon you this Governor’s Citation in recognition of your strong leadership and dedication to improving the quality of early childhood education for young children in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”

Leading for Children has awarded Melissa with an Honorable Mention in 2017 and Runner Up in 2018 for their annual Innovative Ideas Award. The 2018 entry VIPs — Virtual and In Person Engagement Strategies. This idea was developed in close collaboration with teachers and offers many different ways to engage families with diverse needs and styles into the school community. It has been published by NAEYC in their book Families and Educators Together: Building Great Relationships that Support Young Children.

Melissa shares her expertise in early education and STEM widely:

• Part-time professor at Bridgewater State University since 2017
• Keynote speaker at the New England Head Start Conference, 2018 & 2019
• Keynote speaker at the Keefe-Bruyette Science and Math Symposium for Young Children in 2016
• National Association for the Education of Young Children conference 2015-2018
• National Education Research Association conference in 2002
• Massachusetts STEM Summit 2014, 2016 & 2017
• National Association of Regulatory Administration Seminar 2015
• Keefe-Bruyette Science and Math Symposium for Young Children in 2016-2020, 2023
• All Cape Professional Development Day in 2016, 2017 & 2019
• Massachusetts Brain Building in Progress Action Planning Team in 2014 & 2015

Melissa has a Master of Education degree from Lesley University and holds an bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College, where she graduated with honors and a post-graduate certificate in Online Teaching and Learning from Bridgewater State University. She is currently pursuing Doctorate in Educational Leadership with a STEM focus at UMass Lowell.

She is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care as a Preschool Lead Teacher, Director I and Director II. She holds an additional professional license with the Massachusetts Department of Education in Elementary Education 1-6.

Alicia has over 20 years of experience and a bachelor’s degree from UMass Dartmouth where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Alicia is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care as a Lead Teacher, Director 1 and Director 2.

Alicia began teaching at the school in September 2014, the inaugural year of its opening. Since then, she has cultivated a rich learning environment for seven classes of preschoolers while serving as the assistant director. In 2021, she transitioned to teaching Kindergarten, continuing her dual role as assistant director. Her classroom is a hub of dynamic experiences, seamlessly integrating all learning activities to support specific concepts. Alicia enjoys the outdoors and exploring the ever-changing grounds of Heritage Museums & Gardens.

In 2024, she transitioned from classroom teaching to fully support the entire school as the Assistant Director. Professionally, Alicia has grown by presenting on STEM in early education at the Massachusetts STEM Summit and the Science & Math Symposium for Young Children in Connecticut multiple times.

Alicia loves that each day at the school brings new experiences. She strongly believes that play and outdoor activities are crucial for the development of Kindergarteners. The challenge of integrating educational standards into play so that students are unaware they are learning allows her to apply her expertise in a purposeful and effective manner.

Heidi has over 25 years of experience and a bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College .

Heidi is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care as a Preschool Lead Teacher.

Heidi began teaching at the school in September 2015. Since joining the school, she has blended her previous experience in Montessori education with the experiential learning of our STEM curriculum. She is an expert at observing children in play and asking just the right question to help a child extend an experience.

Professionally, Heidi has presented at the Massachusetts STEM Summit. She has a passion for working with young children and enjoys helping the whole child grow. She does this by modeling a kind and calm demeaner and encourages students to do the same. Heidi is an avid gardener and often shares her love plants and the environment with children, fellow teachers and parents.

Chris has over 20 years of experience teaching. She has a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with Specialization in Special Education from Lesley University and a Bachelor’s degree from UMass Dartmouth.

Chris is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care as a Preschool Lead Teacher. She holds an additional license with the Massachusetts Department of Education in Elementary Education 1-6 and has a certificate in Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) endorsements.

Chris began teaching at the school in Fall of 2021 as a PreK teacher then transitioned to the school’s first 2nd grade teacher in the Fall, 2023. Her teaching career began in early elementary classrooms including almost a decade teaching grade 2 then transitioned to early childhood family and community programs. We are delighted to welcome her back to the classroom where she can blend her formal and informal educational expertise.

Chris enjoys traveling and learning about the outdoors so blending this passion for exploration into the daily experiences within the grade 2 classroom is a natural fit. Her goal is to allow students to reflect on their thinking and themselves as a learner so that these valuable early education building blocks with support them throughout the rest of their educational career.

Tasha has over 15 years teaching experience and has a Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential. This is a widely recognized credential in early childhood education administered by the Council for Professional Development. The CDA Credential guides early child care professionals as they work toward becoming qualified teachers of young children. Obtaining a CDA is an important accomplishment and one that develops well informed practitioners knowledgeable in child development and best practices for teaching young children.

Tasha is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care as a Preschool Lead Teacher.

Tasha began teaching at our school in June 2022. She strives to guide a love for learning by fostering the children’s natural curiosity. Tasha uses music and movement in many lessons to extend STEM ideas and concepts.

Jessica has over 10 years of experience and Bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst.

Jessica is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care as a Preschool Lead Teacher and Director 1. She has taken her MTEL exams to become certified with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Jessica began teaching at the school in September 2018 and has taught PreK, Kindergarten and Grade 1 during her tenure. Her previous experience in various elementary classrooms has allowed her to be thoughtful about the growth and development needed to transition preschoolers into kindergarten and beyond. She has a strength in scientific thinking and approaches learning from a “let’s discover it together” spirit. Jessica is an expert at meeting student’s individualized needs. Her classroom is filled with hands-on engaged learners who are motivated to meet challenges and expectations throughout the day. Her favorite part of working at the school is the flexibility of her daily schedule to meet the needs of her students at all times.

Sam has over 10 years teaching experience and a bachelor’s degree in Early Education from Bridgewater State University.

Sam is licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care as a Preschool Lead Teacher, Director 1 and Director 2.

Sam officially began teaching at the school in September 2020. However, we were lucky to have Sam as a student teacher from Bridgewater State in the Fall of 2019 when she completed 200 hours of practicum coursework with us.

Sam enjoys the challenge of thinking about each child’s strengths and areas of growth as they mature during preschool. The preschool year is such a special time in their development so seeing the student’s growth from beginning of year to the end is inspiring.