Pearl Abiti is entering her third year at Charlestown Nursery School. Pearl joins us from a Reggio Emilia-inspired school at the University of Vermont, where she taught Pre-K for two years. Pearl is a licensed teacher and earned her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education at the University of Vermont, where she was also a student-athlete on the UVM Track Team. She was the team captain, heptathlete, gold medal pentathlete, and all-around indoor MVP winner. Her athleticism and joy for movement are both present in her work with children. Pearl strongly values relationships and creating authentic experiences in a dynamic learning environment. Whether it is inside the classroom or in the natural world, Pearl’s work reflects her value and respect for children as competent citizens. She is constantly finding inspiration and ideas from the educators in Reggio Emilia and through professional development and conferences nearer to home. Pearl is honored to have visited three Reggio-inspired schools in New York City in the last year. She believes that children are curious and learn best through exploration and play that is thoughtfully guided by their teachers. Recently, she has started Reggio-inspired Affinity PLAYgroups for early childhood educators and children ages 3-8. Outside of the classroom, Pearl enjoys staying active and spending time with friends and family.
 

Kate is a fifth year teacher at Charlestown Nursery School. A graduate of the University of Vermont, one of the most well-respected lab schools, Kate has refined her practice at the Campus Children’s Center, Radcliffe Child Care, and Reggio Emilia, where she was fortunate to have visited for a study group. She is constantly finding joy and inspiration from the Reggio philosophy and is particularly captivated by all the possibilities that present themselves when the child is viewed as a capable and active participant in their learning journey. She enjoys forming relationships with the children, the families, and colleagues. When not at school, Kate loves being outside whether it’s running, hiking, or relaxing at the beach. 
 

Marlene Calixto has been a caregiver and early childhood educator at Charlestown Nursery School since our beginning. After decades of work with young children in our community, she joined CNS over 5 years ago to complement her early childhood studies at Bunker Hill Community College and her teacher certification. She comes with years of training and experience in the “CNS approach”. She has studied with us and joined our professional development for almost a decade. She works closely with the Greenway, toddler team and she has offered some of our programmings in Spanish.

Nancy has been teaching for over 25 years and is now serving as a consultant and coach at Charlestown Nursery School. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts, she has worked at many early childhood centers, including the Harvard Radcliffe Center, and managing her own. She worked closely with the Child Development Department while at Harvard in both the practice and training of new educators. She has extensive training in the Reggio Emilia approach, including being chosen to travel to Reggio Emilia on a study tour. She also recently attended a study tour in New Zealand. She brings a particular interest in nature and environmental education to the classroom. She has been instrumental in designing our summer, afternoon, and @home programs. In addition to teaching and learning, she enjoys photography, dancing, crafts, bicycle tours, and time with her family.

Bridget enters her fifth year teaching at Charlestown Nursery School. Her daughter attended CNS in the first years and she is thrilled to be coming back to join the faculty team. She has over 15 years working with young children, the last 6 of those as an educator and administrator in her own home-based program. She holds a MEd from Suffolk University. She spent several years working as a school counselor with both elementary and middle school students. Bridget is excited to bring her love of nature and early literacy to the classroom. When she is away from school she spends a lot of time volunteering in local organizations, sharing her love of the city with her own 3 children, reading, and running.

Stephanie has been teaching for decades and has been at CNS since our early years. A graduate of Emerson College, she has a master's degree in communication disorders. As a speech and language pathologist, she has experience working with children and adults in rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and early intervention programs. She brings a particular interest and expertise in language and literacy development. She recently attended a study tour to Reggio Emilia served as a guide The Wonder of Learning and worked at the Boston Children's Museum. Besides teaching and learning, she enjoys reading, traveling, and sailing with her family.

Hilary is entering her first year at CNS bringing with her nearly 30 years of experience in the field of early childhood education. Hilary holds a MA in Innovative Early Childhood Education from the University of Colorado’s Boulder Journey School. Hilary currently supports that same MA program as a Lecturer each Fall. Hilary also serves on the executive board of the Boston Area Reggio Inspired Network and co-chairs their Professional Development series for our Boston Area Reggio-Inspired educators. Hilary has served in nearly every position in the field from Classroom Teacher to Pedagogista, and a variety of administrative roles including serving as the Director of Radcliffe Child Care Center at Harvard University (2022-23) and the Director of Newtowne School (2014-19). She provides Consultant and Mentor Support to local teachers when she is not in the classroom. These roles all align with the important work of aspiring to co-construct knowledge alongside the young child. Hilary has also used the Reggio- Inspired Approach to influence her parenting of three amazing humans, who have taken their own sense of 'being capable' to amazing heights, as they enter adulthood.

Above all, Hilary is thrilled to be returning to the classroom in her role at CNS. She values the strength of connections that are possible within a classroom community and looks forward to the curiosity and wonder that guide us in our deeper understanding of the world.  As we make meaning of the world together, we expand our understanding of self and others, gain more insight into who we are as learners, and deepen our relationships. She also looks forward to continuing her work and mentorship of Boston Area Educators through her role at CNS.

Amanda is entering her first year at Charlestown Nursery School. She joins after almost 10 years teaching in Reggio-inspired schools in the area, most recently as an atelierista. She draws from her undergraduate arts studies, with a degree in Art History and minors in Art Therapy and Visual Art from Lesley University. Amanda hopes to round out her practice with an eye toward the future of education, currently seeking an M.A. in Learning, Design, and Technology at Georgetown University. She enjoys the creative challenge of designing learning experiences and documentation that honor and showcase the abilities of young children and has presented her work to fellow teachers at a number of BARIN and NAREA events. Amanda loves exploring her new hometown on the North Shore, taking barre and yoga classes, and visiting her family in Maryland for crab feasts!

Molly joins us as a teaching and research fellow this year. She is a graduate of Trinity College. Most recently, she served as part of the admissions team at Milton. As a former college lacrosse player, she also coached lacrosse at Milton and Trinity. Now a resident of Charlestown, she is eager to explore an interest in early childhood education and development.