Our Staff
The learning environment created by our teachers is critical to the quality of an early childhood program. The experiences that a child has in their earliest years shape their development, and teachers play an important role in creating those experiences. A well-trained and highly skilled teacher tailors their interactions to fit the needs of the child—using responsive language, engaging all children in classroom activities, fostering independence, and creating a language-rich environment. Effective early childhood teachers proactively prevent and redirect challenging behavior and respond to children’s needs with respect, warmth, and empathy. The experiences children have with teachers in their earliest years can also set the tone for their interactions with teachers in later grades and thus are crucial to promoting positive attitudes about school and approaches to learning.
TIA MAY MCCALL
BEATRICE
KRISTY
coming soon
Aimee integrates her knowledge of plants, planting and the land into our preschool program. She works 1 on 1 with each choild duting the harden season (April to October) in the garden from seeds to harvest.
LILY
GIANNA
MEG
Lily Bunte, who has been at Pollywogs for 3 years, creates an engaging and supportive environment for our students. Lily is a Junior at the University of Rhode where she is pursuing her Bachelor's in Elementary Education and a Master's in Special Education. When not at work or school, Lily will be snuggling with her two cats, Buddy and Hershey. Lily is an avid reader and enjoys her free time getting involved in a good book.
Gianna is relatively new to childhood education; she has mastered our Toddler Room with great aplomb! She has found her passion and the children love her! When she is not at Pollywogs, you can find her at the beach or reading a book and spending time with her family.
coming soon
JESSICA
RAVEN
REEM
Introducing Jess! With over 12 years of childcare experience, she creates enriching environments that nurture babies' natural curiosity, healthy development and energy. Jess is dedicated to caring for infants and is well-loved by them in return. Excitingly, she is expecting her first child in January. Outside of work, Jess enjoys spending time with her family and friends, her nieces and nephews, and of course her cats and dogs.
coming soon
coming soon
CHEF Lou-Ann
GARDENER Aimée
It's my pleasure to announce that we have a new addition to the Pollywogs family. Chef Lou joins us with over 30 years in the restaurant business, most recently at a favorite Mystic restaurant. She has developed an organic food program by cooking seasonal foods with a French flare!
Her passion is to develop culinary delights for our children, to introduce new fruits and vegetables to the children's diets and provide quality, healthy meals and snacks for all! She provides breakfast, lunch and snacks daily.
Meet Aimée, a lifelong resident of Connecticut and a proud graduate of the University of Connecticut, where she earned her BA in Women’s Studies and Anthropology with honors. After working in women’s healthcare, she embraced the role of a homeschooling mom, blending her passions for nature education, local history, and organic farming. Aimée has a small flower farm and offers garden consultations, continually exploring the wonders of flowers, particularly dahlias. Residing in Preston with her large family, she cherishes the beauty of each season while nurturing their beloved property.