Shawna is the mother of 4 children in the family that she and her partner have blended and grown for the past 8 years. She is an early childhood education director and forever a teacher in her heart. Shawna earned a bachelor’s degree in Education and Spanish from Our Lady of the Elms College. She has worked in early education centers all over Western Massachusetts for over 20 years. Some of her favorite things about her work are the busy sound of classrooms filled with kids and teachers enjoying the day together, and the wisdom of three-year-old logic. Shawna believes that care is education, that play is the conduit for learning, and that teachers in partnership with families are the foundational tenets for a quality early education program.

Rachel has over twenty years of experience in the early childhood field and has spent ten years teaching in the Northampton Public Schools. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to creating nurturing, inclusive environments where children, families, and co-teachers feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow. She believes families are essential partners in early learning, and hopes to ensure that all caregivers feel welcomed, informed, and respected. And she understands that when educators feel confident and supported, they are better able to bring creativity, excitement, and purpose into the classroom. Rachel’s educational philosophy centers on natural, child-led exploration within safe, respectful, and developmentally appropriate environments. She is passionate about classrooms where the youngest learners feel encouraged to try new things, ask questions, and express themselves—knowing their voices matter. She is excited to contribute her experience and passion for early childhood education to the Nonotuck school community that values collaboration, growth, and child-centered learning. Outside of school, Rachel is a proud parent of two teenage sons, and cares for an ever expanding collection of houseplants. She loves to read (102 books in 2025!) and go to the movies—one of her favorite places in the Valley for a fun escape is Amherst Cinema.

Netania came to the Valley in 1994 while in her 20s and has loved calling this place home. She has had a varied career, from a language arts special education teacher to a house flipper to her current career as the owner of Caravan Kitchen food truck. She is also a parent of two young adults. Netania loves to spend her time outdoors (hiking, skiing, biking, swinging in the hammock with a good book) and eating good food with good friends. Netania joined the  Nonotuck Community School in 2020, and loves supporting and growing with this warm and welcoming community of people.

Sandy has been with Nonotuck for over 20 years, working in the office and now working remotely doing our bookkeeping. Sandy lives with three of her sisters and her ‘fur babies’ (also known as ‘cats’).

Crystal has been working in the early childhood field for 20 years. She has a lot of knowledge when it comes to sensory experiences of all kinds, from the pros of messy play, to working with overstimulated children, to quiet times and stress relief. Mom to two very handsome boys, on weekends Crystal can be found rooting on her favorite soccer/basketball/track player, her son Lucas, or setting up tents for backyard camping “trips” with younger son Chase. Crystal and her boyfriend are always looking for fun things to do to help create a family bond while engaging the boys in new and exciting experiences.

Kat has been working in child care for the last decade. She attended Plymouth State University and has a degree in Communications with a minor in Child Welfare and Family Studies. She loves the outdoors and taking her class outside to learn whenever possible. She is passionate about education and enjoys seeing her students learn and grow in a warm nurturing environment. Hailing from New Hampshire, Kat is now living in Western Mass, flipping houses with her husband and baby V. In her free time she can be found hiking with her child, dogs, and husband. They’re always looking for new places to swim and explore, so if you know any cool trails let her know!

Victoria has been working in child care since 2023, fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a teacher and making a difference in the lives of children. Ever since she was young, she has been passionate about shaping young minds, helping them learn, and watching them grow into confident, curious individuals. Her dedication to nurturing each child’s unique strengths and creating a positive, supportive learning environment reflects her deep commitment to education and personal growth. For Victoria, working with children isn’t just a job, it’s a calling and a source of joy and inspiration every day.

Lyndsey has been a teacher of young children for over 22 years. She has worked with kids and families from Springfield, Chicopee, and Longmeadow. Lyndsey enjoys watching kids of all ages learn and grow. Lyndsey shares her home with her cat, Oscar. When she is not working, Lyndsey spends time with her family and loves to bake.

Andray’a brings nearly six years of experience working with children, along with an associate degree in Early Childhood Education, and is currently continuing her studies toward her bachelor’s degree. Throughout her journey, she’s developed a deep passion for supporting young learners with patience, compassion, and understanding, while creating a nurturing and engaging environment where they feel safe to grow. She is especially excited about the opportunity to join Nonotuck Community School because of its strong emphasis on family involvement and community connection, and she is genuinely excited for the chance to contribute positively, learn alongside others, and be part of such a caring and supportive community!

Julie (she/they) grew up in down-east Maine. She loved being right on the coast but does not miss how windy it was there. She loved visiting Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park every year, climbing on rocks and checking out the tide pools. It is very exciting that Nonotuck is close to the mill river! Julie loves going down in the spring and summer with children to explore the mud hills, climb over rocks and find crawfish in the water. They attended the University of Maine Orono earning a Bachelor’s in Child Development and Family Relations with a double minor in Education and Psychology. Julie has been working with children for over 10 years. She has been: a camp counselor, floater, substitute and now a classroom teacher since 2019 at Nonotuck. Outside of Nonotuck she enjoys various types of crafting and painting. They love playing board games and doing puzzles with their girlfriend, as well as spending time with their cat and dog.

Sam has been working in preschool classrooms since 2012. She earned her Associate’s Degree in Early Education from Greenfield Community College and went on to Salem State University to complete a dual-major BS program in Education and Art. She has experience teaching in a variety of classrooms, including play-based and Montessori classrooms. She lived in Salem for several years before returning to The Valley in 2019. Since moving back she enjoys spending time with her family and pets, gardening, and cooking. If she’s not at home or in her classroom, you might find Samantha at a local concert or restaurant. She’s so excited to have found a place in the Nonotuck Community!

Sarah has had a passion for teaching young children ever since high school when she had a year long internship in a kindergarten class at her old elementary school. After moving to Massachusetts in 2014, she began working in local preschools and became a licensed infant, toddler and preschool teacher. During the pandemic, she raised her now five year old daughter and completed her associate’s degree in early childhood education from Greenfield Community College. Sarah enjoys getting to know each child and understanding each of their learning styles. Her favorite part of teaching is helping children explore their imaginations and bringing their ideas to life.  She also loves making lesson plans, which she used to do for her own daughter. When she’s not at work, Sarah enjoys being out in nature, taking photographs, hiking, kayaking, spending time with her family, and sharing adventures with her daughter.

Sage has been working in early childhood education since 2020. After graduating from Hampshire College with a concentration in visual arts and social justice, he studied early childhood education at Holyoke Community College and earned an EEC teacher certification. Sage enjoys learning alongside children and providing them with the tools to be independent and resilient problem solvers. He draws inspiration from the self-directed education model he experienced at Hampshire. Sage loves to be in nature and make art, both at school and in his spare time. He is often painting, drawing, and embroidering. He has been playing guitar since age twelve and singing since he could talk. Sage is the middle child of five siblings, one of whom is also a preschool teacher!

Sarah and her fiancé recently moved to Western Massachusetts from Seattle, Washington to build a home and life in this beautiful, peaceful area. In her free time, she enjoys baking, cooking, arts and crafts, watching good movies, and participating in folk music and dancing. Sarah has worked in early childhood education for the last five years, including three years of experience as a lead teacher. Sarah’s teaching philosophy centers on helping young children develop confidence, compassion, and an appreciation for the natural world so they are well-equipped to navigate the challenges of today’s digital age. She loves spending her days with funny, creative, and curious little humans, and her most important goal is ensuring that all children know they belong in our classroom community.

Casey (he/him) is really excited and grateful to have the opportunity to work at Nonotuck. He’s been working with kids for about eight years in afterschool programs and summer camps with kids aged three through sixteen. He loves to run around and play games with kids – he’s earned a few nicknames over the years like ‘Chicken Warrior’ and ‘Troll under the castle,’ and hopes to earn another one in his time at Nonotuck.

Rowan began working at Nonotuck Community School in February of 2022. They’ve had roles here as both a co-teacher and a floater teacher. Looking back, they see that working with children & youth has been a part of almost every role they’ve had since they were just 14 years old. They’ve been a nanny, academic support assistant, camp counselor, Head Start health department clerk, youth empowerment mentor, and more. In 2021 they decided to try preschool/toddler teaching. At Nonotuck they’ve learned and cultivated almost everything they know about how to be with, care for, and teach young children. This has been by observing and learning from the remarkably dedicated and skillful teachers here. Rowan believes that at its core and essential form their job is to love children unconditionally and that from this foundation all types of learning can occur. Not everyone gets to have a job that is based in love, authenticity, and care. So for that they are very grateful.

Sam lives in Florence. He has experience working with infants through grade 5 children in a variety of settings. Over the course of 10 years, he worked in Montessori classrooms as well as after school and summer programs. For the past several years he worked as a substitute in the Northampton Public Schools as a teacher and educational support professional. He completed his BA in 2019 at Elms College in Early Childhood Education. Sam takes great pride in contributing towards young children’s development and learning.