New Classroom/Staffing Changes

Dear Preschool Families,

Here we grow again! On Monday November 7th 2011, the Burlington Early Childhood Center will open a new classroom. The new room will be called the Spunky Monkeys, and will run 5 mornings a week from 8:30 to 11:30. When this new room opens we will have some staffing changes that will impact some of the other classrooms. The changes are as follows:

Amanda Nasta who is currently the teaching assistant in the Friendly Frogs room will become the new classroom teacher of the Spunky Monkeys. Amanda has a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education and is certified by the State of Massachusetts.
Alissa Leto will be the instructional assistant in the Spunky Monkey classroom. Alissa has a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and is also certified by the State of Massachusetts. Alissa has spent the past year working as a lead teacher for the Goddard School.

Ashley Toltz will become the new Instructional Assistant in the Friendly Frogs room. Ashley has a master’s degree in Early Childhood Development and has worked as a developmental educator for Thom Mystic Valley Early Intervention. Ashley will be with the Friendly Frogs in the morning and the Barnyard Buddies in the afternoon.

We have also added 3 additional teaching assistants and a permanent substitute teacher that will support the classrooms daily.
The teacher’s aides are Liz Bishop, Elaine Cornell and Mary Giradi. Liz is a recent graduate of Dean College with a degree in Dance. Liz will be working with the Puppy Pals and the Barnyard Buddies. Elaine Cornell ran her own home day care for a while and she will be working with the Cub Cadets and the Spunky Monkeys. Mary Giradi will also join us on November 7th and she will float between the classrooms. We are very fortunate to have Rhonda Casper as our permanent substitute. Rhonda has worked for years as a special education teacher at the Fox Hill Elementary School. She retired in June and has decided that she would like to continue working with children. We are very fortunate to have her expertise at the Burlington Early Childhood Center.

On a side note, we still have AM openings in the Spunky Monkey classroom. We are looking for 3 more neighborhood students that are looking for an am program (T,W,Th from 8:30 to 11:30).

We are very excited about the addition of the Spunky Monkeys and are looking forward to an exciting year of fun and learning.

Thank You,



Louise D’Amato