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MARY JOHNSON CHILDREN'S CENTER
Early Childhood
Rumble Buffins
Courtney Otis
Hi!! My name is Courtney also known as Coco to many! I live in Middlebury with my husband Jesse and our two kids Quinn (6) and Hudson (3). We have a chocolate lab named Kona, an orange cat named Flipper, and a bunch of chickens! My husband and I both grew up here in Addison County and knew this is where we wanted to start our family. In my free time I enjoy going for walks around our neighborhood and being outside! I also really love food!
I hold an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and have been working with infants and young toddlers for over 10 years! I came to Mary Johnson 7 years ago to help start this infant program and I’m so proud of the work we have done and where we are today! It’s an amazing program where the youngest children in our community have the freedom to explore and learn through their own interests and personal lens. I am looking forward to another year getting to know the children in my classroom and their families and having so much fun exploring curriculum that is child led. It’s the best, most rewarding job.
Rosie Maheu
Hi! My name is Rosie. I’ve been working at Mary Johnson for 4 years. I started here as a float and got to experience all the rooms and all the amazing teaching styles every teacher had to offer. I quickly found my passion in the infant classroom. I'm going into my 3rd year now and love getting to meet new families and spend every day with their babies providing a safe, loving, fun space for them to play and learn. Being an infant teacher is so rewarding and I learn more every day. Their little minds are soaking up everything and they grow so much in the year that they spend in our classroom.
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I live in Shoreham with my energy filled black lab Chloe. On my free time I spend a lot of time outdoors going on spontaneous adventures, and quality time with family and friends. I have a huge passion for art and music and love the freedom we have to introduce children to so many endless opportunities that incorporate both. Singing and dancing is an everyday occurrence in our classroom. Creativity and freedom to express yourself through music and art plays a huge role in development and I love seeing children get messy and create their own process in every activity we do.
Caspia
Lisa Stewart
My name is Lisa Stewart I have been working at MJCC since April 2021. I live in Brandon with My partner Luke and our cat Scout. I love to garden and preserve what we grow. I am an avid amateur photographer and fisher. Music is a big part of my life and while I don't play an instrument, or sing very well, I like to call myself a professional listener; I will listen to everything and anything I can get my hands on.
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While in high school I worked in a preschool, then went on to work at Head Start in Brandon, and as a nanny. I took a break from working with children for a while to work as an in home caregiver. I spent several years taking care of a quadriplegic as well as working on his farm. That was always a lot of fun, I learned a lot about farming, taking care of somebody, and how to listen. I then went on to Hospice and palliative care for the elderly. For the past couple of years, I've been working at Killington Daycare at their ski school. I worked mostly with two and three year old’s, and I got to meet children from all over the world which was a real joy. I am so excited for the opportunity to work and learn from everyone here a MJCC.
Natalie Chase
Hi, my name is Natalie and I am a float teacher here at Mary Johnson. I have been with MJCC since the beginning of May and this will be my first full school year teaching!
I have lived in VT my entire life and live on a small farm that includes a horse, goats, chickens and ducks. I will also be starting my Sophomore year of college doing online courses at Champlain college for my associate’s degree in business management.
Wendy Chase
Hi! My name is Wendy Chase and I live in Bristol with my family on our small farm. My husband Mike and I have been married for 19 years and together for 26 (high school sweethearts). We have 3 beautiful children, Natalie, 18 and enrolled at Norwich University, Avery 13, attending Mt Abe Union and Gavin 10 who is at Bristol Elementary. Our small farm consists of a horse, 2 goats, 15 chickens, a bunny, 2 cats and 2 giant dogs! Our family loves arts and crafts, camping, fishing, field hockey and Spartan Races.
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Prior to COVID, I owned a licensed home child care program with the State of Vermont for 11 years. I am so very excited and thankful to have become part of MJCC and get to work with all of your kiddos!
Narnia
Lisa Hudson
I live in Pittsford with my husband David and our 3 children Luke, James and Fiona, all who have or are currently attending Mary Johnson. I enjoy taking nature walks, cooking, working with clay and exploring science. I have been working with children of varying ages for 15+ years. I have completed the VT Childcare apprenticeship program and continue to work towards my degree. I have been at Mary Johnson as a Narnian teacher since 2014. If you ask any child that has been in my classroom what Lisa does all day, the answer might be “She makes messes” and it would not be far from the truth. I cannot wait to spend another year here at MJCC (seriously!) and to continue to gain knowledge from my colleagues as well as getting to know all of my students and their families.
Amber Burritt
I am a native Vermonter and grew up nearby in Shelburne, VT. I recently moved to Monkton with my husband and our two children. Our daughter Sadie is in 1 st grade and our 4 year old son Charlie is a Thunder Dragon here at Mary Johnson. We also have a pug named Ginger and a cat named Figaro. I’ve been an Early Childhood Educator for the last 15 years and have been part of the Mary Johnson teaching community for the last five. I currently hold a Vermont teaching license and earned a Bachelor of Science degree at UVM in education with a major concentration in Psychology.
Katelyn Williams
Hi! My name is Katelyn. I grew up in Addison County, and after being away for a little while, I found my way back to Ripton with my two cats, Chandler and Colby.
I am currently working towards my Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Business Administration. I have been working in childcare for five years at various childcare centers, working with multiple ages. In doing this, I found my passion for working with young children. I really enjoy that as an educator you can slow down and enjoy the little things as you look at the world through a child’s eyes.
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In my free time, I enjoy being outside and spending time with my friends and family. I also spend a lot of time helping my dad with his racecar. I really enjoy watching children grow and learn through interactions with their peers, and can’t wait to begin my journey here at Mary Johnson!
David Kirsch
I was raised in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. My interests include music, food, giant soap bubbles and working on electronics. I studied film at the School of Visual Arts and studied audio engineering at the Institute of Audio Research, both in Manhattan.
Having treasured my time in Vermont as a child, I moved to this area, landing in Burlington in 1996. I now live in beautiful South Starksboro!
Since volunteering and working at the VNA Family Room in 2001, I’ve worked in a variety of educational settings with children from infants to school age, including almost every year since then at Camp Common Ground in Starksboro.
I’ve been here at MJCC since 2017, and a few years before that as a sub. I have taken and continue to take many Early Childhood Education classes in addition to keeping current in CPR/First Aid.
It is a gift to have an opportunity to change human lives for the better while having fun, not to mention getting a chance to practice so many different skills all the while. How incredible! I am honored to take care of these amazing children and work with some amazing teachers as well!
Dawntreaders
Sue Hall
Hi, my name is Sue and I am a teacher in the Dawn Treader classroom. I have worked at Mary Johnson for over half of my life, which is over 30 years! I hold a CDA (Child Development Associate certificate).
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I live in Salisbury and have been for many years. I have 4 adult children, 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. I also have 3 cats whom I adore. I spend my free time visiting my family, cleaning my house, loving up my cats and watching movies on Netflix.
Audrey Ells-Payne
My name is Audrey Ells-Payne. I was born and raised in Vermont. Vermont’s culture, values, environment, and education system have kept me here to raise my own child. I have been working with children all of my adult life, primarily in elementary schools. A large focus of my experience lies in behavior intervention and trauma informed care. While pregnant with my daughter I completed a post baccalaureate program and obtained my teaching license. I have always found the most joy and reward in early intervention and decided to join the MJCC community. The child-centered, relationship-driven, and outdoor focused program is a great fit for both myself and my daughter. When not at school I enjoy being outdoors, music, gardening, reading, and creative construction and craft projects.
Gabby Sullivan
My name is Gabby Sullivan, I grew up in Chittenden Vermont, but with lots of traveling ended up coming back here to Middlebury. I graduated at Middlebury Union high school, and I am working towards my degree for early childhood education.
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I am so excited to continue to grow and learn at Mary Johnson, as I have supported children of all ages and abilities for the last 5 years throughout Addison County. My favorite part about working with children with special needs was the endless joy and imagination they bring. Each day is filled with new skills to learn and I passionately loved learning ways to communicate and support every child’s need. The best part about being an early childhood educator is being able to continue being a kid at heart and exploring worlds through the eyes of a child. Each place I have worked has shaped me into the educator I am today. I am looking forward to continue learning here.
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My favorite part about each day is getting to create with the kids and engaging in imaginative play. I love to read books of all genres and tending to my plants. I also have a dog named Duke who is the best companion! You can say I am a big dog person and would have so many dogs if I could! I live in Weybridge with my partner and step son. We love to ride machines and be outdoors as much as we can. My overall hope for each space I work in is to create safe and welcoming environments for all kiddos, families, and staff members!
Morgan Brown
My name is Morgan and I live in Middlebury with my partner Jared and our daughter Brynley. Brynley is currently a Thunderdragon who will be moving onto Kindergarten at Mary Hogan in the Fall. I have been at Mary Johnson since October of 2020. I started out subbing in all different classrooms, before becoming a Dawntreader. I enjoy working with all different age groups of children, going on adventures, and playing outside. My hobbies include anything with my family, especially camping. We bought a camper in 2022 and have been enjoying taking family camping trips since. I look forward to more adventures in the year to come!
Thunder Dragons
Jackie Prime
I am so grateful to be a part of the Mary Johnson Community. I returned to Mary Johnson in 2019 after several years of supporting families in different capacities both here in Vermont and in Texas. I have loved working with children and families for the past 22 years. I have worked with the Department of Children and Families here in Vermont and worked at a large center just off Fort Hood military base in Texas; both of these experiences truly help me to expand my ability to support children and families. I am also proud to share that I am a two time recipient of the Terri Lynn Lokoff National Teaching Award, I received the award in 2016 and in 2022.
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My husband Mike and I live with our children here in Addison County. I'm a mother of four, I have an 18-year-old daughter Jocelyn, a 14-year-old son Jonathan, a 4-year-old son Oakley and 1-year-old daughter Amelia. I grew up in a large, diverse family where I am the oldest of eight children, six of which are adopted from all over the United States. My experiences with my siblings is what sparked my interest in becoming an early educator many years ago.
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As a lifelong learner I am passionate about understanding and supporting the prevention of early childhood trauma and supporting our communityIn building resilience and safety for children and families.I enjoy exploring the natural world with children, as well as supporting children in scaffolding their experiences and expressing themselves through various art mediums.
Megan Aube
I live in New Haven where I was born and raised and come from a close- knit large family. I enjoy camping and spending time with family and friends. I love to travel and have been to many countries outside the U.S. I graduated from Mt. Abraham Union in 2018 and attended the Obrien Aveda institute where I obtained my cosmetology license. For the past several years I worked for the Mary Johnson afterschool program and then joined Mary Johnson Children’s Center in 2021.
Charlotte Winslow
Hi! My name is Charlotte and I grew up in Pittsford, VT on my family’s pumpkin and Christmas tree farm. I currently still live in Pittsford with my little family that consists of my boyfriend Eli and our sweet yellow lab Ralphie!
Outside of work I love spending time with my family and friends, visiting the ocean and enjoying all kinds of outdoor activities that keep me moving!
I have been working with children in a variety of settings for over 10 ears and education settings for about 4 years. I currently hold a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and am
working toward furthering my education geared towards Early Childhood Education. I am so excited to be a part of the MJCC team working with so many amazing children and staff members!