DIRECTOR, OWNER & UPK QUALIFED PRESCHOOL TEACHER

Katy Emond (She/Her) has spent the past sixteen years in public education as a high school English teacher and Drama Club Director. In her time working at the Bellows Falls Union High School, she has directed memorable shows such as Peter Pan, Mary Poppins, Beauty & The Beast, and many more. She has also spent the past twenty-five years teaching swimming lessons around southern Vermont after being certified through both the Red Cross and The American Swim School Association. In addition to the Putney Place, Katy is currently the Afterschool Programs Director for the Putney Central School.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Kya (She/Her) has lived in Brattleboro, Vermont for the past five years and Manchester, Vermont before that. She graduated from Southern New Hampshire University with a Bachelors in Graphic Design and an Associates in Business from Becker College. She also has completed her Childcare Education at The Community College of Vermont. Kya has been working with Infants since 2017.

Kya is a Mom of three under three - Kya loves to take on a new challenge and provide love and support to those around her. In her free time, she enjoys giving her family the best life possible and supporting her Partner at softball games. She loves glitter, happiness and positivity!

CURRICULUM & EARLY INTERVENTION COORDINATOR / LEAD SUN TEACHER

Joli (She/her) grew up and still lives in Western Massachusetts, and has been working with children for more than 15 years. Her work includes outdoor education, Waldorf kindergarten, lead toddler teacher at a Reggio Emilia inspired program, head start and early head start, running her own infant/toddler home daycare, caring for children ages newborn-18 as a foster parent, and working as a developmental specialist with early intervention. She has a bachelors in child growth and development.

When Joli is not teaching, she enjoys baking, hiking, knitting, and folk music/dance. She recently completed a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail in November 2023 with her husband.

CO-LEAD STARS TEACHER

Ashley (She/Her) grew up in Putney, and graduated high school in 2019. Ashley has worked full-time in child-care since 2019, with ages ranging from 16 months to 3rd grade. She has also been working towards an Early Childhood Education Degree through the Community College of Vermont. Outside of work, Ashley can be found creating pottery, and spending time with her partner, two cats, and guinea pig. She also enjoys outdoor activities like gardening, boating, and snowboarding with friends and family.

CO-LEAD STARS TEACHER

Katarina has lived in Western Mass for the last 12 years. She graduated UMass Amherst in 2013 with a Bachelors in Japanese and Minor in Education. She started her Masters in Early Childhood Education back in 2015. Since 2013, she has worked at an elementary school in Mass. and is very excited to join the Pumpkin Patch team in the Sun Room as the assistant teacher.

On her free time, Katarina likes to write, draw, and hang out with her two beautiful boys, husband, and family.

LEAD MOON TEACHER

Amy Powers-Whaley (She/Her) was born in Maine and lived in Bangor for a short time during her early childhood. She moved with her family to the Northeast Kingdom near Concord, Vermont before starting elementary school. Amy spent most of her childhood outside on her grandfather’s dairy farm nestled among the shadows of the White Mountains.

After highschool, Amy earned an undergraduate degree in Theology with a minor in ESOL. Her early childhood career began later, at a small church preschool in Florida. Since then, Amy has worked in multiple preschools and public schools in both Florida and Vermont. She began early childhood coursework in 1995 and took a break from schooling after the birth of her wonderful twin daughters.

After her daughters were born, Amy earned her Florida Teaching License in Elementary Education. When Amy moved back to Vermont, this time to Southern Vermont, she began teaching at Elm Lea Childcare in Putney where she taught for eleven years.

Amy facilitated a nature and play based learning environment at Elm Lea Childcare, taking the children on daily farm, forest and field walks and accompanying the children in outdoor play for a daily minimum of two hours.

During her time at Elm Lea Childcare, Amy completed certificate coursework in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education at Antioch University and continued Early Childhood coursework at CCV. Amy is passionate about her family, Nature-Based Early Childhood Education, spending time outside and bringing the outside in, cooking nutrient-dense and local food, reading to children and adding to her collection of vintage glass jars.

Amy enjoys spending time with her new granddaughter, her beautiful Maine Coon cat, her partner and her family. In her free time, Amy enjoys hiking, wildlife sightings, walking, cooking, reading poetry, listening to classical and jazz and beauty hunting.

ASSISTANT MOON TEACHER

Joanne (She.Her) has over a decade of experience in education and working with children. Seeing children learn something new and seeing them laughing and smiling makes her heart feel full. When she’s not working - she have two children of her own. She enjoys spending as much time outside as possible.

ASSISTANT SUN TEACHER

(She/her) I have lived in the twinstates my whole life. I recently graduated from high school and started my early childhood education journey at the pumpkin patch earlier this June. Seeing the children learn, play, and grow has been a rewarding and fulfilling experience. In my free time I like to read, craft, spend time in nature, and hangout with my cat and friends.

CLASSROOM AID

Abigail (She/Her) just moved back up north and has been working at preschools for almost 5 years. Before that, she was a nanny in Ireland. She enjoys taking her dog to the riverside waterfalls and hiking trails in the area

ACTING LEAD SKY TEACHER

My name is Hannah R, and I've been in childcare for over 7 years now! I've spent my last (nearly) 6 years in childcare centers between New Hampshire and Maine, and am always learning new ways to make learning fun! I am a big fan of messy sensory and imaginative play, and just about any art project I can think of. I believe learning through play is one of the best ways to introduce new concepts to curious minds.

ASSISTANT SKY TEACHER

Anjelica  (she/her) had lived in Mass until she moved to Brattleboro, Vermont to be closer to family. She worked in the health care field for a long time and was an LNA at nursing homes/assisted living for years. Anjelica wanted a career changed but still wanted a job where she can make a difference. 

Anjelica loves working with kids. She is very understanding and patient, learning that from her son with autism. She is a loving mother of one and she loves her family very much. She loves spending quality time with them and her cat Paco.oes here

CLASSROOM AID

Molly Robinson (They/Them) has been involved in childcare for 8 years, and is looking forward to many more! They’re currently enrolled in online education to progress their career. They love singing, and walks in nature, and really getting to explore with art and natural materials. They are a loving parent to one big orange cat!

CLASSROOM AID

Jennifer grew up in both New York and Brazil, and has called Putney home for the past six years. She brings over 15 years of experience as a nanny for several families, specializing in multi-child households. In addition to childcare, Jennifer worked with Yard2Kitchen as a personal gardener and educator, leading engaging garden-based classes for families, apartment communities, and corporate groups. Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys hiking, traveling abroad, reading, and—no surprise—gardening!

AFTERCARE TEACHER

My name is Meghan McRae, and I live in Dummerston with my husband, our daughter (who just finished her freshman year at UVM), two dogs, and two cats.

I am a special education paraprofessional in the Bellows Falls school district, working with preschool-aged children. I'm also excited to be joining the Pumpkin Patch team in the Aftercare program. In addition to my work, I'm currently studying to become a licensed special education teacher in early childhood.

It has been wonderful getting to know all your children, and I'm looking forward to continuing this journey with them here at Pumpkin Patch.

KITCHEN MANAGER

Willow (She/Her) has lived in Vermont most of her life and is so happy to be working in the Putney community. She comes from a background in the arts, fashion, and food. You will find her primarily in the kitchen making food. Previously you may have seen her in the Moon Room where her daughter attends. When not at work, Willow enjoys time with her three children, in the garden or attending to her ever expanding homestead. At home, she is often in the kitchen baking or inventing recipes.

HEAD CHEF

Noel has joined our team as our new head chef, preparing wonderful meals for both the school and the cafe. Noel grew up cooking and has many years of experience in professional kitchens. Outside of work he enjoys his cat Chessy and is an avid hiker.

SUBSTITUTE

Owen (He/Him) grew up in Montague, MA, and now lives just outside Montague. As a teen and young adult he was the go-to babysitter for his community and became a foster parent as an adult. He has worked as a daycare assistant in addition to parenting children of all ages. He loves supporting children in their learning and emotional development.

When he is not teaching he is continuing his education and fixing up his very old house. He recently completed a thru hike of the Appalachian trail with his wife, Joli.