DIRECTOR, OWNER & UPK QUALIFED PRESCHOOL TEACHER

Katheryne "Katy" Emond is an educator, entrepreneur, and community leader dedicated to supporting children, families, and the vitality of southern Vermont. She holds a Bachelor's degree in English and a Master's degree in Education and spent more than 18 years in public education. During that time, she developed the afterschool program for Putney Central School, helping create meaningful opportunities for local children and working families.

Inspired by a vision to expand access to high-quality early childhood education, Katy founded The Pumpkin Patch Early Childhood Education, which serves children from infancy through school age. She is now leading the development of The Putney Place, a community campus that combines early childhood education, afterschool programming, hospitality, dining, and gathering spaces to strengthen the local economy and preserve an important community landmark.

Katy believes strong communities begin with investing in children and families. Her work reflects a commitment to creating sustainable programs that support educational success, economic opportunity, and meaningful community connections.

Katy and her husband, Joshua, live in Putney, Vermont, with their three children. Together, they are committed to ensuring that The Putney Place remains a locally owned resource that serves the community for generations to come.

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Kya (She/Her) has been working with infants since 2017, building a strong foundation in nurturing, responsive care during the earliest stages of development. As a proud single mom of three amazing children, she brings both personal and professional experience into everything she does—shaping the compassion and understanding she offers to families each day. She has served as the Assistant Director at The Pumpkin Patch since its doors first opened, helping grow the program from a small center into a thriving, community-centered space that supports children, families, and staff alike.

Kya holds a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, along with Associate’s degrees in Business and Early Childhood Education, allowing her to blend creativity, organization, and child development into everything from classroom environments to family communication and community events. She is passionate about building strong relationships, supporting her team, and creating a warm, welcoming environment where everyone feels valued.

Outside of work, Kya loves spending time with her children, getting outdoors, and embracing life with a little extra sparkle—because she truly believes in leading with positivity, happiness, and just the right touch of glitter.

Years of Experience: 9

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Associates in Early Education and Associates in Business. Level 4A on the Vermont Career Ladder and Step One Directors Credential.

Favorite Colors: Pink and Sparkles (that’s a color right?)

Favorite Children's Song: Skinnamarink by Lenny Pearce

Professional Development Coordinator, Human Resource Director

Stephanie is the Human Resource Coordinator at Putney Place. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with specialized studies in Child Development, along with Step 1 and Step 2 Director Credentials. Her passion has always been supporting children, families, and the dedicated professionals who care for them.

She has worked in Early Childhood Education for the past eight years and spent two years working in children's behavioral health. These experiences have strengthened her commitment to creating positive, supportive environments where both children and educators can thrive.

Outside of work, Stephanie is a proud mom of five amazing children and shares her home with two dogs and a cat. Her favorite food is chicken tikka masala. She loves reading, listening to audiobooks, and creating diamond art.

Stephanie enjoys supporting the Putney Place team, children, and families while helping make Putney Place a welcoming, collaborative, and positive place for everyone.

Years of Experience: 10 Years

Education: Bachelor's degree in Psychology with specialized studies in Child Development. Step 1 and Step 2 Director Credentials.

Favorite Colors: Rose Gold and Maroon

Favorite Children's Song: Baby Bumble Bee or We are the Dinosaurs

STARS LEAD TEACHER

Sam (She/Her) is a dedicated educator and proud mother to a wonderful little girl. She recently earned her Northern Lights Career Ladder Level 4A certification, reflecting her commitment to continuous growth and excellence in early childhood education. Sam is currently pursuing her Master's degree in Psychology at Southern New Hampshire University and has been working with children since 2012, with experience in the field dating back to the early 2000s.

Sam creates a classroom environment that is warm, colorful, and inviting, where children feel safe, supported, and inspired to learn and grow.

Years of Experience: 14+

Education: Pursuing her Master's degree in Psychology, Northern Lights Career Ladder Level 4A certification

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Children’s Song: It’s hard to pick just one!

ASSISTANT STAR TEACHER

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.

Years of Experience: 6 and a half

Education: Pursuing College Courses

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Children’s Song: Hickory Dickory Dock

Stars and Moon Floater

Joey (She/Her) is an avid performer throughout the Monadnock region of New Hampshire, frequently taking the stage as both a solo singer and choir member. When she's not performing, she can often be found behind the scenes helping to run productions in her hometown of Keene, NH. At home, she shares her life with her adorable 14-year-old cat, Miss Daisy Mae.

Having grown up babysitting, she has dreamed of becoming a teacher for as long as she can remember. She loves helping children express themselves, build confidence, and discover their unique abilities. Working with kids is truly a dream come true for her.

Years of Experience: This is her first year!

Education: Bachelor's in Voice and Stage Production

Favorite Color: Yellow

Favorite Children’s Song: Fruit Salad by The Wiggles

LEAD MOON TEACHER

Katarina has lived in Western Mass for the last 14 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. She also has her Level 4A on the career ladder for Vermont. Since 2013, she has worked at an elementary school in Mass. and is very excited to join the Pumpkin Patch team.

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

Years of Experience: 13

Education: Bachelors in Japanese and Minor in Education. Currently working on a Masters. Level 4A on the Vermont Career Ladder.

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Children’s Song: The Pirate Song

ASSISTANT MOON TEACHER

Jess (She/Her) joined Putney Place in August 2025 and brings over six years of experience in early childhood education, including several years working with children in the Brattleboro area. Born and raised in the VT/NH/MA tri-state region, she is passionate about creating a classroom filled with laughter, curiosity, and creativity.

A proud mom of three boys—ages 24, 15, and 12—Jess fuels her days with coffee, color, and meaningful connections. Outside of the classroom, you'll often find her cooking something delicious, caring for her ever-growing collection of houseplants, or hula hooping her way through a sunny Vermont afternoon. Her warm personality, creativity, and love for children help make Putney Place a fun and welcoming place to learn and grow.

Years of Experience: 6

Education: Pursuing College Courses

Favorite Color: She loves them all!

Favorite Children’s Song: We are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner

LEAD SUN 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 high school, 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 them 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. She is currently further expanding her expertise by participating in the Program for Infant and Toddler Care (PITC) through the Vermont Child Development Division in partnership with WestEd California, strengthening her knowledge of responsive, relationship-based care for our youngest learners.

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 daughters and two beautiful grandchildren in Florida, birdwatching with her partner’s tortoise/Maine Coon mix cat, and in her free time, she enjoys hiking, wildlife sightings, walking, cooking, reading poetry, listening to classical and jazz music, and beauty hunting.

Years of Experience:

Education: B.A. Theology with Minor in Teaching English as a Second Language from CIU in South Carolina. K-8 Teaching endorsement from Northwest Florida State College. Level IVA Northern Lights Career Ladder. Education in Nature-Based Early Childhood Education from Antioch University. 28 Early Childhood credits through Prior Learning @ CCV. Infant and Toddler training from California State University Fresno endorsed by the Vermont Child Development Division.

ASSISTANT SUN 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.

Years of Experience: 20

Education: Completed College Courses

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Children’s Song: Baba Black Sheep

SKY AND SUN FLOATER

Cindy (she/her) has a true gift when it comes to helping children feel calm, safe, and supported. With what we like to call her “magic touch”—and maybe a little fairy dust—she gently helps children re-regulate and find their way back to balance. Cindy has been working with children for the past three years, bringing patience, warmth, and intuition into every interaction. Prior to entering childcare, she successfully ran her own restaurant, building strong skills in leadership, organization, and care that she now brings into the classroom every day.

LEAD SKY TEACHER

Hannah (She/Her) has been working in early childhood education for over 9 years, beginning her journey at just 13 years old. She has spent the last several years working in childcare centers throughout New Hampshire and Maine, where she has continued to grow her passion for helping children learn through play.

Hannah loves creating engaging art, messy sensory, imaginative play, and hands-on science activities that spark curiosity and encourage exploration. She believes that learning through play is one of the best ways to introduce new concepts to young minds and is always looking for creative ways to make learning fun.

Outside of the classroom, Hannah is a licensed nail artist who enjoys expressing her creativity in many ways. She is excited to get to know your family and help your child learn, grow, and thrive!

Years of Experience: 9

Education: Licensed Nail Artist and Level 3A on the Career Ladder

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Children’s Song: BabyBeluga by Raffi

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!

Years of Experience: 1.5

Education: BA in Political Science and Economics

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Song: On Top of Spaghetti

FLOATER AND AFTERCARE ASSISTANT

Nicole (she/her), also known as Nikki, may be newer to the childcare field, but she brings a wealth of real-life experience from raising her two children and past managing businesses. A true pro at juggling schedules and keeping things running smoothly, Nikki has a natural talent for organization and support. She uses these strengths every day to help all classrooms stay on track, stepping in wherever she’s needed with flexibility, care, and a positive attitude.

Years of Experience: 5 Years

Education: Pursuing College Courses

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Children’s Song: If All of The Rain Drops

AFTERCARE TEACHER

My name is Meghan, and I am the AfterCare teacher here at the Pumpkin Patch. I am a licensed early childhood special education teacher (birth - 5 years). Outside of my time at the Pumpkin Patch, I work in the preschool classrooms at Bellows Falls Central Elementary School. I have been involved in the education system since 2004, working with organizations such as Easter Seals, Head Start, WNESU, and now the Pumpkin Patch’s AfterCare program.

Outside of school, I am a mother to my 20-year-old daughter, Madeline, who attends UVM. I also have two dogs (Olive and Otto) and two cats (Cider and Smudge). My husband and I enjoy tending to our vegetable gardens in the summer and staying cozy by the wood-stove in the winter.

A few of my favorite things:
Years of Experience: 22

Education: Licensed Early Childhood Special Education
 Favorite Color: Color: Blue

Favorite Childrens Song: You are my Sunshine

Maintenance and The Sweet Spot Manager

Josh (He/Him) enjoys spending his time outdoors whenever he's not serving coffee, cooking breakfast, or helping out with his wife's wonderful childcare program. Hunting, fishing, and foraging for wild mushrooms are some of his favorite pastimes. If you happen to spot wild mushrooms featured on the café's specials board, there's a good chance he picked them himself. Whether he's in the kitchen, the woods, or lending a hand at the childcare center, Josh enjoys staying busy and sharing his passions with those around him.

Kitchen Support

Arla Rebaudo, a Vermont native, born in South Royalton, VT. She lives in Brattleboro with her 3 daughters. She enjoys the outdoors, time with family and friends, summer trips to Block Island and quiet walks with her dog River. She particularly enjoys taking pictures in and out of the classroom, so students will have memories that will last a lifetime! She is delighted to be a part of the Pumpkin Patch and Sweet Spot Cafe Family! She looks forward to many more years of collaboration with students and staff for a successful school year!

Education: She studied at CCV and graduated from Hallmark Institute of Photography.

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Children’s Song: Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

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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!

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Kali (She/Her) has been subbing at The Pumpkin Patch for two years on her school breaks. She is a Junior in college studying Elementary Education.

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Children’s Song: The More We Get Together