Stacy Navis, Executive Director Stacy taught here at At Sandwich Children's Center from 2015-2017 as the Lead Infant Teacher. Before that, teaching at centers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, for the past 12 years. She headed out of SCC to work in Corporate Sales in the Ski Industry, as another passion of hers. From there she found wedding planning and joined the world of events. However, she missed being surrounded by, and educating, young minds at the end of it all. She entered back into the field of Early Childhood Education and became a Toddler teacher once again and now she has rejoined the team here. In her spare time she enjoys being outside and is working on the 4,000 Footers, one of the reasons she came to New Hampshire 7 years ago! She loves spending time with friends, listening to music, and seeing her cat each day. Wicca knows sit, stay and come and loves to go for visits on her leash! Stacy is more than excited to be back here to work in a larger capacity with the children, families, community and of course the staff that brings Sandwich Children's Center to life.
Always Encourage
Shayna Hidden, Lead Teacher, Toddlers
Shayna comes to SCC from Bearcamp Valley School and Children's Center, where she was assistant director. She enjoyed administrative work but is thrilled to be back in the classroom with children. "I love to see their faces, their adventures," she says. "Seeing them on a daily basis, you get this really good relationship with them." Shayna joined SCC in 2012 and has an associates degree in early childhood education. Outside of work and family she enjoys photography, kayaking and hiking.
Corey Christensen-Judge, Lead Teacher, Toddler
Corey has her BS in Early Childhood Education which she received from Granite State College in Conway, NH. Corey joined SCC in 2010 and has been here off and on throughout that time and now. She has two lovely children that her and her husband love spending time with. They love to go swimming, kayaking, Nordic skiing and hiking. Corey also brings her expertise in Yoga and gardening to SCC. She loves showing the children how to do yoga and reading and laughing with them.
Judy Hewson, Associate Teacher, Infants
Judy has worked with children most of her life, beginning as a teenager teaching skiing, later serving in Christian ministry positions, raising 2 children, and having 6 grandchildren. She has worked with children in preschool, and school age in a before & after school program. Judy has earned her Associate’s Degree from Granite State College, and has an additional 12 credits in Early Childhood Education. She’s currently working toward her State of NH Credentials. She plans on continuing her education at Granite State College. Her household is full and busy with her husband, daughter, four grandchildren, two dogs, four cats, and any other teenager that happens to be around.
Jessica Cole
Jess has a BS in Business Management from Plymouth State University. Her first connection to SCC came in 2009, when she worked as a teacher's aide while she was in high school. Jess joined SCC full time after college and still jumps in to any classroom that needs a helping hand. "It's such a close-knit community here, with all the families that I've known for so long," Jess says. In her free time, Jess enjoys hiking, fishing and doing renovation projects on her house.
Nancy Killam, Associate Teacher, Substitute
Nancy is a retired early childhood educator. She has worked in a variety of settings during her 25+ years in the field of education. Nancy has her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College. Nancy began substituting for SCC in 2015. “I love being in the classroom with children and seeing their happy smiling faces as they explore their environment. I have always believed in the philosophy that children learn through their play. At SCC, they are given the opportunity to learn from nature which is so important to help spark their creativity and imagination.” Nancy enjoys traveling with her husband and visiting their 3 grandsons in Portland, Oregon. She loves boating and enjoys gardening and bird watching. She is an avid reader and beginner knitting enthusiast.
Karyn Ames
Karyn has a BS in Early Childhood Studies with a minor in Child Development from Plymouth State University. She also attended Manchester Community College for Childcare Administration and Management. She says, "I am honored to give the children a new experience every day, whether it be in the arts, science, music or natural world. I love being outdoors, so whenever we can, that is where we are, gaining a great familiarity with and respect for the outdoor world. My goal is to bring nature, science, art, music and a sense of community and family to each child who comes to the Center." Outside of work, Karyn enjoys writing fiction, drawing, wood burning and spending time with her family.
VVirginia Tremblay-Murphy Lead Teacher, Preschool
Virginia originally started out as a Home Economics teacher and earned her BS from Framingham State College. She returned to Salem State College to obtain her certification in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, and later took several Masters level classes at Fitchburg State College.
As the oldest of nine children, she began taking care of children at a very young age. As a teen and young adult she worked at camps teaching canoeing and swimming and later taught at both public and private schools. She also did a lot of private nanny work in which she used her experience to teach lessons to her charges. She has worked with many different populations including special needs children and adults.
Her hobbies include baking, walking, hiking, bicycling and enjoying the great outdoors with her wonderful husband John.
Sarah Norton, Lead Teacher, Preschoolers Sarah has worked in Early Childhood Education for a number of years and has been with Sandwich Children's Center since 2008, first in the infant/toddlers room and currently as Lead Teacher in the preschool room. She has an associates degree from New Hampshire Community Technical College in Nashua, NH. Sarah also served for four years in the United States Marine Corps. Sarah says, "I am passionate about helping children learn and grow by exploring nature and the community around them. Things I enjoy outside of work are spending time with my family, camping, kayaking, snowmobiling, and playing softball."
Louise comes to SCC from Community Nursery School in New York where she was a Lead 4's Teacher since 2013. She feels privileged to also have had the opportunity to teach for the past 12 years in New York, Miami and Maryland (outside Washington, DC). Louise recently moved to Moultonborough, fulfilling a lifelong dream to live in the Lakes Region after spending every summer here since she was born. She possesses a M.A. degree from New York University's Steinhart School of Education and a B.S. degree in Public Relations from Syracuse University's Newhouse School of Public Communications. "After spending much of my childhood exploring around the woods with my Dad, collecting insects and rocks, catching salamanders and enjoying singing under shady trees, I am so happy to be at SCC and share my passion for being outdoors with the children in such a unique nature- and art- based environment." Louise says. Previous to her teaching career, she worked 10 years in NYC as an international PR account executive traveling all over the globe, then spent another 15 years in Miami as a certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and director of Alzheimer's and Adult Day Centers. Louise also started the first Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in the state of Florida. She is bi-lingual in English & Spanish, lives on Long Island and has two sons in college. Outside work, Louise loves to sing, garden, hike, kayak, sail, swim and be a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) instructor in her own business - Paddleboard Winnipesaukee/Winnisquam every summer.
Katie DeRoche, Associate Teacher, Float
Katie graduated from Inter-Lakes High School in Meredith in 2017. She is currently attending NHTI for the Early Childhood Education program, and plans to continue her education at Plymouth State University to earn a Bachelor’s degree, as well as a teacher certification. Katie says, “I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to help the children of SCC grow and explore the world around them each day! I am so excited to be a part of the incredible teaching team here at SCC.” In her free time, Katie enjoy kayaking, baking, and spending time with family and friends.
Don Mayer, Substitute Teacher
My family has roots here in sandwich for the last 55 years, and I love all the outdoor pursuits that this area has to offer: Running on the dirt roads, bicycling, cross country skiing in Sandwich Notch and long swims in Squam Lake. I've been in Education for most of my life, and feel particularly fortunate to have had two stints with the Peace Corps in Kenya and Bangladesh that were easily the 5 most interesting years of my life! I'm also an artist and enjoy sharing this pursuit with my students. here at Sandwich Children's Center I particularly like reading picture books with the kids.
Charly Moriarty
Charly studied Early Childhood Education at the University of New Hampshire. She has worked in the Infant/Toddler rooms at SCC, on and off, since High School. During her time at UNH she was a float in the Infant and Toddler Rooms at Growing Places in Lee, NH. She has a true passion for children and creating environments so each individual child can thrive.
“I am so happy to have the opportunity to watch children flourish and grow at SCC. And I love to be apart of such a special place that is constantly growing to provide for the children in our community.”
Charly lives in Sandwich with her husband, two children and dog. They enjoy camping in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter.
Alicia Edgar Profile Coming Soon!!
Mariah Sizemore, School Age Coordinator
Mariah joined us in 2018 as our new School Age Coordinator. Mariah was born and raised among the Cascade mountain range of Washington State. During her high school years, she moved east to a coastal town in East Lyme, Connecticut. From there, she went to Wheelock College in Boston, MA to earn her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science and Elementary Education. After receiving her degree, she received a rare opportunity to explore the California coast, working as a crew member in the squid fishing fleet. After two years of living on the boat, she gravitated back to the comforts of Sandwich to be close to family; eager to pursue her career in education and share her passion for adventure and the outdoors.
Tawnya Cole
Tawnya has a BS in Developmental Psychology from Plymouth State University. She has been at SCC since 2010 and has been in her current position since 2015. Working with children has always been a passion and she enjoys helping create a caring and loving environment in which children can flourish.
Rachel Hanson, Infant Teacher
“Play is the highest form of research.” ~ Albert Einstein
Rachel graduated from high school in Rockford, Illinois in 2019 and plans to attend University to attain her Bachelor's in Human Services and Child Life Certification. She has always loved working with children and has done so almost her entire life in different capacities. From volunteering in the church nursery, after-school care, nannying, teaching and tutoring; Rachel has relished each opportunity. In her free time, Rachel enjoys playing with her dog, learning, enjoying the outdoors, and experimenting with the arts!
Barbara Pries, Teacher’s Assistant, School Age Substitute
Barbara began substitute teaching in elementary and preschool classrooms in 2012. She volunteered in Montessori classrooms before that, when her children were in preschool. She believes in providing the basic materials, then supporting children's built in curiosity in preschool and early grades. Since retiring with her husband to Sandwich in July 2015, Barbara has appreciated SCC's approach to letting children learn by playing, and each child being allowed to challenge them self at their own pace. Barbara holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, programming for years before raising their three children in Massachusetts. She enjoys gardening, knitting, reading, and day hikes with her dog.