Our Staff
We are dedicated to working with
children in the spirit of partnership and creative participation to give
consistent, reliable support to each child’s growth, development, and
curiosity for lifelong learning.
Anja -Executive Director she/her/hers
Anja came to Willow Blossom as a parent in 2021, and her youngest graduated from our preschool in 2024. Anja joined the staff in 2023, and has a background in management, and music education. Anja served as our office manager and a classroom teacher while continuing her education in Early Childhood Education and Administration. Anja is Director/Lead Teacher certified in Infant/toddler and Preschool Care.
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Rachael - Director Emeritus
she/her/hers
Rachael has a Bachelor of Science in Education from Wheelock College, and both a Master of Education and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Education from the University of Massachusetts. Rachael has been the director at Willow Blossom since 2001, and has over 45 years of experience in education, providing high quality care for a wide variety of clients in Washington, California, and Massachusetts
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Abby - Infant/Toddler
she/her/hers
Abby is a graduate of UMass Amherst, with a BA in Communications. She has been part of the Willow Blossom community since she was young, having graduated from our preschool in 2003. Abby enjoys setting up activities that stimulate brain development while also coaching them through the task at hand. Abby is Teacher Certified in Infant/Toddler and Preschool Care.
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Isabel - Infant/Toddler
she/her/hers
Isabel has her degree as a Industrial Chemical Technician, and is currently pursuing a degree in management and business development. What she enjoys most is telling stories with the children and watching their faces as they use their imagination and react to the story. Isabel is bilingual, fluent in English and Spanish. She has experience as a volunteer at the Jones library in a program of bilingual story telling, reading to children in Spanish and English. She has been at Willow Blossom since the beginning of 2018. Isabel is Teacher Certified in Infant/Toddler and Preschool Care.
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Julia - Preschool
she/her/hers
Julia has a background in early education, with an emphasis in the Montessori model. She loves creating activities for the kids that encourage independence, self confidence, and development! Julia is currently continuing her education in early childhood education through HCC. She has been at Willow Blossom Learning Center since Summer 2022, and is Teacher Certified in Infant/Toddler and Preschool care.
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Jessica - Preschool
she/her/hers
Jessica comes to Willow Blossom with three years classroom experience. She loves learning and exploring new topics with the kids and watching their worlds expand. As a parent to a toddler, she takes her work home with her, and brings her first hand parenting experience to the classroom. Jessica is currently continuing her education in Early Childhood Education at GCC and is teacher certified in Preschool and Infant/Toddler care
Kiera - Assistant Floater
she/her/hers
Kiera is a graduate of UMASS Amherst earning a degree in Sociology, in addition to an associates degree in Liberal Arts from GCC. Having grown up helping in her grandmothers Speech Language center on Cape Cod, she has an appreciation for how children learn in different ways. She enjoys playing with the kids, especially outside. Kiera plans to pursue her doctorate in Indigenous Studies in the next few years.
Lauren - Assistant
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