Meet the Magic Garden Faculty:
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Lori
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Ellen
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Karen
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Maria
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Melyssa
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Michele
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Susan
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Alia
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Ali
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Linda
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Becca
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Kayla
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Alyssa
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Tommy
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Steve
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Lauren
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Hannah
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Stephanie
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Lexi
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Skylar
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Julia
Faculty Members
Lori
Welcome to Magic Garden! I have been a part of this wonderful team since 2012, first teaching in our Pre-K classrooms, and then becoming the Director in 2014. I have a BA Degree in Human Development from Lesley University and 30 years of experience in the field of Early Education and Care. My role as Director allows me to focus my energy on several key areas, which I believe are integral to the success of a school. The children are my first priority. Their happiness and development of positive self-esteem guide every decision I make. Supporting parents and educators in their roles is of equal importance. Connecting to and collaborating with the community is also key. It is a community near and dear to my heart, having been a longtime Lincoln resident with children who have grown up alongside many Magic Garden alumni.
I work with the dedicated educators at Magic Garden to expand the creative curriculum that reflects children’s interests and supports their development. At Magic Garden, we believe in implementing the best elements from a variety of educational pedagogies so that every child in our school achieves their full potential. Teaching to the individual child is at the center of our practice. It is truly a gift to work in a school whose philosophy is the same as my own.
Ellen
Ellen has been teaching at Magic Garden since 1998 and has 20 years of teaching experience. She has a BA Degree in Early Childhood Education from Lasell College and is a certified educator by the Department of Early Education and Care for the State of Massachusetts. She is Lead Teacher certified for infants, toddlers and preschool.
Outside of Magic Garden, Ellen enjoys spending time with her family and three children and is a cheerleading coach for two of her daughter’s cheering teams. She brings her enthusiasm and coaching experience into the Moonbeam Classroom, making every activity fun and exciting.
Karen
Karen has been teaching at Magic Garden since 1993 and has over 27 years of teaching experience. She earned a BA Degree in Human Development & Education, and is a certified educator by the Department of Early Education and Care for the State of Massachusetts. She is also Lead Teacher Certified for infants, toddlers and preschool. Karen has dedicated her life to providing excellent, loving care for children and animals.
Karen remains connected to children and families long after they have graduated from Magic Garden, often bringing back her former students to provide enrichment activities for her current students or to engage in community service hours as interns. Her passion for animals is shared with the children as they learn about local animals and those living around the world in a variety of habitats.
After spending over 15 years in the preschool classroom, Karen made her move up the street in February 2019, to our Infant/Toddler Center. Needless to say, she is beyond excited to work with the little ones!
Maria
Maria has 18 years of teaching experience in early education and has been at Magic Garden since 2013. She earned a BA Degree from Boston College and is a certified educator by the Department of Early Education and Care for the State of Massachusetts. She is Teacher Certified for infants, toddlers and preschool.
During the extended-day Starlight and Twilight Programs, Maria engages the children in a balance of active and cozy relaxing activities. Story time is her specialty, bringing books and characters to life.
After spending the past two years as a pre-k teacher in the Sunshine class, in September 2018, Maria resumed her original position as a floating teacher, where she shares her enthusiastic love of learning with all the children at Magic Garden.
When Maria is not at Magic Garden, she enjoys spending time with family, shopping for new books to share with her students, and advocating for a compassionate, peaceful, harmonious world.
Melyssa
Melyssa joined Magic Garden in 1999. After teaching in all of our classrooms, she found her greatest joy teaching toddlers. Melyssa has strengthened her knowledge and expertise by completing coursework in Early Childhood Education. She is a certified educator by the Department of Early Education and Care for the State of Massachusetts.
She is Teacher Certified for infants, toddlers and preschool. As a parent, Melyssa enjoys spending time with her son, engaged in local town sports. She leads her family on nature hikes through the wooded trails of Lincoln, as a way to maintain their healthy lifestyle. Melyssa combines her love of fitness and teaching with lively movement activities in our toddler classroom. The toddlers thrive on Melyssa’s warmth and caring, receiving snuggles and gentle guidance throughout each day.
Michele
Michele joined Magic Garden in 1992 and has 28 years of teaching experience. She has a BA Degree in Learning and Development, and an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. She is also a certified educator by the Department of Early Education and Care for the State of Massachusetts. She is Lead Teacher Certified for infants, toddlers and preschool. In additional to her classroom certifications, Michele is also Director II Certified.
In her free time, Michele enjoys swimming, kayaking, and camping and traveling with her family and friends. Michele’s personal interests and hobbies helped enhance the Pre-K curriculum with units on camping, exploration of different parts of the world and boat building using giant boxes. The children love to “travel” around the world in their cardboard creations!
After spending over 15 years in the pre-k classroom, Michele will be moving up the road in February 2019, to our Infant/Toddler Center as one of our lead infant teachers. She is very excited!
Susan
Susan joined the Magic Garden administration in 2011. She has over 30 years of office management and business finance experience, including owning and running her family business. Susan has eight years’ experience working in the field of education and care at Magic Garden and is a certified educator for infants, toddlers and preschool by the Department of Early Education and Care for the State of Massachusetts. In addition to her work in the office, Sue is often found working alongside the teachers helping in the classrooms.
When Sue is not at Magic Garden she enjoys reading, photography and attending her son’s sporting events.
Alia
Alia joined Magic Garden in 2017 and has been teaching in Early Childhood Education for over 20 years. She has spent her years of teaching working with different age groups. She taught kindergarten for 8 years, pre-k for 4 years, infants 2 years, and many years teaching toddlers and preschoolers. Alia holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, in Architecture. She is furthering her education by attending Ashworth college for Early Childhood Education. Alia is certified as an Infant and Toddler Teacher and Preschool Lead Teacher by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. Alia is also TESOL certified (Teaching English as a second language).
Alia has a passion for arts and crafts and loves to take every opportunity to pass on her love of art to children. She believes in hands-on learning, and strongly believes that children learn best when they are engaged in meaningful hands-on activities. She loves to read and will take every opportunity to pass on her love of reading to children. In her spare time, Alia likes to take walks, connect with family and friends, and enjoys swimming. After spending her first year at Magic Garden in the Moonbeam preschool class, Alia joined the Sunshine team as a pre- k teacher, in September 2018.
Ali
Starting in October 2018, Ali has just begun her journey here at Magic Garden and is excited to learn and grow with Moonbeam! She earned a BA in Psychology from Sacred Heart University and stayed to complete her MS in Elementary Education. She is certified for Pre-K through 2nd grade by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and is certified to teach both toddlers and preschool by the MA Department of Early Education and Care. Before Magic Garden, Ali was subbing long term for Natick Public schools, working mainly with children with special needs. She currently works part-time at night, waitressing at Volturno in Framingham (go visit her!)
Ali has never met a pizza or cat that she didn’t like! In the little free time that she has between teaching at Magic Garden and waitressing, Ali enjoys spending time with her friends and her cat Colby-Jack. She also enjoys reading, browsing Pinterest for great ideas, and spending as much time as possible outside when the weather is nice!
Linda
Linda Pham joined the Magic Garden Faculty in February of 2019 as a Toddler Teacher in the Little Explorers Classroom at the new Infant & Toddler Center. Go Little Explorers!!
Prior to working at Magic Garden, Linda served as a volunteer under the Commonwealth Corps Massachusetts Service Alliance at her local Boys and Girls Club. While serving as a volunteer with the school aged kids for the year, Linda quickly realized how much she wanted to work with children!
Fast forward many years after the Boys and Girls Club, Linda now has over 5 years of experience working with both young infants and toddlers. Linda is EEC Teacher Certified for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers.
Linda obtained her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
When Linda is not working, she enjoys hanging out with friends and family. She has a love of traveling to different cities and countries! Trying all different types of foods is also a passion ~ Linda considers herself a “major foodie.”
Becca
Becca graduated from Eastern Nazarene College in 2009 with a BA in Special Education Prek-8th grade. Additionally she is certified by the MA department of Early Education and Care as a Lead Infant & Toddler Teacher and Preschool Teacher. In July 2024, Becca completed her coursework and became Director certified. Becca has 12+ years of experience working with young children and families. She loves working with children, it’s what makes her want to get up in the morning. She is in constant awe of how quickly children learn new things every day, and apply them to their lives.
Growing up on Cape Cod, Becca has a love for all things nautical, and has a slight obsession with lighthouses. Becca enjoys all types of music, and was part of many musical groups growing up. She loves living in New England especially when it is autumn and all the leaves change colors. She also enjoys reading books on rainy days or going outside when the weather is nice.
Kayla
Kayla joined Magic Garden in July 2019. She brings with her more than a decade of experience working as a preschool teacher. Kayla has a BLA from University of Massachusetts- Lowell where she studied Literature, Art History and Italian Language and Culture. Kayla is a certified educator by the Department of Early Education and Care for the State of Massachusetts and is Lead Teacher Certified for Preschool and Pre-K, and Infants and Toddlers. In the classroom Kayla loves to read stories (with voices!), explore Open-Ended Art, and encourage movement activities and dance. She’s also fascinated by Language Acquisition and Behavior Management.
In her spare time she loves to spend time with her family, including her husband and daughter and to train her dog Zack to do tricks and to behave himself. She also stays busy training in Martial Arts and giving back to her dojo as much as she can. She’s quite proud of (safely) earning the rank of Brown Belt in Karate while very pregnant with her daughter. Once per year she also joins her old dance group from the early 2000’s and does “just one more show” each and every year since then. She loves the late summer/ early fall because that is when she gets in most of her camping and hiking with her family, friends, their children and anyone else she can convince to tag along!
Alyssa
Ms. Alyssa joined the Sunshine Teaching team in September 2019. Alyssa loves working with children, she is amazed by their abilities and creativity! She loves that at such a young age, they are so creative and often teach us something new! Alyssa finds working with children very rewarding; one of her favorite things about working with children is watching the process of them trying to figure something out, and finally having an “Aha!” moment when everything comes together. Alyssa has 5 years of teaching experience working with children ages 2 to 5 years. She is a certified educator for infants, toddlers, preschool and Pre-K, by the Department of Early Education and Care for the State of Massachusetts. As part of Alyssa’s high school experience, she majored in child growth and development and early education. She is the type of teacher that Lori refers to as “a natural” in the field of education. She is meant to teach. In September 2022, Alyssa joined the Starburst classroom.
Outside of school, Alyssa’s favorite thing to do is spending time with her family. She loves going to the beach, out to dinner with friends and relaxing while watching her favorite TV show, with a hot cup of tea!
Tommy
Tommy joined the Magic Garden Faculty as an Assistant Afternoon Teacher in June 2017 and is a certified educator for infants, toddlers and preschool by the Department of Early Education and Care for the State of Massachusetts. He has worked with youth in a variety of capacities over the past few years including as a basketball, baseball, and football instructor and coach.
Tommy brings his love of sports, healthy living, and his positive “can do” attitude into the classrooms. He encourages the children to be their best in the classroom and on the playground.
In May 2020, Tommy earned his Associates degree in Psychology/Sociology at MassBay Community College. When not at Magic Garden Tommy enjoys participating in sports, spending time with his family, his dog Blu and enjoying computers. After spending 7 years in the Sunshine classroom, Tom is excited to join the Starburst team in September 2024.
Steve
Steve Ostis is an Educator with many skills and talents. Having spent time exploring, training, and working in many different careers including graduating from the Police Academy, working in construction, and most recently striving towards his Real Estate License, Steve also became a Certified Educator by the State of Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. Steve is Infant / Toddler, Preschool /Pre-K, and Director I Certified.
Steve completed his director training hours at Magic Garden, and in the spring of 2021, returned to MG to help us with coverage “for a couple of months.” He is so fabulous with the children, and enjoys working with the MG kiddos so much! Steve supports both the Starburst and Sunshine classrooms as an assistant teacher.
When not at Magic Garden, Steve is usually studying for the Real Estate Exam. He enjoys spending time with family and friends playing games, enjoying different types of food, or just relaxing. Steve is also very handy and likes taking on projects that require a bit of thinking and ingenuity to complete.
Lauren
Lauren joined the Magic Garden Faculty in September 2021 as a full-time Assistant Teacher in the Moonbeam Classroom. Lauren has worked for many years providing health care for senior citizens including running the hospital kitchen, managing allergy & dietary requirements while providing meals for over 100 patients!
Lucky for Magic Garden, Lauren is making a career change. She has always enjoyed spending time with children, engaging them in fun hands-on experiences, and watching as they make new discoveries. Seeing the world through their eyes makes it a beautiful place!
Lauren is eager to share her passion for fitness, movement, nature, and animals with the Moonbeam students.
Lauren is a huge fan of all Boston Sports Teams! She has two cockatiel birds – one of which imitates TV theme songs!
We are thrilled to welcome Lauren to Magic Garden!
Hannah
Hannah started in 2019 working part-time as the Magic Garden office admin. After helping in the classrooms, she quickly realized her love for teaching and became a certfied teacher. She is certified for infants, toddlers and preschool by the Massachusetts Early Education and Care. Hannah’s passion is working with the littlest members of Magic Garden!
For Hannah, her happiest moments are having fun and exploring new places with her son Tyler! In September 2024, Hannah will float throughout both centers, and support all classrooms.
Stephanie
Stephanie Kennedy started in July 2022 and is the newest Teacher at the Infant Center. Stephanie comes to Magic Garden with numerous years of experience teaching infants and young toddlers. She is EEC Lead Teacher Certified by the State of Massachusetts. While Stephanie will work primarily in the Little Ducklings Room, she will spend plenty of time with the Little Explorers too! Stephanie has been working with children of various ages for the past 5 years. She loves seeing them learning and growing. She especially loves to sing songs, engage in art projects, and dance around with the children! In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and boyfriend. She also enjoys playing video games, watching movies, hiking, and reading books.
Lexi
Lexi joined the Sunshine classroom in May 2024. She has over 5 years of experience in childcare. Lexi is a certified educator for infants, toddlers, and preschool, by the Department of Early Education and Care. She loves creating fun activities for children of all ages and enjoys cultivating their imaginations. Lexi strives to ensure children have a safe and fun environment. Her favorite part about being an educator is watching children find confidence in what they are learning.
Outside of school, Lexi’s favorite thing to do is spend time with her family. She enjoys reading, listening to music, and going on fun adventures. She is very excited to start her journey here at Magic Garden!
Skylar
Julia
Julia started with Magic Garden as an assistant teacher in the summer of 2022, and continued to work during her school breaks. Julia graduated in the spring of 2024 with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology. She is a certified educator by the Department of Early Education and Care for the State of Massachusetts for infants, toddlers and preschool. She enjoys working with children because she find so much joy in seeing them grow. She loves observing and aiding in their learning and states, “working with kids never fails to make me smile..”
Outside of work she likes to travel, go to the beach and spend time with family and friends. We are excited to have Julia join the Sunshine classroom this fall!