Teacher’s Assistant

Stevanie is the teacher’s assistant for the Jungle Cubs, a classroom for ages 13 to 24 months. She started at the center in Summer 2023.

Past Employment
Stevanie was formerly a paraprofessional in the Pittsfield School District.

Teacher

Darcy is the teacher for the Cuddlebugs, a classroom for ages 2 to 3 years. She has also been a teacher for the L'il Angels, and a teacher’s aide for the Busy Bees. She has been at the center since 2003.

Past employment
Darcy has been babysitting since she was 12 years old. She came to the center shortly after college.

Education
Darcy earned an associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Granite State College in 2021, and is certified in CPR and first aid. She also has an associate degree in architectural engineering from the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord.

On working at the Center
“I love working with children. They have such love and imagination. Every day is always so different.”

Teaching philosophy
“Every day you will learn something new. I want to be open minded, caring and a good listener.”

Family
Darcy has three older brothers and a younger sister.

Child Care Assistant

Arry is the lead teacher for Busy Bees, a classroom for ages 2 to 3 years. She has also been a child care assistant for the Little Owls. She has worked at the center since March 2024.

Past Employment
Arry comes to The Children’s Center with experience as an assistant teacher at Rochester Child Care and Chickadee Toddler Care and Preschool.

Education
Arry is a graduate of Farmington High School and is also working on obtaining her ECE degree from Southern Maine Community College.

Teacher

Isabella is the lead teacher for Little Ducklings, a classroom for ages 6 to 16 months. Previously, she was a teacher in the Snapdragons, a classroom for ages 3 to 4. She has also been a child care assistant for Jungle Cubs, Busy Bees, and Little Owls. She has worked at the center since May 2015.

Child Care Assistant

Karen is a child care assistant for the Jungle Cubs, a classroom for ages 13 to 24 months. She started at the center in August 2024.

Past Employment
Karen comes to us from The Learning Path in Derry with nearly 20 years of experience.

Education
Karen is a graduate of Hesser College.

On working at the Center
"I hope to be a positive addition to the amazing staff at The Children's Center. I enjoy interacting with children whom I have always been drawn to my entire life."

Teaching philosophy
Karen believes in enhancing the well-being of children, their families, and the community while meeting milestones and educating.

Family
Karen moved to Tuftonboro in March 2024 with her husband and both are busy renovating their new home. She has two amazing sons who are the light of her life. Both sons have graduated from Wentworth Institute of Technology and are successful in their respective field of study in the Boston community.

Substitute

Sarah is a substitute for the infant/toddler program. She has worked at the center since February 2023.

Teacher

Arlene is the teacher for the Lil’ Angels, a classroom for ages 6 weeks to 12 months. She was previously a teacher’s assistant for the Dragonflies and Snapdragons. She has worked at the center since October 2021.

Past employment
Arlene has worked at Here We Grow Again Learning Center in Salem as an Associate Infant Teacher for ten years. She was also a self employed child care provider for seven years.

Education
Arlene graduated from Everett High School.

Family
Arlene lives with her husband, son, three Puggles & one koi fish.

Child Care Assistant

Bri is a child care assistant for the Busy Bees, a classroom for ages 2 to 3 years. She has worked at the center since January 2024.

Past employment
Bri previously worked as a Direct Support Professional at Next Steps Community Services, an organization that provides therapeutic residential services to adults.

Education
Bri graduated from Kingswood Regional High School in 2016. She is certified in CPR and first aid.

Child Care Assistant

Samantha is a child care assistant for the Little Ducklings, a classroom for ages 6 to 16 months. She has also worked in the Cuddlebugs, Jungle Cubs, and Little Owls. She has worked at the center since January 2012.

Past employment
“I started volunteering at the center when I was a junior in high school. I enjoyed it so much I started working at the center after I graduated.” Samantha also worked as a counselor at the Ossipee Recreation Department’s summer day camp.

Education
Samantha graduated from Kingswood Regional High School in 2011. She is certified in CPR and first aid.

On working at the Center
“You can learn a lot from the kids and I love watching them grow. It’s an amazing feeling to know you can make a difference in a child’s life.”

Teacher

Katie is the teacher for the Jungle Cubs, a classroom for ages 13 to 24 months. She worked as a teacher’s aide in the Little Dragons and Munchkins, and has worked at the center since 2003.

Past employment
Katie started babysitting at the age of 11. She first came to the center through the high school’s early childhood education program.

Education
Katie graduated from Kingswood Regional High School. She earned an associate’s degree in early childhood education from the New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord. She is certified in CPR and first aid.

On working at the Center
“I have always enjoyed working with kids. I like knowing I am teaching them something new every day.”

Teaching philosophy
“I want to always be willing to learn something new, even if it’s from the children. Everything we do can be used as a teaching tool.”

Family
“I grew up in Ossipee, then moved to Gilmanton, where I own a home with my husband.”

Child Care Assistant

Dena is a child care assistant for the Lil' Angels, a classroom for ages 6 weeks to 12 months. Previously, Dena was the teacher for the Busy Bees & Little Dragons. She first started at the center in 1999, working as a one-on-one and a teacher's aide.

Past employment
Dena first started working at the center when she was in high school. Growing up, her mother owned a daycare center where Dena helped out starting when she was 10 years old. Dena has also been a preschool teacher for Joyful Footsteps in Alton and ran her own in-home daycare.

Education
Dena graduated from Alton Central High School. She has taken courses in early childhood education at Granite State College and Laconia Technical College. She is certified in CPR and First Aid.

On working at the Center
“I love to see the smile on the kids’ faces when I walk into the room in the morning. It makes me feel like I have done something right.”

Teaching philosophy
“I try to be the best teacher I can be. Sometimes it is hard to work with different age groups and learning abilities, but you find things that work.”

Family
Dena lives in New Durham with her husband and three children, Ella, Anna and William. “They have all been through the center since they were babies and have had wonderful experiences.”

Child Care Assistant

Gracie is a child care assistant for the Little Owls, a classroom for ages 2 to 3 years. She has also been a preschool paraprofessional as well as an assistant leader in All Stars, a classroom for school-age children.

Past employment
Gracie has worked at Buckey’s Restaurant & Tavern. She has also been babysitting since high school.

Education
Gracie graduated from Kingswood Regional High School in 2023 with a focus in the Careers in Education Program. She is certified in CPR and first aid.

On working at the Center
"It has been a rewarding feeling to be working at the Center. I enjoy having a great connection with not only the children but fellow coworkers.”

Teaching philosophy
"There’s no greater feeling than touching the hearts of the kids. Being the support they rely on is a feeling like no other.”

Family
Gracie has a beautiful baby girl and a partner of two years.

Child Care Assistant

Natalie is a child care assistant for the Cuddlebugs, a classroom for ages 2 to 3 years. She has worked at the center since November 2023.

Past employment
Natalie was a student of the Careers in Education development program at Lakes Region Technology Center in Kingswood High School and received a diploma from Carroll County Adult Education. Natalie also has experience as a babysitter and has worked at Hannaford Supermarket in Ossipee as well as Harvest Market in Wolfeboro.

Education
Natalie recently graduated from Kingswood High School and is pursuing a degree in Early Childhood Education. She is certified in CPR and first aid.

Teaching philosophy
”Working with children makes me feel fulfilled. Being a positive example in a child’s life is a blessing.”

Family
Natalie has five siblings in her family. She has been with her significant other for two years.

Teacher

Tapanga is the teacher for the Little Owls, a classroom for ages 2 to 3 years. She has also worked as a child care assistant for the infant/toddler program and as the kitchen assistant at the center.

Past Employment
Tapanga started at the center in 2019 in the kitchen. She fell in love with the children and moved to work in the classroom in 2020. Before starting at the center, she worked all over Wolfeboro.

Education
Tapanga graduated from Newport (NH) High School; she later graduated from Granite State College, now known as the UNH College of Professional Studies, with High Honors in 2024.

On working at the Center
"I love helping children discover and learn the world around them. Knowing we have such an impact on their lives really makes you think about how important those early years are.”

Teaching Philosphy
”I believe children learn best through play and observation. Children are always watching and listening to the world around them. If we are positive and kind to one another during those early years, imagine the kind of impact we could have on the future generations.”

Family
Tapanga lives in Wolfeboro with her husband and many furbabies. They enjoy time on the lake, camping, and being with friends and family.