Administration and Staff
Kelley Atwood
Director
Paula Leger
Assistant Director
Shannon Sughrue
Shannon has worked in the infant program for over 10 years and is a certified Infant/Toddler teacher through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. Although she has worked with multiple age groups, Shannon feels most at home with our babies. Shannon is patient, compassionate and nurturing, all qualities that make her a wonderful infant teacher.
Stacie Leger
Stacie returned to the KHCCC family in 2017 as an assistant teacher. She is now Infant/Toddler teacher certified through Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. Stacie worked throughout the center until deciding the infant classroom was her home. Stacie is kindhearted, loving, and nurturing. She is knowledgeable on infant care and exhibits it through the enthusiasm, warmth, and gentleness her babies receive daily!
Erica Mello
Erica has been in the child care field for over 21 years and found her niche working with our younger toddlers. In addition to being a certified Infant / Toddler teacher, she holds a Bachelor's degree from Endicott College. Erica feels lucky to foster a young toddler's independence, to encourage their learning and growth, and to celebrate each milestone with them and their families.
Zaira Costa Wholley
Zaira came to us a year ago and has been an absolute wonderful addition to our teaching staff. She recently found her home in our Toddler 1 program co-teaching with Erica. Zaira received her Bachelor's degree from the Universidade Estacio de Sa in Media and Communication. She holds an Infant/Toddler teaching certification through the MA Dept of EEC. Zaira is loving, patient, and nurturing. The young toddlers gravitate to her overwhelming kindness.
Kerri-Ann MacEachern
Kerri-Ann has been with KHCCC for over 30 years working primarily with infants and toddlers. She studied Eduation and Psychology at Merrimack College, is Director 2 certified through the Department of Early Education and Care and is the Lead Teacher for our infant and toddler programs. Kerri-Ann continues to pursue professional development opportunities in the form of workshops and trainings in the field of early childhood education. She loves working with children of all ages and is amazed by how much they learn and grow in the course of a year. She cherishes the role of teaching a child in their early years.
Patricia DeSimone
Patty has been with the Kathy Herward Child Care Center for over 34 years, spending all of that time working with young children and that is evident by watching her interactions with them. Patty holds an infant and toddler teaching certification through the Department of Early Education and Care and continues to engage in professional development opportunities that further her education and training. She loves the many wonderful surprises that come with working with young children and states that they make her laugh and keep her on her toes!
Madelyn Traynor
Maddy started at KHCCC in 2020 as an assistant teacher in the Preschool II and infant classrooms. Throughout the years she has jumped between all of the classrooms but is so happy to have found her home in Preschool I. She earned her preschool teaching certification through the MA dept of EEC in the summer of 2022. Maddy graduated from Westfield State University in May of 2023 with a dual bachelor's degree in Theatre Arts and English. She is so excited to step into the role of classroom teacher in Preschool 1 this year!
Victoria Carter
Victoria joined KHCCC as an assistant teacher in October of 2021 and has enjoyed spending time with children and fellow staff members from each program! She graduated from Merrimack College in May of 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Human Services, and with a concentration in Early Childhood Development. She has experience working with children, ranging from infants to school age, including general and special education classrooms. She is very excited to step into the role of classroom teacher in Preschool 1 this year!
Charlene Gasperoni
Charlene joined the KHCCC team in 2022. She is one of our Preschool 2 classroom teachers! This is her 30th year teaching preschool since receiving her BS degree in Early Childhood Education at Lesley University. Her main goal as a teacher is to make learning fun, and the energy and creativity she brings to the curriculum is sure to help her meet that goal.
Alycia Schutz
Alycia is also new to the KHCCC family. She joined us in June, 2022, and became one of our two core Pre-Kindergarten teachers for the 2022-2023 school year. Alycia received a BS in Criminal Justice, however she found her calling in the child care field. She has several years of experience working with children and is preschool certified. She enjoys watching children learn and grow in their environments and their excitement when learning new things.
Amy Richard
Amy has been a member of the KHCCC family for over 20 years and she has over twenty five years of experience teaching in the early childhood field where she has worked with a wide range of age groups. Amy holds dual lead teacher certifications from the Dept of EEC as both an Infant/Toddler and Preschool teacher. She received a BS in Human Development from Lesley University. Amy has been a part of the Preschool II program for the past five years and has recently moved to the Kindergarten classroom where she looks forward to enhancing the learning experience and fostering the independence, creativity, and imagination of our five year old program!
Support Staff
Marissa Reardon
Float Teacher
Kerri Karcz
Float Teacher
Kylie Winsor
Assistant Teacher
