Administration

Kate Hudson

Co-Executive Director

Kate is originally from the Boston area and her background is in child development with a B.S. from Wheelock College and a professional certification as a Child Life Specialist.  It was through her training in child and family support for medical experiences that she formally decided to pursue a degree in teaching.  She earned a Master’s degree from Simmons College as well as certification as both an EEC Lead Preschool Teacher and a licensed elementary teacher with DESE.  Kate spent many years teaching kindergarten in addition to positions with both younger and older students.  After starting her family, she discovered The Family Cooperative and appreciated the child-centered nature of a Reggio-Emilia inspired early education program.  After four years as a parent at TFC, Kate is now able to share her love and dedication for the incredible community of TFC as a Co-Director, as well as a current parent.

Caitlin Maddix

Co-Executive Director

Caitlin grew up in the suburbs of Boston and now lives in Watertown with her wife and three children, the youngest of whom attends TFC.  Her interest in teaching young children began when she was a kindergartener herself and has grown into a passion and a fulfilling career over the course of her life.  Her first teaching job was at a Reggio Emilia inspired early childhood center.  Here she realized that she had found her home, working to empower children through facilitation of their own self-directed interests and play.  After nine years, she decided to take a break from teaching full time to return to school to complete her degree.  While in school she had the opportunity to conduct research in a laboratory preschool, focusing on how children learn through play and how pedagogical documentation can be a comprehensive assessment tool for children's learning and development.  After completing her degree, she found her way to TFC in 2017, joining a wonderful community of teachers and families.  Her teaching and research experiences have deepened her belief that children's learning is most significant when they are encouraged to engage in self-initiated play experiences and TFC embodies the educational values she feels so passionate about.  After five years as a teacher at TFC, Caitlin is thrilled to be joining the administrative team.  Her love and commitment to this community has grown with each year and she is energized by the institutional level work this new role entails.

Jennifer Morris

Associate Director of Health and Operations

Jen is from Mansfield, Massachusetts, where she is currently raising three children of her own. Her work journey has given her diverse skills and experiences. She has a background in Early Childhood Education in addition to the health and medical field, where she has worked as a dental assistant and a medical assistant. She manages all of the day-to-day health and safety operations at TFC and received her Teacher Certification from the MA EEC to work as an assistant teacher. Outside of work, she loves portrait photography and owns a side business specializing in children and family portraits. She plans to go back to school full time and get her Associate’s degree in science. No matter where Jen is or what she is doing, she is happy as long as she can help people smile and feel better.

Sequoia Room Teachers

Claire Messier

Claire grew up in Maynard, MA and now lives in Lowell, MA. Unsure of what path to take, Claire accepted a job as an Assistant Teacher at a school that was beginning their journey of being Reggio-Inspired. She was immediately captivated by the philosophy. She was amazed by the many ways children communicate when you take the time to listen.  Through most of her five years at that school, she taught in an Infant and Toddler mixed-age classroom. She absolutely loves being with babies and young toddlers, and she is so happy to have joined the Sequoia team!

​Erin Sheehan

Coming soon...

Sarah Hollis

Sarah graduated from Lesley University with a degree in Child, Youth & Family Studies, double minor in Education and Global Studies and a specialization in Teaching Infants and Toddlers. She has spent the last several years learning and growing as an infant teacher specifically as this age group has stolen her heart. She hopes to create an environment based on respect through exploration, discovery, and play. Her job is to help guide and facilitate learning through a co-construction of knowledge based on children's curiosity and interests. Sarah's teaching philosophy and pedagogy is deeply rooted in the Reggio Emilia approach and she is continuing her education by pursing a Master's Degree in Innovative Early Childhood Education through CU Denver in collaboration with the Boulder Journey School. Outside of the classroom, Sarah is a passionate volleyball coach and player. She is currently the assistant women's volleyball coach at Suffolk University. ​

Willow Room Teachers

Maureen Linnane

A native from the west coast of Ireland, she now calls Boston home. She has a deep love for the city and all that it has to offer to developing minds. She teamed up with her sister to open up a bar and restaurant in Cambridge. While enjoying the challenges and experience of the family business, she knew that her true vocation was to work with children.

While working full-time, she pursued a degree in Early Childhood Education, which led her to The Family Cooperative. She immediately felt a connection to the school and the unique sense of community that exists among the parents and teachers. She feels so fortunate to be part of a Reggio Emilia inspired center. And finds it a privilege to witness the growth and development of the children and the foundation for a love of lifetime learning. She is excited to share in the wonder and discovery of learning filled with fun and creativity.

Kimberly Cosky

Kim has been in the Early Childhood field for over twelve years. She graduated from Westfield State College and is not only teacher certified, but also director certified. Before coming to TFC, Kim taught Pre-K and was a principal at a private school. In the classroom, Kim finds inspiration by the Reggio Emilia philosophy. She enjoys creating a classroom environment that supports each child’s growth and development. Outside of the classroom, Kim enjoys traveling with her husband and exploring different cultures architecture.

Dawn Sandberg

Coming soon...

Maple Room Teachers

Monica Jones

Monica graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Boston with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Care with a focus on Infant/Toddler Development. She discovered the Reggio Emilia approach through her internship program and fell in love! She finally found an educational approach that spoke to her and aligned so well with her values as an Early Childhood Teacher. It was imperative that she worked in an environment that truly honored the children, and allowed them to make their own discoveries. She plans to continue her studies in the Reggio Emilia approach by enrolling in a Masters program that centers around the approach, and continue working in this wonderful community at TFC.

Kate Laude

Kate grew up in Kennebunk Maine, and has worked with children for most of her life in a variety of settings. After experiencing all of this she decided to move to Boston and attended Wheelock College. During her time here she got a Bachelors of Science in Human Growth and Development with a focus in Psychology, and a certificate in Community Based Human Services. She also participated in Jumpstart, and ran playgroups in a homeless shelter. Within this Kate further fostered her passion for working with children, and sought out many different careers igniting this passion. Although she learned from these careers it wasn’t until most recently that she feels like she found her true calling, a Reggio-Emilia Anti-Bias inspired school. It was here that she learned how capable children are, and when given opportunities, and set up for success they will often thrive. She had the opportunity of watching children go from speaking a few words to saying full sentences, sat beside children as they experienced the world around them and its environment by staying curious, asked questions, and within this saw these same children learn about themselves, what isn’t fair, and how to change it. Within all of these they learned how/what it means to be part of a community. 

Kate is excited to begin this new chapter of her life and learn alongside a new group of children as they create relationships within their community, grow together while learning about each other, engaging in powerful conversations, and explore a new space that will hopefully over time feel like a second home. All while keeping in mind that children are capable, competent, and creative thinkers that deserve to be in a space that is safe, predictable, and allows them to be their whole selves.

Samantha Madden

Coming soon...

Chestnut Room Teachers

Kate Murphy

​Kate has worked professionally with young children for over 15 years. She is passionate about nurturing and maintaining relationships with families in a cooperative setting. She believes that the community we create together can last a lifetime. She enjoys creating spaces for children that are inviting, inspiring, intentional and child centered.

She grew up in a small town in north central Massachusetts where she earned her AA in Child Study. Next, she moved to the valley where she earned her BA in Spanish and Latin American and Caribbean Studies at UMASS Amherst. She is a mother to two fun loving children and a stepmother to a kind 18 year old. She has been teaching at TFC since 2015.

Kelly Shedd

Coming soon...

Supporting Teachers

Heidi Bailey

Heidi is an Early Childhood Educator. She has been teaching for over 20 years, every age group, in many different early education settings, and with many different children from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds and cultures.  She loves what she does; it is her calling. She is enthusiastic about providing early exposure to STEAM experiences, as well as social justice/anti-bias education. She began her career in Cambridge at a well respected Cooperative preschool that was inspired by Reggio Emilia. She trained there for 5 years. Then she chose to broaden her horizons by freelancing at many different centers in and around the greater Boston area. With the birth of her daughter, Heidi took a sabbatical and became a stay-at-home mom. Coming back into the field there was no place she would rather be than TFC. Teaching at TFC has provided an exciting opportunity for her to use her experience to help create a new model for teachers by teachers. While at Lesley, she dropped her public school licensure and focused instead on early literacy and Reggio-inspired teaching and learning. Heidi especially loves working with young toddlers, helping them to navigate the bridge between babyhood and childhood. Her practice is infused with art and sensory play, informed by the belief that children learn best through engaging with fascinating materials in a beautiful, responsive environment.

Anntonnette Thompson

Coming soon...