“When I go into a room to teach small children, I stop for a moment so that I can descend to their level of physical ability, and can rise to their level of childlike wonder and awe.”
- Suzuki
Valley Pre-School has been in existence for over 70 years and it is the wisdom and experience of our teachers that allows us to be innovative and creative as we prepare our classrooms each day. All of our teachers are CPR and First Aid certified and participate in a program of continuing education.
Kim Tawney,
Head Teacher (3's and 4's)
- B.S. in Elementary Education, Keene State College, Keene, NH
- Teacher, Lead Teacher, and Director II for Infant, Toddler, and Preschool, Greenfield Community
College, Greenfield, MA
- Director and Lead Teacher of the Pocumtuck Child Care Center, Deerfield, MA 1995-1998
- Lead Teacher (3’s) at Educational Playcare, Simsbury, CT 2010-2011
- Church School Shepherd and member of the Board of Christian Education, First Church of Christ,
Simsbury, CT 2005-present
- Valley Pre-School Teacher since 2011
Wendy Stone,
Assistant Teacher (4s)
- MA in Education, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
- BS in Education, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT
- Honors scholar in Special Education
- Resource room teacher in grades K-6, East Windsor and Enfield, CT, 1996-2000
- Long term substitute teacher for preschool Special Education teacher, Granby, CT 2010
- Substitute teacher Valley Pre-School 2021-2022
- Valley Pre-School teacher since 2022
Kristen Braithwaite,
Assistant Teacher (3s)
- M.A. in Elementary Education, Westfield State University, Westfield, MA
- B.S. in Elementary Education, Westfield State University, Westfield, MA
- Substitute Teacher, Southwick, MA 2016-Present
- Teacher, Kathleen Thornton School, Springfield, MA 2005-2008
Heather Tokarz,
Managing Director
- MA in English Literature, Westfield State University, Westfield, MA
- BA in English Education, Westfield State University, Westfield, MA
- Alternative Education Teacher, Westover Job Corps Center, Chicopee, MA 2010-2012
- Middle and High School ELA Teacher, Springfield, MA 2013-1017
- Valley Pre-School Board Secretary 2021-2022
- Valley Pre-School Board Chair 2022-2023
- Valley Pre-School Acting Managing Director 2022-2023
Kathy Jackson,
Boomerang Teacher - Language/Literacy
- M.A. of Education in Reading, University of Hartford, Bloomfield, CT
- B.S. in Elementary Education and Math, College of St. Rose, Albany, NY
- First Grade Teacher, Cohoes, NY
- Substitute Teacher for Valley Pre-School and Elementary schools in surrounding areas
- Private tutor in math and reading since 1996
- Valley Pre-School Teacher since 2004
Peggy Shaw,
Boomerang Teacher - Music
- B.A. In Elementary Education, Ohio Wesleyan University
- Kindergarten and First Grade Teacher, Chicago, IL
- Valley Pre-School Music Teacher 1985-1986, and since 1989
- Valley Pre-School Teacher 1990-1995
- Valley Pre-School Teacher Assistant since 2004
Nannie Brown,
Boomerang Teacher - Natural Science
- A.A. in Early Childhood Education, Briarcliff, NY
- Worked with Head Start programs in Long Island and Rhode Island
- Nursery School Teacher in New Haven
- Valley Pre-School Teacher since 1975
