Our Staff

Karen  has a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Framingham State University. She worked as a Preschool teacher, Kindergarten teacher, and Director for many years before becoming Director of the Millbury Federated Church Nursery School in 2005. She continued on as Director when the program became Circles Learning Center in 2015. Karen has also been teaching Sunday School at St. Matthew’s Church for many years. Karen lives in Worcester and has 3 adult children.

Birthday:  October 23

Favorite Colors: Blue & Purple

Favorite Place to Visit: Enjoys visiting new places and experiencing new things

Favorite things to do on weekends: Go for walks in the woods, read

Hobbies: Crafting & Theater

Favorite Place to Eat: Texas Roadhouse, Herbies

Favorite snacks:  Popcorn, Ice cream, & Chocolate

Favorite teacher/child activity: Art & Music

Sue holds BS degrees in Education and Special Education from Fitchburg State College. She began working for the Nursery School Program as a substitute when her children attended the program, and became a Preschool Teacher is 2001. She has been a Pre-K teacher since 2015 when we became Circles. Sue continues her education in the field by participating in courses and workshops. She was promoted to Assistant Director in 2022.

Birthday: January 20

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Place to Visit: Pittsburg, NH

Favorite things to do on weekends: Try new restaurants & spend time with family and friends

Hobbies: puzzle making, crocheting & gardening

Favorite Place to Eat: Won Wang Restraint, Herbies

Favorite Snacks: sour cream & onion chips, kettle popcorn

Favorite teacher/child activity: canvas painting, finger painting, making family gifts Learning new information about their families during morning “news” from over the weekend.

Marie shares that she was born and raised in Haiti. She moved to Florida at the age of 21 where she went to school for accounting and worked in the business field. She has 3 children. When Marie’s youngest was 4, she moved her family to Millbury and started attending the Millbury Federated Church, where she discovered the Learning Center.  God moved Marie and her children for a reason; God does beautiful things when we have faith. Her plans now are to continue to love, care for and mold God’s children.  Marie speaks three languages fluently and is a bit less fluent in a fourth language.  Marie was one of the original teachers when the child care center was named “Joining Hands” and became an integral part of the merge between the pre-existing Nursery School and the child care center, to become what is now “Circles”.  Pastor Cliff taught Marie to play guitar and she now leads the children in sing-alongs.  Marie’s intelligence, wisdom and expertise with children make her an extraordinary teacher and support to families.

Jen has been working in the field since 1993.  She worked for Bright Horizons for 10 years, as as a nanny for 2 kids until 2020, as well as a couple of private centers.  She graduated from Mount Wachusett Community College in ’93 with a teaching certificate for Infants – Pre-K.  She has taken additional courses at Quinsigamond Community College, as well as trainings through EEC.  Jen started at Circles in September of 2023.

Birthday: November 22

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Place to Visit: OBX- Outer Banks, NC & Maine

Favorite things to do on weekends: read & spend time with my husband and 22 year old son

Favorite Place to Eat: 99, Calabria, & Papa Ginos

Favorite Snacks: Skittles, Peanutbutter cups, Doritos, & popcorn

Favorite teacher/child activities: My favorite thing is watching each child learn new skills, as well as new experiences.  It’s always amazing to me that every child grows into their own person.

Julissa started working at Circles in December of 2024. She got her teacher certification right after High School. Julissa then attended Salem State University where she earned her bachelors degree in Healthcare Studies and a minor in Psychology.

Birthday: November 5

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite things to do on weekends: go out with my family

Hobbies: make-up

Favorite Place to Eat: Anything Mexican

Favorite Snacks: chocolate chip cookies, gummy candy

Favorite teacher/child activity: arts and crafts

Lexi started working at Circles in October of 2020. she graduated from Baypath Vocational School in 2020. She is teacher certified and working on furthering her education in early education. Lexi has always enjoyed being with children and teaching them. this has always been a dream job.

Birthday: June 14

Favorite Color: Pastel Pink

Favorite Place to Visit: Sebago Lake, Maine

Favorite things to do on weekends: go on walks with my dog, relax

Hobbies: train & play with my dogs

Favorite Place to Eat: Texas Roadhouse

Favorite Snacks: cheese & chocolate

Favorite teacher/child activity: singing, making them laugh

Brianna has been working with children for 8 years. She has been working at Circles since October of 2023.

Birthday: December 20

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Place to Visit: New York City

Favorite things to do on weekends: sleep in & shopping

Hobbies: learning to crochet and painting

Favorite Place to Eat: Diners/Breakfast food

Favorite Snacks: gummy bears, peanut m&m’s, & popcorn

Favorite teacher/child activity: Arts & Crafts

Grace received her credentials in Early Childhood Educations at Quinsigamond Community College, and came to work at Circles in September of 2019. Grace knew she wanted to be a teacher the moment she stepped into the preschool environment.  She said, “I knew, this is it! One hundred percent, I want to work with children and be a teacher”.  Grace shares that the most important component in a classroom is, “working hand-in-hand with family to do what’s best for the child”.  Grace ensures that children’s social and emotional growth is the primary focus in the child care and asserts that feeling loved, secure and safe allows the child’s focus to be on learning.  Grace says, I believe children learn best in an environment that is both teacher-facilitated, and child-directed.  This gives the child a sense of independence, yet also lets them know that there is always going to be help when it’s needed.

Birthday: January 7

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Place to Visit: Cape Cod

Favorite things to do on weekends: Spend time with family and friends

Hobbies: Reading & crafting

Favorite Place to Eat: Kyoto

Favorite Snacks: popcorn & candy

Favorite teacher/child activity: experiments, building & creating

Michaela joined the staff of Circles in May of 2024. Previously she was a toddler teacher for 2 years before going into Dispatch Academy. She realized that her love was for child care and here she is. She has since become teacher certified and is attending Quinsigamond Community College to continue her education. She is currently studying Family Issues & Dynamics.

Birthday: November 19

Favorite Color: Olive Green

Favorite Place to Visit: Boston & Maine

Favorite things to do on weekends: spend time with my children

Hobbies: cooking, BINGO, poetry

Favorite Place to Eat: at home, Carrabba’s Texas Roadhouse

Favorite Snacks: banana bread, red Doritos

Favorite teacher/child activity: arts & crafts, coloring, playing games

Emily first came to work at Circles in the Spring of 2020 until leaving for school in September.  She returned for the summer of 2023 and full time in June of 2024 after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a BA in Musical Theater. She has since taken Child Growth and Development to obtain her teacher qualifications.

Birthday: July 25

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Place to Visit: London, England

Favorite things to do on the weekends: Read

Hobbies: Singing, Dancing/Choreographing, & Acting

Favorite Place to Eat: Anthony’s Italian Kitchen

Favorite Snacks: Oranges & Chocolate

Favorite teacher/child activity: Reading & Music

Michell began working at Circles in 2020 as a School Age assistant Group Leader. She graduated from Millbury Jr/Sr High School in 2022. She completed her certification in Childhood Development from Quincy College and is currently pursuing her BA in Criminal & Social Justice at Boston College.

Birthday: August 21

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Place to Visit: Florida

Favorite things to do on weekends: snowboard

Hobbies: coloring, cooking

Favorite Place to Eat: Benny’s Caribbean Cuisine

Favorite Snacks: goldfish, grapes

Favorite teacher/child activity: singing & dancing

Riley began working at Circles in the Spring of 2022, while in High School. She is currently working on a degree in Developmental Psychology at Clark University, where she earned her teacher qualification in Fall of 2023.

Birthday: September 27

Favorite Color: Gray

Favorite Place to Visit: Maine

Favorite things to do on weekends: Spending time with friends, family & my dog

Hobbies: cooking & writing

Favorite Place to Eat: Longhorn Steakhouse

Favorite Snack: Doritos

Favorite teacher/child activity: crafts

Mia is a graduate of Milbury High School. She started working at Circles in December of 2023. She is currently attending Quinsigamond Community College to obtain her teaching qualifications.

Birthday: August 15

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Place to Visit: the beach

Favorite things to do on weekends: hang out with family

Hobbies: art & music

Favorite Place to Eat: Chick-fil-a

Favorite Snacks: chips

Favorite teacher/child activity: dancing, singing, & making kids laugh

Lauren began working at Circles in December of 2024. She graduated from BVT and is currently a junior at Worcester State University majoring in Communications. One of her first jobs was working in a daycare.

Birthday: April 26

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Place to Visit: the beach

Favorite things to do on weekends: relax, cook, spend time with friends and family & church on Sundays

Hobbies: shopping, cooking, trying new food spots, & art/being creative

Favorite Place to Eat: I like trying new restaurants/hidden food gems

Favorite Snacks: fruit, popcorn, chips & guac, dates

Favorite teacher/child activity: singing songs, dancing, or doing anything that makes them laugh/giggle

Evie came here from Haiti and started working at Circles in February 2024. She graduated High School in 2018 and learned Computer Science in Haiti. It has been her dream to work with kids.

Birthday: February 7

Favorite Color: Black & Purple

Favorite Place to Visit: Paris, Maldives (beach)

Favorite things to do on weekends: cooking, gym, music

Hobbies: gym, singing, cooking, dancing

Favorite Place to Eat: 111(One eleven), home

Favorite Snacks: popcorn, Ritz crackers, chips

Favorite teacher child activity: coloring, dancing, eating

Jenna began working at Circles in December of 2023. She graduated from Millbury High School in 2024.

Birthday: May 22

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Place to Visit: Cape Cod

Favorite things to do on weekends: relax & hang out with my son

Hobbies: baking

Favorite Place to Eat: Tavern in the Square

Favorite Snacks: chips

Favorite teacher/child activity: singing, dance party, & reading books

Todd began working with the School Age kids 2 years ago. He is a graduate of Millbury High School and is currently taking classes at Quinsigamond Community College.

Birthday: September 5

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Place to Visit: Old Orchard Beach

Favorite things to do on weekends: snowboard

Hobbies: snowboarding & rock climbing

Favorite Place to Eat: Texa Roadhouse

Favorite Snacks: brownies & granola bars

Favorite teacher/child activity: sports

Isabella came to Circles as an intern while attending Notre Dame Academy, and was hired in 2019. She has worked with the preschool, pre-k, and school age classes. She graduated from Assumption University, earning a degree in Psychology with a concentration in child development. She also minored in human services and education. Bella is currently a graduate student at Assumption University in the school counseling masters program.

Birthday: May 10

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Place to Visit: California

Favorite things to do on weekends: play with my dog Goose

Hobbies: cooking & going to the gym

Favorite Place to Eat: Calabria

Favorite Snacks: fruit & cheez-its

Favorite teacher/child activity: playing games, going for walks outside in the nice weather

Michai began working at Circles in November of 2024. He is currently a junior at Millbury Jr/Sr High School.

Birthday: August 15

Favorite Color: Green, but sometimes Black, Blue & Red

Favorite Place to Visit: Florida

Favorite things to do on weekends: sleep, hang out with friends

Hobbies: video games, drawing, playing piano

Favorite Place to Eat: Taco Bell, Chili’s, Wing Stop, & Mamma’s house

Favorite Snacks: Kaz bars, dill pickle chips, Girl Scout cookies

Favorite teacher/child activity: drawing & yapping with kids

Nahya came to work at Circles in January of 2024. She is currently a student at Millbury High School. She is certified in CPR and has babysat every Saturday for the past 4 years.

Birthday: October 16

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Place to Visit: Florida, Virginia Beach

Favorite things to do on weekends: spend time with family

Hobbies: playing volleyball

Favorite Place to Eat: Texas Roadhouse, Chick-fil-a

Favorite Snacks: Mangos & cookies

FAvorite teacher/child activities: putting on plays for them, singing & dancing

Norah is currently a student at Millbury High School and will be graduating in 2026. She has been working at Circles since January of 2024.

Birthday: November 26

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Place to Visit: Aruba

Favorite things to do on weekends: spend time with friends and family & shopping

Hobbies: volleyball & tennis

Favorite Place to Eat: Via

Favorite Snacks: fruit, chocolate chip cookies

Favorite teacher/child activity: arts & crafts

Morgan began working at Circles in April of 2024. She has 5 years of experience babysitting. Morgan is currently a junior at Millbury High School, attending classes at Quinsigamond Community College.

Birthday: February 23

Favorite Color: Blue

Favorite Place to Visit: Beach

Favorite things to do on weekends: relax and spend time with loved ones

Hobbies: horseback riding & chickens

Favorite Place to Eat: Kaizeris Sushi

Favorite Snacks: chips, candy

Favorite teacher/child activity: puzzles, games, reading