Red Barn Staff Bios

 

Meghan Croft

Director

Meghan has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Boston College, and a master’s degree in Education with a concentration in Nutrition Education from Framingham State University. Prior to becoming the Director of Red Barn, Meghan was the Associate Director of Red Barn for four years. Meghan started her career at Red Barn as a teacher, teaching in the preschool classroom for seven years. Before joining Red Barn, Meghan taught preschool and pre-kindergarten for four years at The Tobin School in Natick.  Meghan enjoys spending time with her family (including her twin brother!), cooking/baking, and camping.  

 

Jackie Athas

Toddler Lead Teacher

Jackie has a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Boston University and a master's degree from Regis College in Special Education. Prior to Red Barn, Jackie taught toddlers at Abbott School in Wellesley for seven years and toddlers at Regis College Child Care Center for eleven years. In her spare time, she loves playing with her grandchildren!

 

Tiffany Blake

Toddler Co-Lead Teacher

 

Megan Pacheco

Toddler Co-Lead Teacher

 

Laura Bronisz

Preschool Co-Lead Teacher

Laura has been teaching since 2007. She has a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Framingham State University and a master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Cambridge College. Laura is a long-time resident of Arlington where she lives with her husband Paul, son Miles, and. When not busy with work or family, Laura enjoys time with friends, hiking, gardening and poking around thrift shops looking for treasures for her classroom.

 

Kierst Doolittle

Preschool Co-Lead Teacher

Although Kierst went to school for communications, she is now on an education path at Northeastern University. Before Red Barn, she worked at Carlisle Kids' House. Kierst lives in Beacon Hill and enjoys exploring the city and going sailing on the Charles River. She was born in Weston, but grew up in North Carolina and has many family members in Weston, including a couple of Red Barn graduates!

 

Cori Lapp

Pre-K Lead Teacher

 

Victoria Casey

Pre-K Assistant Teacher



 

Angela Elkins

Pre-K Lead Teacher

Angela has a bachelor's degree in Humanities with a minor in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, as well as master’s course work in Early Childhood Education and Administration from Lesley University. Angela has more than twenty years of experience teaching and working with children. In the classroom, Angela has a passion for building relationships that create a welcoming community of learners as well as fostering early learning skills and embracing nature.

 

Jennifer Lee

Pre-K Assistant Teacher

Jen has a degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She loves working in a variety of educational settings including Bowen Cooperative Nursery School, Wrentham Elementary School as a third grade teacher, SmarterKids.com, and Newton Academy Soccer as a program manager. Jen enjoys taking walks, visiting the beach and spending time with her husband, three daughters, and two dogs.

 

Diana Theriault

Float Teacher

Diana has a bachelor's degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Lesley University and has more than ten years of experience working with children. She has also taught elementary school students and was a first grade teacher at the Meadowbrook School of Weston for ten years. Diana has three children and a toy poodle named Lexi. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to new places, and volunteering.

 

Diane Chapin

Float Teacher