ABOUT OUR FACULTY & STAFF
We are pleased to employ five experienced, energetic, creative and caring teachers!
OUR TEACHERS
LEE ANN BARNHART teaches the 3 and 4-year-old classes, as well as our Summer Adventure Camp program. She went to Northwestern Connecticut Community College for Early Childhood Education. She worked for the Canton Public School System’s “Canton Parents as Teachers Program,” as a Music and Movement Teacher. She has been teaching at TNS since 2000, and also organized and facilitated a 2-year-old program at Trinity Nursery School for 4 years. Lee Ann is also a professional artist/musician, and teaches guitar lessons to elementary and high school age students.
MARY DORAN is a teacher in our 3-year-old classes. She holds a Bachelor Degree of Science in Elementary Education, with a minor in Special Education from Shippensburg State College in Pennsylvania. Mary has over 32 years of teaching experience. She has taught, directed and created curriculum for several preschool programs including St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, Har-Bur Nursery School, First Lutheran Co-Op Nursery School, and Worthington School for the Young. She has served as Vice President of the Board of Directors for Farmington Valley ARC, and currently serves on the Board of The Farmington Valley ARC Thrift Shop.
KATY GENTILE teaches our 4-year old classes and our Summer Adventure Camp program. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Russell Sage College in Troy, NY, and a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Pace University in White Plains, NY. Katy taught for 15 years at Horace Mann Lower School, a private school in Riverdale, NY. While there, she spent 9 years teaching Kindergarten, 4 years teaching 2nd grade, 1 year teaching 1st grade, and 1 year teaching a remedial reading program. As the newest member of our teaching staff, Katy is very excited to be teaching where her younger daughter previously attended.
DIANE HALE is a teacher in our 3-year old classes. She is experienced in mortgage accounting and bookkeeping. She is also active in her community as a member of the New Hartford PTO & Women’s Club. Diane was an active member of the Trinity Nursery School Board while her children attended the school. She also works part-time assembling ukuleles at a workshop in New Hartford.
JUDY SHARP teaches our 3-year old classes. She holds a Bachelors degree in English from the University of Connecticut, and a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from the Educational Center for Human Development. Judy has over 30 years of preschool educational experience, and was an adjunct faculty member at Northwestern Connecticut Community College. She is published in Who’s Who in America’s Teachers, fifth edition.
OUR STAFF
BETH GRIFFIN is our Program Administrator. She holds a Bachelors degree in Communication Sciences from the University of Connecticut. Beth worked for Mintz & Hoke Communications Group for 6 years as a media buyer and promotions coordinator before deciding to stay home with her daughter. When her daughter began attending TNS, Beth was an active volunteer on the Board, working as the Newsletter Chair and the Candy Cane Carnival Chair. Beth is also a certified yoga instructor, and teaches yoga to children and families. She has been with TNS as our administrator since January of 2009.
DONNA MISCIKOSKI is our School Treasurer, and has been with us since November 2008. She holds a Bachelors degree in Accounting and Finance from the State University of New York. Prior to Trinity Nursery School, Donna served on various committees and boards for area schools and mother’s organizations. Previously, Donna served in several positions including Finance Manager for a United Health Group Company, Accounting Department Manager for Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), as well as a Principal Auditor in the banking industry.