Executive Director
Jessica BarnesI am so happy to be joining the Neighborhood Schoolhouse community as your Executive Director. I have worked in the education field for over 25 years as a Teacher and Administrator. I have my Degrees in Early Childhood and Special Education. I am hoping to bring many new exciting experiences to the school community and learn about all the amazing things already in place.I own a home in Greenfield, MA. I live with three of my children and fur babies. I also have my oldest son and two grandsons that live close by.
Contact Me: [email protected]
Contact Me: [email protected]
Program Director
Maureen Velsor
Maureen first began teaching at Neighborhood Schoolhouse in the nursery classroom from 2019 to fall of 2020 through the early days of the pandemic before taking leave to have a baby of her own. She has been caring for children for fifteen years as a babysitter, in-home nanny, and teacher. She even worked as a ski instructor at Stratton Mountain which she affectionately calls "daycare on ice." Maureen was ecstatic to return to Neighborhood in March 2023 as lead teacher in the newly opened 2 and 3 year old room. Maureen strongly believes in Neighborhood's philosophy of teaching the whole child and encouraging curiosity and adventure in education. When not at Neighborhood, Maureen can be found playing outside with her husband, sons, and dog, sampling delicious local foods, or fixing up her very old house.
Contact Me: [email protected]
Maureen first began teaching at Neighborhood Schoolhouse in the nursery classroom from 2019 to fall of 2020 through the early days of the pandemic before taking leave to have a baby of her own. She has been caring for children for fifteen years as a babysitter, in-home nanny, and teacher. She even worked as a ski instructor at Stratton Mountain which she affectionately calls "daycare on ice." Maureen was ecstatic to return to Neighborhood in March 2023 as lead teacher in the newly opened 2 and 3 year old room. Maureen strongly believes in Neighborhood's philosophy of teaching the whole child and encouraging curiosity and adventure in education. When not at Neighborhood, Maureen can be found playing outside with her husband, sons, and dog, sampling delicious local foods, or fixing up her very old house.
Contact Me: [email protected]
Gosling
Annie Macy
Annie has been a familiar face during the past 6 years at Neighborhood Schoolhouse! After substitute teaching at Neighborhood for many years, she took a full time teaching position in the Preschool classroom. In the fall of 2021, Annie transitioned to the Nursery classroom where she is now the lead teacher.
For over 25 years, Annie has been teaching and caring for children of all ages, in all different capacities, including nannying, running a home childcare program, teaching in early learning programs as well as substitute teaching within our local school district. Outside of work, Annie loves being with family and traveling! Annie especially enjoys spending as much time as possible outdoors, where her 3 Labradors are often by her side! She enjoys hiking, paddle boarding (with the dogs), skiing, snowshoeing, camping and traveling to the ocean any chance she can!
Annie holds an A. S. in Criminal Justice and a B. A. in Liberal Arts, with a focus on Early Childhood Education.
Contact Me: [email protected]
Annie has been a familiar face during the past 6 years at Neighborhood Schoolhouse! After substitute teaching at Neighborhood for many years, she took a full time teaching position in the Preschool classroom. In the fall of 2021, Annie transitioned to the Nursery classroom where she is now the lead teacher.
For over 25 years, Annie has been teaching and caring for children of all ages, in all different capacities, including nannying, running a home childcare program, teaching in early learning programs as well as substitute teaching within our local school district. Outside of work, Annie loves being with family and traveling! Annie especially enjoys spending as much time as possible outdoors, where her 3 Labradors are often by her side! She enjoys hiking, paddle boarding (with the dogs), skiing, snowshoeing, camping and traveling to the ocean any chance she can!
Annie holds an A. S. in Criminal Justice and a B. A. in Liberal Arts, with a focus on Early Childhood Education.
Contact Me: [email protected]
Owlet
Carson Summers-Pelkey
Carson comes from a large family, that has lived all over the country. He is originally from the mountains of California, and has also lived in PA, NY, NH, and NC. He has a long history of farming, cooking, and theater. He went to school for stage production at the Lehigh Valley School for the Performing Arts, while working as a babysitter/nanny, at various youth theaters, and summer camps. Farming, and food justice has been his primary focus for the last 10 years. However talking with his mother who has been teaching for over 35 years inspired a career change. Subsequently, he is starting towards his Associates in early child education at CCV, and is enthusiastic in his pursuit of his new life in Brattleboro. He is very excited to be here at Neighborhood School house to teach, and learn, and grow together.
Contact Me: [email protected]
Carson comes from a large family, that has lived all over the country. He is originally from the mountains of California, and has also lived in PA, NY, NH, and NC. He has a long history of farming, cooking, and theater. He went to school for stage production at the Lehigh Valley School for the Performing Arts, while working as a babysitter/nanny, at various youth theaters, and summer camps. Farming, and food justice has been his primary focus for the last 10 years. However talking with his mother who has been teaching for over 35 years inspired a career change. Subsequently, he is starting towards his Associates in early child education at CCV, and is enthusiastic in his pursuit of his new life in Brattleboro. He is very excited to be here at Neighborhood School house to teach, and learn, and grow together.
Contact Me: [email protected]
Starling
Rebecca Michaud
Rebecca is overjoyed to return to be the lead teacher in the Starling room at Neighborhood. She has been involved in the Neighborhood community for several years as a parent, a teacher, a former board member and a volunteer. Rebecca has an A.A. in Early Childhood Education and is currently pursuing a B.A. in Psychology with a concentration on child and adolescent development. Rebecca lives in Westminster with her husband, two children, two cats and her fish. She loves spending time outdoors, traveling, reading and being creative with her home and garden. She is passionate about finding delight in small moments and hopes to share this perspective with her students and others in her life.
Contact Me: [email protected]
Rebecca is overjoyed to return to be the lead teacher in the Starling room at Neighborhood. She has been involved in the Neighborhood community for several years as a parent, a teacher, a former board member and a volunteer. Rebecca has an A.A. in Early Childhood Education and is currently pursuing a B.A. in Psychology with a concentration on child and adolescent development. Rebecca lives in Westminster with her husband, two children, two cats and her fish. She loves spending time outdoors, traveling, reading and being creative with her home and garden. She is passionate about finding delight in small moments and hopes to share this perspective with her students and others in her life.
Contact Me: [email protected]
Ashley Fletcher
My name is Ashley Fletcher and I just started working at NHS this July! I am starting out as a trainee with the hopes of becoming an assistant teacher! I recently graduated High School at BUHS in June. I have always had an interest in working with younger children and I have always been interesting in watching children grow and reach milestones. I am excited to work at NHS, so far working here has been an amazing experience and I really appreciate the staff helping me out! I have worked in Goslings, Owlets, and Starlings so far, I have yet to go into Ravens! From what I have learned so far; each and every child here has an outgoing personality and are all unique in different ways! Working at NHS has really helped me grow and learn more everyday!
Contact Me: [email protected]
My name is Ashley Fletcher and I just started working at NHS this July! I am starting out as a trainee with the hopes of becoming an assistant teacher! I recently graduated High School at BUHS in June. I have always had an interest in working with younger children and I have always been interesting in watching children grow and reach milestones. I am excited to work at NHS, so far working here has been an amazing experience and I really appreciate the staff helping me out! I have worked in Goslings, Owlets, and Starlings so far, I have yet to go into Ravens! From what I have learned so far; each and every child here has an outgoing personality and are all unique in different ways! Working at NHS has really helped me grow and learn more everyday!
Contact Me: [email protected]
Raven
Julie Holhut
Julie Holhut has been a teacher at The Neighborhood Schoolhouse since 2020. She lives in Greenfield, Massachusetts where she has lived for the past 15 years with her partner and his adult children. She have been in the field of Early Childhood Education for the past 24 years, working in several positions in The Head Start and Early Start Programs of Franklin County Massachusetts. Before coming to Neighborhood in the fall of 2020, she was a Toddler/Preschool Lead Teacher at Sunnyside Child Care in Northampton, MA, where she taught for 12 years until their closure in July 2020, due to the pandemic. In her long career in Early Childhood, she has met some incredible children and families and loves being part of a community such as The Neighborhood Schoolhouse.
Contact Me: [email protected]
Julie Holhut has been a teacher at The Neighborhood Schoolhouse since 2020. She lives in Greenfield, Massachusetts where she has lived for the past 15 years with her partner and his adult children. She have been in the field of Early Childhood Education for the past 24 years, working in several positions in The Head Start and Early Start Programs of Franklin County Massachusetts. Before coming to Neighborhood in the fall of 2020, she was a Toddler/Preschool Lead Teacher at Sunnyside Child Care in Northampton, MA, where she taught for 12 years until their closure in July 2020, due to the pandemic. In her long career in Early Childhood, she has met some incredible children and families and loves being part of a community such as The Neighborhood Schoolhouse.
Contact Me: [email protected]
Ana Williams
I’ve spent the majority of my teaching career, having lots of adventures with young children; learning with them, creating and building, exploring nature and the sciences, telling stories and forming first “letters”, guiding them through “big feelings” and giving them the opportunity to fix their mistakes because that’s how we all learn. I’m in awe of children’s curiosity and how it can be pretty contagious! I began my career in a center that focused on emergent curriculum and through that lens, the children learned so many vital concepts. This was the beginning of my love for early childhood education. Since then, I’ve accumulated more stories and experiences; learning from each child and their families; and learning and listening to my colleagues so as to become a more thoughtful educator. I’m passionate about supporting children through those developmental milestones (some of them can be a bit tricky!) and learning from them at the same time. I’m inspired when a child finally figures it out- whatever that “it” is!
Contact Me: [email protected]
I’ve spent the majority of my teaching career, having lots of adventures with young children; learning with them, creating and building, exploring nature and the sciences, telling stories and forming first “letters”, guiding them through “big feelings” and giving them the opportunity to fix their mistakes because that’s how we all learn. I’m in awe of children’s curiosity and how it can be pretty contagious! I began my career in a center that focused on emergent curriculum and through that lens, the children learned so many vital concepts. This was the beginning of my love for early childhood education. Since then, I’ve accumulated more stories and experiences; learning from each child and their families; and learning and listening to my colleagues so as to become a more thoughtful educator. I’m passionate about supporting children through those developmental milestones (some of them can be a bit tricky!) and learning from them at the same time. I’m inspired when a child finally figures it out- whatever that “it” is!
Contact Me: [email protected]
Specials
Support Staff
Melanie Storm
Melanie (Mel) was born and raised in Brattleboro and still calls this town home. She was introduced to the Neighborhood community through her younger sibling who attended elementary school here. She joined the team in the fall of 2022, working predominantly as a support in the Raven classroom. This year, she supports all of the rooms and loves getting to work with all of the age groups and form relationship with all of the children. Mel has always loved working with children, even when she was one! She is eager to continue to grow as educator. She loves watching children learn, and believes that every child learns differently and deserves the same opportunities for quality education. Outside of school, she enjoys hanging out with family, her cat, Spike, and her and her partner's dog, Max. She is so excited to continue her journey of learning and working with children of all ages at Neighborhood Schoolhouse!
Contact Me: [email protected]
Melanie (Mel) was born and raised in Brattleboro and still calls this town home. She was introduced to the Neighborhood community through her younger sibling who attended elementary school here. She joined the team in the fall of 2022, working predominantly as a support in the Raven classroom. This year, she supports all of the rooms and loves getting to work with all of the age groups and form relationship with all of the children. Mel has always loved working with children, even when she was one! She is eager to continue to grow as educator. She loves watching children learn, and believes that every child learns differently and deserves the same opportunities for quality education. Outside of school, she enjoys hanging out with family, her cat, Spike, and her and her partner's dog, Max. She is so excited to continue her journey of learning and working with children of all ages at Neighborhood Schoolhouse!
Contact Me: [email protected]
