Our Staff:
All our teachers are experienced in child education, and hold certification from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.
The staff at each our facilities is dedicated to giving your child an outstanding experience that blends learning with care and nurturing. This includes creating curricula designed to maximize individual skills development.
Bibi Nageer
Director, Apple-a-day: (508) 755-0030
Bibi Nageer has been at Apple-A-Day for 17 years and has been director for the past nine years.
She started as a certified teacher and has taught in all of the classrooms. She has been in the field for thirty- seven years. She started her teaching career in Guyana, South America, following in the footsteps of an older brother and his wife. According to Bibi, “There is no job I would rather do, than the one I am doing right now--except being a full time grandmother.”
She is married with three grown children, and “has been blessed with an adorable grandson, who just turned eight months.”
Gwen Davis
Director, Access Futures: (508) 438-0784:
Access Futures Early Learning Center director, Gwen Davis has over twenty years experience in the early education and care field. She has run several centers over the years and has worked in the classroom as well serving all age groups.
At Access, Gwen prides herself as being a hands-on director. She enjoys being in the classroom observing teachers and interacting with the children. She is proud to run a National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredited center.
Gwen also specializes in presenting diversity workshops and courses and has presented for the early education and care community in Worcester and Boston. She holds a Masters in Education and is a former board member and current member and of the Worcester Area Association for the Education of Young Children.
Gwen is delighted to be serving the needs of the children and families at Access Futures.
Vicki Gallager
Director, Green Acres: (508) 892-1520
Vicki Gallagher has worked at Green Acres for the past 8 years and has been director for the past five. She started teaching in a childcare center in1998 at Hanscom Air Force Base, MA, and has been in the child care field for 12 years including 4 years as a foster parent in California.
Married to a retired Navy veteran, Vicki has two grown sons and a preteen son. She’s looking forward to having a daughter-in-law in the family (next June), and as Vicki says, “hopefully grandchildren will follow.”
Vicki absolutely loves her job and looks forward to going to work each and every day. “Where else can you go to work, play with children and act like a kid again?” says Vicki.
Terry Wentworth
Co-Director, Shining Star: (508) 616-9988
Terry Wentworth has been working in the early childhood field for seventeen years. Beginning her career in Home Child Care, later starting her professional career as an assistant teacher working in the classroom with children from Infants through Kindergarten ages. She has earned her Director II qualifications with many years of love and dedication to young children. She will be graduating from Becker College 2008 with an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education.
Sharon Pedone
Co-Director, Shining Star: (508) 616-9988
Sharon Pedone has worked in Early Childhood Education for the past twelve years—the last six of them at Shining Stars as the director.
Sharon says, “I feel much more fortunate than others because I started here as an assistant teacher of toddlers, moved on to teacher of toddlers and preschool, then to lead teacher and eventually to my current position as director. Over time many of my working relationships with parents and teachers developed into friendships. I think this gives me an advantage when striving to make our center stand out and be the best.”
Sharon shows a genuine love and respect for her teachers, parents and children—“A gift that comes from the wonderful experience of raising my own three children and now my grandchildren,” says Sharon.
Sharon has an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and completed her Directors Course three years ago.
Amy Bruno
Director, Violette Visions: (508) 845-3248
Amy Bruno has been the director of Violette Visions Early Learning Center since November of 2004. Amy says, “I’ve been lucky in the respect that I feel like I’ve found my true calling career-wise the first time around. I truly love what I do, with no aspirations to change my career, even though I’ve been in the field for fifteen years.”
Prior to working for Visions, Amy worked in a bakery, but began taking
college classes to become certified as a preschool teacher. She began working at Visions in 1993, and was able to gain experience with all of the age groups that Visions offers. She felt her niche was with the preschool class, so she mainly worked with three-year-olds for about five years before becoming the assistant director.
When the previous director retired, Amy became the new director. “I soon realized that each day as the director was an experience in itself, but it was one that I relished taking
on. There are always new, exciting ideas and responsibilities coming forth, as
well as new families to meet and welcome,” says Amy.
“I’ve been blessed with the best staff, families and children possible,
and I can’t see myself anywhere else. I’ve heard from so many people that
when they walk in the door of Visions they feel the warm, loving and happy
atmosphere that radiates around. That is exactly how I feel about the center,
and the feeling that I want the center to portray,” continues Amy. “I’m proud that we have such long term staff —two other staff members have been employees as long as I have—and still others have had five plus years with the company!
“My favorite aspect of the job is just to be there for the children and
their parents, doing that little something more to put a smile on a child or
parent’s face. The hugs and kisses I get each day make each challenge
worthwhile.”
Amy hopes she’ll be able to meet and welcome many, many more families and children into the center, and spread that warm and loving happiness for years to come!