Hampshire College

Kim Lee Ripley

Infant Co-Teacher beginning 9/00
B.A. (anthropology and early childhood
education), Hampshire College 1995

Kim has been teaching infants and toddlers for the last 15 years, including work at the Nonotuck Community School, and at the Skinner Lab School at the University of Massachusetts. This is Kim’s eighth year co-teaching with Sophie in the infant room at the Children’s Center, and she “spent 4 years learning about babies from Sophie while a work-study student at Hampshire”. Kim is endlessly fascinated by the sense of self with which each baby enters our community

Kim is originally from Brooklyn, NY, but is now happily settled in Northampton with her husband Gabe and their sweet preschooler Cecelia Daisy. The Ripley family enjoys many unusual adventures which often include music, laughter, travel and tattoos. In December 2006, Kim and her family opened a tattoo shop called “Off The Map” in Easthampton. “Our grandest adventure yet”, says Kim.

Infant Co-Teacher, 1988-present
Course work in ECE at Holyoke
Community College and at Hampshire College

Sophie returns for her 20th year at the Children’s Center as an infant teacher. Prior to coming to Hampshire, Sophie was a family day care provider for five and a half years and then a toddler teacher for a year for the Valley Opportunity Council in Holyoke/Chicopee.

Sophie lives in South Hadley with her husband Stan, a financial analyst. Sophie has three grown children and a beautiful three year old granddaughter.

Lynn Warren

Toddler Co-Teacher 9/96-present.
B.A., early childhood education,  University of Masscahusetts, 1982

Before coming to the Children's Center, Lynn taught for a year at the Children's School at Deerfield Academy. She has also been a preschool teacher in a Head Start program, a family day care provider, and for six years, Lynn was a toddler teacher at the Human Development Laboratory School at the University of Massachusetts.

Lynn lives in Greenfield with her two children Karlyn (22) who is a veterinary technician in Greenfield, and Jordan (19) who is in his first year of at Greenfield Community College.

Lynn enjoys spending time with her children. She also enjoys an array of outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, swimming and snowshoeing, which gives her the opportunity to explore the many beautiful areas that surround us here in western Massachusetts.

Kate Nicolaou

Toddler Co-Teacher, 9/2004-present
B.A., theatre, New England College, 1997

Kate began her teaching career in the Boston area, where she had the opportunity to embrace the Reggio Emilia approach in her work at the Cambridge School of Weston’s Children’s Garden. This will be Kate’s eighth year teaching toddlers in a reciprocal learning environment.

Kate received a B.A. in theater from New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire. After graduating, Kate pursued a professional career as a stage manager and scenic carpenter in theaters throughout the U.S. before realizing her true love of teaching children.

Kate lives in Amherst with her husband, John and two lovely daughters, Emma and Megan, who attend the Children’s Center. Along with parenting and teaching, Kate enjoys care-free romping outside, dabbling with paints, making music. and traveling with her friends and family.

Theresa Gold

Pre-School Co-Teacher, 9/95-present.
B.A., SUNY Stonybrook, 1971
M.Ed., University of Massachusetts  Amherst, 1976

Theresa has had experience teaching in various family and center-based child care programs since the early 70's. Prior to coming to the Children's Center, Theresa was a pre-school teacher/family advocate for an integrated Head Start program at the Montague Center School. During that time she became certified to be a Child Care Director.

Theresa received her M.Ed. at the University of Massachusetts, focusing on the creative arts and environmental design to promote alternative educational services for multiply handicapped children. After that, she collaborated in developing a creative play environment for multiply-handicapped children at the Belchertown State School.

Theresa lives in Sunderland. Her son Joshua (25) lives in Amherst. Her son Nicholas (29) is currently living in Baltimore. Theresa enjoys hiking, reading and yoga.  

Pat Morrison

Preschool teacher 8/01-present
B.A., Smith College, 1984
M.A., University of Massachusetts Amherst, 1989

Prior to joining the staff of the Children’s Center, Pat was a teacher in the Extended Day Program at the Smith College Campus School at Fort Hill, and prior to that, taught for 11 years at the HCAC Day Care Program in Northampton.

Pat lives in Florence with her partner Maren, and enjoys kayaking, gardening, travel and poetry.

Lisa Stahl

B.A., University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2004
M.Ed., University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2005


This is Lisa’s first year at the Children’s Center. Lisa received her M.Ed. through the Collaborative Teacher Education Program at the University of Massachusetts in 2005. During her time as a student at there, Lisa had the opportunity to intern at a variety of schools throughout the Pioneer Valley as well as work as an after-school teacher in Pelham. Most recently, Lisa taught first grade at Wildwood Elementary School in Amherst.

Lisa lives in Amherst with her husband Brian, and their two year old Beagle, Hallee. She is also a certified Group Exercise and Pilates instructor and has taught kickboxing classes at Ultimate Fitness in Hadley. Lisa enjoys traveling with her husband as well as reading, and spending time with her family and friends.