About

OUR HISTORY

Montpelier Children’s House was started in 1984 by Larry Parker. Originally a small home program, it moved to Barre Street where it grew into a steadfast staple in the Montplier Early Education Community. The program served up to twenty five preschoolers each year, and over the decades has amassed hundreds of alumni, some of which have gone on to become teachers at Childrens House or enrolled their own children in the program.

In 2010 Larry’s daughter, Samara Parker Mays joined the program with her nearly three-year-old in tow. During her tenure she has supported and grown the program through a new legislative and regulatory climate in Early Education, bringing the school into the STep Ahead Recognition System (STARS), Universal Pre-K through Act 166 and changes under Vermont’s Child Care Law, Act 76.

In 2020, Montpelier Children’s House moved to Mountainveiw Street, where it was able to expand and grow the program. In 2024, in the year of our 40th Anniversary, Children’s House set a commitment for continued program quality through intentional and ongoing professional development partnerships and teacher development and support. We hope to create a future for our program as one of a hub of study and practice that not only supports MCH teachers, children and families, but takes on a larger role in the development and growth of teachers throught the state.

Our Program values

Montpelier Children’s House strives to create and implement in inquiry-driven, contextual curriculum. We do this by practicing careful observation and building strong relationships with children and families.

ChildreN

We believe that children are capable and competent and that are deserving of rich and diverse environments and experiences that allow them to explore their many ways of learning. We believe that child-initiated free play is the engine that drives curiosity and authentic learning. Our curricular approach draws on best practices for Early Childhood Education. “Academic” learning in Early Childhood Education looks very different from older grades. Rather than teaching we focus on learning. Children experience foundational subjects like as math and literacy through the process of hands-on play experiences - for example exploring symmetry and counting through block building and literacy through songs, rhyming and sending notes to their classmates.

Teachers

We believe that Early Childhood Educators are professionals and we advocate and work towards the goal of compensation and benefits on par with our public-school colleagues. We believe that teachers need sufficient time outside of the classroom to reflect, plan and prepare and our program structure reflects the allocation of this time. We are committed to ongoing professional development and supporting teachers in their growth and development.

Families

We believe that families are essential partners in their children’s learning and development at school. Teachers strive to foster close and open relationships and communication with families and caregivers so that we can best support all children. We do this through frequent communication (messages, photos, videos), formal and informal conferences and meetings, and an open-door policy that invites family members to spend time with their children at school.

Our Staff

The teaching staff at Montpelier Children’s House are committed to providing a play-based, child-led, and inquiry-driven experience for our preschoolers. Our teachers share a dedication to professionalism in field of early childhood education and engage in ongoing professional development to further support children and families. 

Samara Mays, Director & Maple Group Teacher

Samara is a responsive and caring educator and Director. She draws on her many years of experience to provide a school community that is thoughtful, transparent, and provides high quality education for young children. She has completed coursework in Early Childhood Education for the Vermont Director's Credential and holds a Vermont Teaching License for Ages 3-5. 

Samara is committed to offering equitable educational opportunities for all children and their families. Samara has a strong image of both the child and of the educator, and as such strives to create a community of researchers; where children and teachers are thoughtful, engaged and learning alongside each other. She is committed to her own ongoing professional learning, having most recently completed a Graduate Certification in Early Childhood Pedagogy through University of Colorado Denver.

In the classroom, Samara is skilled in inviting and sustaining learning for preschoolers. She is continuously developing her practice to interpret, give meaning and leave traces of children’s learning processes. She honors children as protagonists of their own learning, and uses her role to guide, support and provide opportunities for the children to negotiate. With a BA in Environmental Studies, and a MA in Rural Studies, Samara includes both the natural world and the social world in her day to day work with children.

When not directly working with the school community- you can find Samara enjoying the beauty our home state has to offer. From hiking to cross country skiing, Samara is often out and about with friends and family. In the warmer months, you can find her with her hands in the dirt of her ever expanding flower garden. 

A Montpelier native, Samara lives in Montpelier with her family and many pets. Shas two almost-adult children who are MCH Alumni and is a devoted auntie to her niece and nephews. 

She is a dedicated advocate for children and families, and is a member of The Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children, the North American Reggio Emelia Alliance as well as the Reggio Inspired Vermont Early Education Team. She is also a member of the Central Vermont Director’s Group and serves on the Board of Directors of the Pacem School in Montpelier.

Cecelia Puleio, Teacher Mentor & Willow Group Teacher

Cecelia is an empathetic and energizing teacher who thrives on connection and relationships. She is eager to try new things, and takes calculated risks to ensure support for children and teachers is always available.  She has an incredible ability to make everyone around her feel welcome and valued, and is a true believer in autonomy, supporting both children and adults in building confidence in what they are doing.  Her enthusiasm is contagious.

Knowing early on that education was her home, Cecelia received her B.S. in Elementary Education from UVM and continued on to complete her MEd in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies at UVM as well.  Over the past 15 years, Cecelia has had various roles within the early childhood networks. Quickly finding her love for the work through classroom teaching, Cecelia was propelled into preservice teacher support while she taught and studied at UVM’s Campus Children School (a laboratory school within the early childhood program). She has become a confident mentor teacher, and a great resource for children, teachers and families alike.

Cecelia has deep connections throughout Central Vermont, and is motivated and engaged in ongoing advocacy for early childhood education and professional development for educators. She is a recognized facilitator and trainer through the Vermont State Colleges system, a member of both the Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance and RiVET (Reggio Emilia Vermont EarlyEducation Team) steering committees, as well as a member of the organizing & directing board of Green Mountain Teachers Camp. Cecelia is actively engaged at the state level through Building Bright Futures and Let’s Grow Kids regional advocacy groups. She has presented several times in the annual VtAEYC conference, and Vermont Kindergarten Conference. 

When not coaching, training, teaching, or engaging in advocacy work, Cecelia is also busy snowboarding, connecting with friends, finding new and exciting recipes, and adventuring with her partner Forrest, the children in their lives, Zaiden and Lochlin, as well as her fabulous dog Roxaboxen “Roxie”.

Emily Montague, Willow Group Teacher

Emily truly believes that all children are capable and able.  She recognizes the uniqueness of each individual child, and is a fierce advocate in ensuring all children have what they need to grow and thrive. She is able to decode and decipher children’s behavior and is eager to share her perspective. Emily is really good at building relationships! Because of this, children often look to her as their “point person” throughout the school day. She is nurturing, responsive and very funny. 

Emily is an eager learner, and has committed to her role as teacher researcher at Montpelier Children’s House. She has honed her observation skills, and as a result, she is able to provide materials and experiences that are relevant, engaging and creative. She has extensive knowledge about young children’s development, and has become our resident Toddler Translator. 

A native to Montpelier, Emily enjoys walking around the neighborhood, gardening and hanging with Elphaba (her bearded dragon) alongside friends and family. Emily has received her Level IIIA certificate through the Vermont Early Childhood Career ladder, with over 21 credits in Early Childhood Education. She has experience as a Specialized Service Provider and trauma informed care.

Brenna Doran, Willow Group Teacher

Brenna is a genuinely curious educator. Homeschooling her three children for 10 years allowed Brenna to cultivate a practice of attentive listening and observing. She uses these skills to guide and steer contextual curriculum. Through her careful, inquisitive observations of children, Brenna elevates and honors the ordinary moments that occur in the lives of young children. She advocates for these moments through her skilled and beautiful writing prose. Her distilled and synthesized ideas provide direct insight into the learning and development of the children in her care. 

While seamlessly juggling many roles, Brenna makes it a priority to commit to lifelong learning. She eagerly engages in professional development, and thoughtfully attempts to implement any learning or new ideas into her practice.

Laura Franske, Maple Group Teacher

Laura is a steady force of positivity, connection and enthusiasm. She gracefully juggles many roles in the world, and remains consistent, reliable and smiling throughout it all. 

Laura is a skilled and engaging educator, having recently received her License in Early Education through the Vermont Higher Education Collaborative. Laura truly loves and respects children, shown through her attentiveness to each individual within the community. Laura, amazingly, holds so many things in her brain, and often pulls out materials and ideas just in the nick of time. 

Laura received her B.S in Animal Science from UVM and a M.S. in Comparative Nutrition before diving into the world of Early Childhood Education. She is filled with scientific knowledge and animal facts, making her a desirable resource among children and teachers alike! 

Outside of MCH, Laura is busy! Often adventuring with her family; her husband Chris, two children (MCH alumni!) Miles and Jay, and their dog, Digby. Laura is a deep thinker, an inquisitive thinking partner and big inspiration for being open minded. Whether at home or school, Laura is always trying out and learning new things.

Megan Hagerty, Maple Group Teacher

Megan is a creative thinker, one that often helps the rest of us “get out of the box”. She is able to make complicated processes accessible, highlighting children’s capabilities and sparking joy. Megan genuinely listens to children via their work and actions, and offers a safe space to visualize and execute big, creative ideas. With a BFA in Printmaking, and a MAT in Art Education, Megan is able to support children and teachers in both finding and creating beauty each day. Her discerning aesthetic reminds our community that the environment is another “teacher” within the classroom.

Drawing from a diverse background of experiences, Megan brings a unique perspective to our work with young children. She is clear, offers safe boundaries and directly communicates with openness and care.

Joey Morlan, Office Administrator

Joey's role is to keep the administrative gears turning behind the scenes so that our teachers can focus on the kids! When not wrangling paperwork, they enjoy reading and birdwatching. They live with their partner in Barre.