Meet our staff!

 Hello, my name is Tracy, and I am the Executive Director at Hilltop School. From a young age, I knew teaching or working with children in some capacity was what I wanted to do. I am thankful for the opportunities that I have had over the years to work in a safe, nurturing, and child centered environment where children can learn and experience new challenges that build their confidence and support learning and growth. 

I earned my bachelor's degree from the University of Maine in Early Childhood Education and currently hold a State of Maine birth through age 5 certification, and I also hold a Pre-K through Third Grade teaching certification. 

Prior to joining the team here at Hilltop School, I worked at the Sharing Place Childcare Center in Orono, a non-profit childcare center, for 7 years and had the opportunity to work with children ages 6 weeks through 5 years of age. I first started out in the infant/toddler program for the program but then I had the opportunity to develop a new Kindergarten readiness program for the center and helped implement and teach this program which was a very rewarding experience. 

I was drawn to Hilltop School because of its outstanding reputation within our community and because it is a non-profit organization. I started at Hilltop School on February 11, 2013, as the Kindergarten Teacher. I stayed in this position until 2016. On July 5, 2016, I became the Assistant Director, and during my time in this role, I also acted as curriculum coordinator and had the opportunity to work under 2 of the most amazing executive directors and I learned a lot from each of them. On August 5, 2019, I took on the role of Executive Director and have been in this position ever since. I was truly honored to accept this position and together with our team of amazing and creative early educators, I am committed to partnering with you and providing your family with a loving and safe foundation for your child's early education that will foster a lifetime of learning. 

I am blessed to have Miss Laurie as part of our administrative team as Assistant Director/Curriculum Coordinator, she is perfect for this role.  Together, Laurie and I are committed to maintaining a high-quality early education program for our families and feel so blessed to get to know each and every one of you. 

 I look forward to many more years here! 

When I am not at Hilltop School, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two children. We enjoy going on outdoor adventures, hiking, and exploring new places together! 

 Hi my name is Laurie. I have had the privilege of being an Early Childhood Educator for 15 plus years. Over the years, I have worked with various age groups. I have spent several years working with children from ages 3 to 5 years old.

  I earned my CDA (Child Development Associate) in October 2010 and continue to hold this certification.

 I joined Hilltop School the summer of 2013 as the Summer Camp teacher for children Kindergarten thru 2nd grade. In November of that year, I was asked to become the teacher in the 3-year-old room. I was in this classroom until March 2022, when I took the position of Assistant Director/Curriculum Coordinator. This decision was not an easy one to make as I have loved every minute of being a Preschool Teacher. It has been the most rewarding experience of my life. In my new role, I can work with all the children and families in our center which I also find very rewarding. I am so fortunate to be able to come to work each day and spend time with the most amazing staff members as well as the most incredible little ones that you can imagine. I am truly blessed!

 Hello, my name is Miss Janessah. I am a teacher in the toddler room 2.  I have been a teacher at Hilltop School since summer of 2018.  I have been an early education teacher for almost 11 years, and I have worked with children with special needs in many different environments. I have lived and worked in many different states, and I have enjoyed all the experiences and friends I’ve made along the way. I have lived in Maine for about 4 years now and have really enjoyed my time here thus far. My favorite thing about working at Hilltop School is all of the hugs, snuggles, and giggles. 

Some fun things about me are, I have 2 sisters named Jennifer and Ashleigh and 1 brother named Josh. I also have a niece named Holly. I have lots of pets. Sometimes I feel like I live in a zoo! I have 4 parakeets named Billy, Buttercup, Lilly, and Nick, 2 Cockatiels named AJ and Jon, 2 cats named Mary, Kate, and Marge and 2 dogs named Zoey and Loki. My favorite colors are blue and green. My favorite foods are my grandmother’s magic cookie bars and her chicken and noodles, and my favorite animals are dolphins, elephants, and horses. 

I love to create a fun learning environment where the children in my care will feel safe and loved and one in which they will have fun coming to school. 

I moved to Maine about 6 years ago, and have been working towards my childcare background certification and furthering my skills. I have lived in NY, SC, TN, TX, and Maine. I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Health, Psychology, Sociology, and Education, from Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC. I also went to the University of Phoenix in TN for a Master’s in Human Resource Management and completed only 6 months towards it. I have worked in Information Technology Helpdesks, Manufacturing Management, Cellular Phone Service Helpdesks, and Childcare along with Childcare Management. I am ServSafe Certified, CDL certified to drive school buses, and CPR, First Aid Trained. I have 17 years experience working with children, have a 16 year old daughter, an 8 year old son- and they both attended the daycares I worked in from babies. I have worked in Church and State run daycares. The changes I have seen over the years to help children learn and grow for the next generation has been such a wonderful gift. I enjoy working with all age groups but favor the Toddlers. I am excited to be on the Hilltop Team.

My name is Wendy Brown and I am the lead toddler teacher in Room 1. 

I have been at Hilltop School since May 2023 and love it here! I have worked in childcare for over 25 years with children ages 6 weeks up to 5 years of age.

A little bit about me, I am a mom of 3 children, and I am a grandma to 3 children. I love photography and being outside. When I am not here at Hilltop School, my favorite pastime is going jeeping with my friends and family!  

  My name is Kasey Hurd, I am the assistant teacher in room 1.  I have been at Hilltop School since August 2024! I previously worked at a YMCA in the childcare room with ages 3-10 for 3 years as well as being a lifeguard/swim instructor for a year with ages 6-months to 8 years old. I enjoy working with children of all ages! 

 A little bit to know about me! I am currently enrolled at EMCC for Criminal Justice. I am going into my second year! In the future, I am hoping to go into the line of Forensic work or customs border patrol. When I am not at work, I absolutely love to be outside and go on hikes and spend time with my family

My name is Noelle  and I am the lead Jr. Preschool teacher here at Hilltop School. I began at Hilltop in December 2023, and found the experience so fulfilling that I decided to pursue childcare and education in my post-secondary studies. I am so lucky to be able to foster connections and build skills with these amazing children. I look forward to working in children’s education and development now and for the rest of my career.  

    Hi! My name is Sydney! I am currently the Jr. Preschool Assistant Teacher. I have recently graduated with a degree in education from the University of Maine. 

Over the years I have worked with various age groups inside and outside of the classroom. Last semester I was able to student teach kindergarteners which was an amazing experience. I have spent several summers as a camp counselor at different camps in Maine too! My most recent position was the Waterfront Director at Camp KV in Readfield and had an absolute blast showing kids the ins and outs of swimming and boating. 

This is my first full-time job in the classroom, and I am so excited to work with my co-teacher to create a fulfilling learning environment for our class. Working with kids has made my life have such purpose. Watching children grow and develop is very inspiring and I hope to help guide them on their way.   I am so excited to be here at Hilltop School!

Hello! My name is Cheyenne, and I am a substitute teacher here at Hilltop School, however, at this time I am the long-term substitute for one of the Preschool rooms. I am originally from a very small town in Maine, North Anson, though currently live just a few minutes away in Hampden. I attended Husson University and just recently obtained my bachelor's degree in the field of psychology. I found out about Hilltop through a former classmate of mine and am grateful that I took the opportunity to apply! In the spring, I plan on returning to Husson University to start my master's degree journey for clinical mental health counseling. When I am finished with my degree, I hope to be a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor! I am so grateful that I have had the chance to interact with all of the children, parents, and loved ones of children that attend Hilltop and I look forward to those that I encounter in the future!

Hi, my name is Makayla, and I am the Lead Teacher in the Pre-K classroom in the red building! I attended school at Eastern Maine Community College and graduated in May of 2024 with my degree in Early Childhood Education.  I have been working in some form of childcare since I was in high school. From summer camps, to a one-on-one in a first-grade classroom, to a infant classroom teacher, to toddler teacher when I first joined Hilltop School and now here with the Pre-K students at Hilltop! I have always had a passion for working with children and am eager to continue learning how to help children learn and grow! 

A little bit about me, I love being outside. My favorite activities are hiking, kayaking, and spending a day on the lake! I am from a small town right outside of Canada called Woodland, which provided so many opportunities to explore the beautiful Maine outdoors. Now, I live right in Hermon and am happy to be much closer to the rest of my family! I also love to paint and have, and entire house packed with arts and crafts. I love being creative but most of all I love seeing children explore their surroundings and be creative too!