Our Story
My childhood memories consist of running around in the woods with the neighborhood children. One day, we decided to build “houses” among the trees and shrubs in my backyard. So became, “Kid Town.”
“Kid Town” became a neighborhood staple. Me, my brothers, cousin and neighbors spent countless hours trimming tree branches, building walls out of sticks, creating beds and just playing in nature. Thus grew my passion for nature. When I grew up and played outside less, I enjoyed watching my younger brother and younger neighbors continue the tradition of “Kid Town” until they too grew up.
Fast forward to college, where I attended Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire. I knew I wanted to work with kids; I loved babies and toddlers, and enjoyed “teaching” my younger brothers while they played school growing up. However, I wasn’t sure teaching in a classroom was for me. I wasn’t sure if the worksheets and tests were where I wanted to be. However, upon becoming involved in the Windy Hill School, Colby-Sawyer’s on-site laboratory school, I became aware of the Reggio Emilia theory of teaching, and I finally knew what I wanted to do.
The Reggio-inspired school opened a door for me. I found a passion for instilling a love of learning in children through play, the environment, and nature. I completed my senior capstone as a teaching intern at Windy Hill. My project was “Children in Nature” and explored how to incorporate nature in the classroom and use it as a way to teach to the different subjects such as literacy, math, social studies and science.
Upon graduating in 2009, I began teaching at Beginnings School in Weston. There I created the schools first ever outdoor classroom. Together with my co-teacher, we enlisted the help of our young preschool classroom to clear a space outside of the school. Using rakes, the children cleared the leaves and debris. They spent hours exploring the nature below a massive oak tree, looking for insects, inspecting plants, and investigating a stream. The children were invested in learning about everything that took place under that tree. Again, my passion for learning in nature continued.
The next step in my journey was a teaching position at Beacon Hill Nursery school. While this school stands in the heart of Boston, with little nature available, it was a beautiful example of a Reggio-inspired school. I learned under the tutelage of my experienced colleagues, and loved every second that I spent there.
After starting a family, I knew that traveling to Boston was out of the question. I really wanted my son to attend a Reggio-inspired school, but bringing him into the city to attend Beacon Hill Nursery was not going to work for our family. So, I decided that building my own school was the only thing that I could do.
I spent some time pondering the name for my school. I tossed around some ideas, knowing it needed to tie in my love for nature and incorporate the fantastic outdoor space I had planned. While out for a run with my son, I saw an awesome backyard that had a bunch of tress cut down. There were tree limbs for climbing and large wood chip piles for digging! There was also a swing-set, an obvious sign that children often played there. I thought, what a cool place to play. I remember playing in Kid Town…and thats when it hit me. This whole idea started with Kid Town, it only grew from there. So, hence the name Kid Town Nursery School.
I look forward to passing on my love of learning, the joy of being little, and a passion for the world in nature to your children.
-Kristen
Meet The Team
Sabrina Ross
Float Teacher
Hello my name is Miss Sabrina and I am looking forward to joining Kid town nursery school! I am excited to build a close relationship with not only the staff members but every child that I encounter here at kid town. As a child my family always referred to me as “the mother hen” because I was always caring for my older brother and younger cousins. I have always been very nurturing and I loved to play “school/teacher” as a kid. Back in 2016, as a freshman in Attleboro High School I joined an Early Education program to further my education in childcare. Then in junior year I started my first job and worked for a morning and afterschool program called ABACUS with the preschool class. I was there for about 2 years and then moved and worked at the Attleboro YMCA childcare and got experience with infants up to pre-k and was there for about 3 years which helped me to earn my certificate as an infant toddler teacher as well as a preschool teacher and that’s what led me here to kid town! In my free time I like to spend time being outside, going shopping, hanging with my family and my boyfriend who I’ve been with for 7 years.
Stefanie Catalano
Float Teacher
As a child, I loved to make art, dance, sing, and be in nature. For many years of my youth, I was a gymnast, cheerleader, and actor. From 18-22, I earned my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a focus in Art Therapy at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Since 2010. I’ve been dedicated to making a living as an artist and art facilitator. I am a certified 200 Kripalu Yoga Teacher, Reiki Level 2 Initiate, and Professional Astrologer with over a decade of divination experience. I am the creator of the Sacred Rhythm Astrology Mentorship Program. I am currently working towards earning my Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. It is an honor to offer my expertise and support to this amazing community