Our teachers in the Early Learning Center are trained to address the specific developmental needs of preschool-aged children. They design engaging, open-ended learning experiences that stimulate inquiry and provoke the imagination, and they provide frequent opportunities for children to participate in self-selected activities that promote independence and decision-making. Throughout the day, teachers observe the children closely and help them reflect on their learning to facilitate the development of higher-order thinking skills. In addition to their regular classroom teachers, students meet with Fay faculty for special classes (music, art, and P.E.) as part of their regular schedule.

Director of the Early Learning Center
Katie Knuppel is Head of Primary School and Director of the Early Learning Center at Fay. She spent close to twenty years teaching in New York City independent schools, namely The Chapin School and The Buckley School, in kindergarten through fifth grade. Before coming to Fay, Katie was the Assistant Director of Lower School at The Buckley School and is a graduate of the New York State Association of Independent Schools Emerging Leaders Institute. Katie's passion for early childhood and elementary education stems from her love of school as a child and her passion for creative, engaging curriculum. She adores the imagination and intelligence of young children, the ever-changing challenges of each school day, and the joy and laughter of students learning. She is an educational leader who believes collaboration and communication between students, families, faculty, and staff are the keys to a nurturing, dynamic educational program. She lives on the Fay campus with her family, including her husband, two children, and two dogs. Her daughter, Kit, and her son, Rufus, both attend Dartmouth College.
Email - kknuppel@fayschool.org

Associate Director of the Early Learning Center
Lauren Cilley has been working with young children for more than twenty years. She joined the Fay community in 2010 as a Pre-K teacher before becoming an administrator for the ELC. Previously, Lauren worked at Boston University’s Early Childhood Learning Laboratory. Lauren is passionate about early childhood education and play-based learning. She loves working with young children because of the excitement, sincerity, and innate curiosity that the children bring to school every day. Her favorite part of teaching is designing inquiry-based curricula around the children’s interests and finding creative ways to incorporate academic skill development. Lauren’s writing about teaching science to young children was featured in Marcia Edson’s book, "Starting with Science." In 2015, Lauren completed a study tour of early childhood centers in Pistoia, Italy, and she earned her Certificate in Early Education Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2020. In addition to working with Fay's youngest students, Lauren has been a dorm parent, led several clubs for Extended Fay, and was a unit leader for FaySummer. She resides in Bolton with her husband and two young sons, and outside of Fay, she is also a contributor to the Central MA Mom blog.
Email - lcilley@fayschool.org

Lead Teacher - ELC 101A

Assistant Teacher - ELC 101A
Kristen Fredericksen started working with children in 2019 in different childcare settings. She is pursuing a degree in early childhood development and has a great passion for teaching children. When she is not caring for children, she runs a small business selling homemade body products online and also enjoys spending her free time traveling and being with family.
Email - kfredericksen@fayschool.org

Lead Teacher - ELC 101B
Priscilla has more than 20 years of experience in early childhood education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the University of Amherst. She is Lead Teacher and Director certified through the Department of Early Education and Care. Priscilla has been studying the Reggio Emilia approach and was recently Wunderled certified through Fairy Dust Teaching. Prior to coming to Fay in 2017, she was a lead preschool teacher at First Steps Learning Center in Southborough. Priscilla is also a NASM-certified personal trainer and enjoys helping others with their fitness journey. Priscilla enjoys the dynamic opportunities that teaching young children brings. As a preschool teacher, she loves supporting children's development and strives to give them the care and resources they need to grow into independent individuals. She is thankful to be part of the lives of young children who are so passionate and excited about the world around them. Priscilla lives in Lancaster with her husband Dondrae and her son Cameron.
Email - pmay@fayschool.org

Assistant Teacher - ELC 101B
During the school year, Lex works at Fay's Early Learning Center as an assistant teacher, and she also works within the Extended Fay after-school program. During the summer, she is a unit leader at FaySummer. Lex earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from the University of New Hampshire. Her favorite part of teaching young children is helping them try new things and watching their faces light up with pride! There's nothing more rewarding than supporting children as they find their voice and confidence.
Email - athibodeau@fayschool.org

Lead Teacher - ELC 102A
Liza attended UMASS Amherst for her undergraduate education and then received a master's degree in teaching from Simmons University. She has worked in several diverse educational settings as a tutor specializing in executive functioning skills, reading specialist, assistant teacher, and lead teacher. Liza loves working with children in their foundational years of education, particularly in the area of literacy and is passionate about nurturing a sense of kindness, empathy, and community in young children. In addition to her work in education, Liza is very interested in fitness and nutrition and has worked as a fitness trainer, Pilates instructor, and nutritionist. Now her days are mostly filled with playing with her two young children, Darren and Lana. She also loves visiting local farms, running, and trying new restaurants with her husband Ron.
Email - lhsin@fayschool.org

Assistant Teacher - ELC 102A
Alissa has been an educator for over 15 years, teaching a range of ages from preschool through high school. Alissa has been teaching at the ELC since 2022, but previously has been part of the Fay community for many years in different roles including as a third grade teacher and basketball coach. As a Fay alumna (class of ‘01), Alissa was inspired to become a teacher because of the phenomenal education she received as a student. Alissa earned her bachelor's degree in psychology and neuroscience from St. Olaf College, followed by master's degrees in both elementary education and moderate disabilities. In Massachusetts, she holds an Elementary Teaching License and a Special Educator License. She is also a certified children’s yoga teacher. As a lead teacher at Harvard University's Botanic Gardens Childcare Center for over five years, Alissa developed a love of the Reggio Emilia philosophy of education. Her experience also includes teaching preschool at a bilingual Japanese school and in ASL at the Learning Center for the Deaf. Alissa loves young children's natural curiosity and enjoys bringing music, movement, and nature into the classroom. She has two children herself, sons Theo and Nico.
Email - awalters@fayschool.org

Lead Teacher - ELC 102B
Meghan has been working with children for the past 15 years. She attended Wheelock College, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in history and elementary education and a master's degree in special education. She is also Director I and II certified through the Department of Early Childhood Education and has her Montessori teacher certificate through the North American Montessori Center. She has worked in both public and private school settings. She is passionate about emergent curriculum and has worked at a school for several years that fostered the Reggio Emilia approach. She loves creating a peaceful classroom where the children feel valued and respected as members of the community. Meghan resides in Uxbridge with her husband, three children, two miniature goldendoodles, and chickens.
Email - mhenning@fayschool.org

Assistant Teacher - ELC 102B
Since joining Fay in 2022, Di has served as both a substitute teacher in the Early Learning Center and an Upper School Mandarin teacher. She holds a master’s in early childhood education with a professional license from Framingham State University, complemented by degrees in accounting and banking from Bangor University, and a master’s degree in financial markets from the University of Nottingham. Additionally, she has been a lead teacher for Pre-K through 4th-grade Chinese language programs at Mass BCLS in Shrewsbury since 2020. Her diverse academic background bridging education and finance, combined with varied teaching experiences, has shaped her unique educational philosophy. Di believes in creating engaging learning environments that foster both language acquisition and cultural appreciation. She looks forward to bringing these perspectives to her classroom and contributing to her students’ growth and development.
Email - dyang@fayschool.org

Lead Teacher - ELC 103
Mary Hupfer has been an educator since 2001. She graduated from Plymouth State University with a bachelor's degree in early childhood studies. Prior to joining Fay in 2017, she worked as a preschool teacher at First Steps. Recently, she earned a master's degree in psychology with a focus on children and adolescents from Southern New Hampshire University. Mary is passionate about teaching and working with children due to their curiosity and wonder. She resides in Holliston with her husband, Mike, and their children, Mikey and Macy.
Email - mhupfer@fayschool.org 

Assistant Teacher - ELC 103
With a background in biology and her pursuit of a psychology degree, Leah is dedicated to sharing the wisdom of her life’s journey with the children of the ELC. Leah is the proud mother of two children and has an unwavering affection for animals and the outdoors. She can often be found camping, snowboarding, gardening, or spending time coaching and managing her children’s sports teams. Leah joined the ELC team in 2022 and has enjoyed helping develop each child’s curiosity and individuality while simultaneously fostering a sense of community within the classroom.
Email - lperez@fayschool.org

Teacher's Aide
Stacey joined the Fay community in the fall of 2023 with over a decade of teaching experience in family childcare. She finds joy when engaging children's natural curiosity and fostering their confidence in a nurturing learning environment. Stacey lives in Mendon with her dog, Rosey.
Email - stcampbell@fayschool.org

Teacher's Aide
Matthew Graham joined the Fay community after working as an ABA in Massachusetts. Matthew also has experience as a behavioral technician. He holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Iona College, where he graduated in 2018.
Email - mgraham@fayschool.org

Teacher's Aide
Faith has been a part of the Fay community since 2021, working in a variety of roles including FaySummer camp counselor, Extended Fay Associate, and as a member of Fay's residential life team. She is currently obtaining a degree in liberal studies with a concentration in education from Westfield State University. Faith enjoys being part of children's foundational years and helping create a positive, supportive learning environment. When not at Fay, she loves crafting and going on walks with her dog, Ronan.
Email - fmacpherson@fayschool.org

Teacher's Aide
Email - kmacpherson@fayschool.org

Teacher's Aide
Anne earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont. She is passionate and enthusiastic about the education of small children, and enjoys getting a glimpse of the world through their lens. Anne is committed to meeting each child where they are at, both developmentally and emotionally, while helping each child feel a sense of pride in themselves every day. Anne’s two daughters both attended Fay, and she has been actively involved in many areas of the community over the past 15 years. When not at Fay, Anne can be found skiing in New Hampshire, or on the sidelines of various athletic fields watching her daughters play lacrosse.
Email - amato@fayschool.org

Teacher's Aide
Antionette graduated from Ryerson Polytechnic University Toronto, Canada with a bachelor’s degree in applied science. She taught first grade in Brooklyn, New York for a year. She enjoys helping children develop their cognitive, social, and emotional skills and encourages their curiosity to learn. She has two children of her own Amelia and Ethan.
Email - aroopnarine@fayschool.org