Our Staff
Heather Inferrera, Teaching Director
This fall will mark Heather’s 14th year as a teacher at ECDC. She wears many hats in our program: Director, Butterflies teacher, Stay & Play teacher and Summer Program Director. Prior to joining ECDC, Heather taught special education before teaching Pre-K for several years. Heather earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with Special Education from Lasell College and her master’s degree in Early Childhood Educational and Administration from Wheelock College.
Heather lives in Lunenburg with her husband Anthony and their five children Kirsten (18), Cassie (15), Nicholas (19), Joey (17), and Kimmy (14). In her free time, Heather spends many hours cooking and hosting game nights with friends as well as reading, camping and hiking.
Anne MacDonaugh, Butterflies Teacher
As she enters her 19th year teaching at ECDC, Anne is not a stranger to the school. Both of her children are alumni of ECDC. She loves the uniqueness of a parent cooperative, and still enjoys seeing parents involved at school with their children. Anne has been teaching preschool for 24 years. Prior to that, she taught art in the Medway school system and in the Community Education organization. She also worked as a graphic designer, winning numerous awards. Anne has a BFA from Boston University in Art Education, and a Design Certificate from Mass. College of Art. She is a Butterfly Lead Teacher, Director 1 and 2 certified through EEC. Anne has always enjoyed interacting with children. It is extremely rewarding sharing the excitement of exploring new experiences with them. Anne has lived in Sherborn for almost 40 years and she enjoys walking to school in all kinds of weather. You can see her walking all around town with her husband and digging out in the garden. She loves music, creating art and crafts, antiques, hanging with friends and family, and eating great food! And chocolate 😏
Karilyn Hammer, Turtles Teacher
This school year marks Karilyn’s 18th year at ECDC. Karilyn feels very blessed to have landed at ECDC after teaching in Ashland for 9 years. She is a Board Member in the Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club and she was recently awarded Grant money to bring Porchfest to Franklin this Spring. The pandemic shut down the volunteer program she participated in at Homeless Shelters for many years. That means she has more time for her other passions. She founded Tony and the Sole Sisters … an adventure group of sorts pairing hiking with dining and more. She’s in 3 book groups and is at the library daily. She’s an avid moviegoer, at least once a week, and loves to cook. With three grown sons, she always has a plus one at the theater and never has leftovers! Skiing and snowshoeing are favorites of hers … the more snow the better! Spring brings kayaking and golf.
Beth Ecker, Turtles Teacher
Beth is beginning her 20th year at ECDC as a Turtle Teacher and Stay & Play teacher. Before joining ECDC, Beth taught Kindergarten and First Grade in New Jersey and at the Temple Beth Torah Nursery School in Holliston until it closed. She is currently an Early Childhood co-chair for the Temple as well as holding various Board of Director positions. Beth has a Bachelor of Science in Education and has three children. Beth was a Boy Scout and Girl Scout Leader and has been teaching Sunday School in Holliston for 20 years. Beth believes the dedication of the staff and administration at ECDC is amazing. Beth appreciates the fact that all of ECDC's volunteers go the extra mile to make sure the school is the best it can be. When not working, Beth likes to travel, read, and see her friends.
Jacquie Marcus, Music/Creative Movement Teacher
Jacquie came to ECDC in 1985 as a parent of a young son. She never expected she would be coming back as a teacher a few years later when the ECDC director called and asked if she would fill in for the music teacher! She decided to give it a try and thirty-two years later she is very happy with her career choice.
This is Jacquie’s 32nd year as the music and Stay & Play teacher and 27th year as the creative movement teacher. She says her reasons for choosing ECDC for her children are still what she sees as positives today: the idea of a parent cooperative, where parents are an integral part of the school’s policies, and are welcome to add enrichment to the curriculum. She likes the open communication ECDC encourages between staff and families, along with the classroom configuration and the theme-based curriculum. Jacquie still sees the close relationships of the school and its families as a great positive and she very much enjoys being part of the ECDC family.
Sharon Skelly, Turtles Teacher
Sharon is our newest addition and she brings to ECDC a great amount of ECE experience as a teacher in many settings: in her own preschool program, in public school including special education support, in a corporate daycare center, and as a nanny. She has taught a range of ages from two through early elementary.
Kim Adams, Assistant Teacher
Kim begins her 4th year at ECDC assisting in both the Turtles class and teaching in the Butterflies class. Kim resides in Medfield with her husband and has been a stay-at-home mother to her five children for the past 25 years. Prior to raising her family, she was a Grade 1 teacher and an ESL tutor in the Quincy Public School System. She holds a BS in Elementary Education and Sociology from UMass Boston. Kim can’t think of a better environment to begin working again then with the inquisitive and fun-loving children at ECDC!
Stephanie Thorsen, Turtle Teacher
Stephanie is in her second year at ECDC as a co-teacher for Stay & Play. Prior to that, she taught Pre-K for 10 years. Stephanie is originally from Connecticut, but after graduating from college moved to the Boston area. She currently lives in Walpole with her husband and daughter and has a son who lives in Los Angeles. Stephanie is impressed by the ECDC program and staff and is happy to be part of such an outstanding team. Stephanie holds a BS in Psychology from Mount Holyoke College. In her free time, she enjoys cooking & baking, gardening, taking nature walks, and spending time with her family and friends.