Martin F. Gold



Kim Pease
Executive Director
Kim holds a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education with endorsements in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. In the early childhood field for 25 years, Kim has taught and directed.  Kim looks forward to seeing the children grow and learn every day in a rich, stimulating environment through developmentally appropriate practice. 

Sandy Brisson
Office Manager
Sandy became Aspirations' Office Manager in January 2011. She has been an Office Manager for 35 years and is in charge of all office activities, including answering the phones, accounts payable and receivable and administrative payroll. When needed, she also fills in in the classrooms so teachers can take lunch breaks or work on their curriculum planning. A mother of three and grandmother of three, she enjoys the split in responsibilities between rocking babies to sleep and handling the bookwork.

Carrie Mitchell
Head Infant Teacher
Carrie holds her Vermont Teacher's license in Early Education and has worked as a preschool director, a para-educator in an elementary school and an ESL teacher for a summer program for young children. Carrie loves seeing those special "Ah-ha!" moments during the day and doing projects that give kids the opportunity to get messy and have fun. Carrie is also a mom at our school-- her daughter Autumn is an Aspirations  student.

Christine Szczerbak
Head Infant Teacher
Christine holds an Associate's degree in Child Development and Human Services from the Randolph Technical Career Center.  Prior to joining Aspirations, Christine spent several years working in childcare centers in every age group.  Most recently, she worked as a program director for a center in Shelburne.  She loves working with the kids and being part of their every day experience.


Brandy Raymond
Head Mobil Infant Teacher
Brandy has her CDA in Infant/Toddler and also a Associate's Degree in Hotel/Restaurant Management from Champlain College.  After her second child was born, Brandy decided to change careers and has been an Aspirations teacher for over five years. She loves the morning drop off time when she gets to talk with parents and get to know their children even better.

Annette Flynn
Assistant Mobile Infant Teacher
Annette worked for R.W. Mansfield Company as a “chartist” for fifteen years, before moving to Vermont. A natural caregiver, Annette provided eldercare for her own mother, who suffered from dementia, as well as for a friend's mother, in addition to providing private child care. Annette takes any classes and coursework that becomes available to continue honing her skills and has been at Aspirations for over 4 years. Her favorite part of working with infants is anticipating and meeting their needs throughout the day. (She doesn't mind the cuddling, either!)

Jennifer Litch
Head Early Toddler Teacher
Jennifer holds a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Vermont. She's worked with children throughout her life in a variety of settings including nannying, UVM classrooms and substituting. Jennifer loves bringing her kids outside and watching them experience nature...from the feeling of wind on their faces to the smell of grass. She enjoys seeing them pointing to things and exploring a world that is still so new to them.

Cara Caswell
Head Early Toddler Teacher
Cara graduated from the Universtiy of Vermont with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work in May 2003, and has worked in childcare ever since, caring for a range of ages from infant to pre-school and working as a nanny.  She loves those special opportunities throughout the day to spend time one on one with her toddlers so she can give them focused, individualized attention. Her son Sawyer is also an Aspirations  student, so Cara is both a teacher and an Acorn mom.

Tiffany Trafan
Head Infant Teacher
Tiffany holds a Bachelor's of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Vermont and has been a teacher at Acorn since 2009. Before joining Acorn, she worked with children as a gymnast instructor, a kindergarten assistant, a nanny and a program leader. Teaching came naturally to her as a young Tiffany took playing teacher to another level, taking attendance of her dolls and stuffed animals. Her favorite part of the day is seeing her infants grow and telling parents about what they've learned at the end of the day.

Jayme Wood
Assistant Infant Teacher
Jayme  holds a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and Special Education.  Her previous work experience includes:  Vermonster's Daycare and Preschool, paraprofessional at Shoreham Elementary School, assistant teacher in a first grade class in Bridport, and a paraprofessional in a second grade classroom at Bridport.  Jayme recently got married and she and her husband live on a family farm with their puppy, Maizy.

Amanda Nesta
Assistant Toddler Teacher
Amanda earned her B.S. degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Champlain College.  Her previous experience includes student teaching and being a swim instructor at the YMCA.  Amanda enjoys working with young children and being part of their experience with a world so new to them.  She also enjoys the energy and excitement the children have towards activities, lessons, songs, art and games.

Debbie McGuire
Head Preschool Teacher
Debbie received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Special Education from Castleton State College. She's taught at the Baird School and within the Dorchester County (South Carolina) School District, as well as worked in childcare at various YMCAs over the course of her career, in addition to coaching Special Olympics teams. Her favorite part of the day is watching her kids engaged and learning during their center time, as well as any opportunity to take them outside.

Jenny Rossi
Assistant Pre-Kindergarten Teacher
Jenny received her B.A. from Lyndon State College.  She has previous experience with palliative care, babysitting, and nannying a child with special needs.  Jenny values the chance to get "messy" with the children, noting their unique outlooks through play and art while they learn.

David Belvedere
Staff Coordinator  
David has 12 years of experience in child care, in all age groups as a substitute,  floater and long-term substitute. He loves that his position at Aspirations allows him to really get to know all of the children, from infants to Pre-Kindergarten. Dave is known as the Mr. Fix-It for any issue at Aspirations and his easygoing, funny personality makes him quite popular with the kids as well.

Cara Gallagher
Assistant Staff Coordinator
Cara holds a BA from St. Thomas University in Spanish and History.  This will be her first experience in an early childhood center!  Cara has previously substituted at the Shelburne Community School where she particularly enjoyed her time in the EEE program.  Cara joins Aspirations because she wants the opportunity to share in new discoveries children make on a daily basis.

Staff