KINDERGARTEN
Heather Burgess – Guidance Counselor for Kindergarten through Fifth Grade
I have been in the education/mental health field for my entire career; I started working as a teacher’s aide at a nursery school when I was sixteen! I have a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s degree in School Guidance and Mental Health Counseling.
Prior to joining Learning First four years ago, I taught kindergarten, first grade and worked as an in-home family therapist.
I love my job and the work I am able to do with students and families. When I am not working I enjoy taking care of my two sons and spending time with family. I teach Zumba, enjoy writing and sewing, and like going for hikes or bike rides. I also love to cook! My favorite thing to make is Shepherd’s pie because I love mashed potatoes. During the summer, when we have a break from school, I enjoy visiting Maine to go to the beach and Vermont to see the mountains. Someday, I hope to say that I have visited all of the 50 states of America.
Monique Czyzewski – Instructional Assistant for Kindergarten
I have had the privilege to be a part of LFCPS for 10 years. It has been an honor to contribute to the education of so many children who have attended our school.
I received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education at the University of Texas in San Antonio.
After college, I taught Kindergarten for 6 years and Second Grade for 2 years.
A change in my career brought me to Boston where I worked as a flight attendant for a major airline and then for a non-profit organization. After getting married I moved to Worcester and began my work at Learning First Charter Public School as an Instructional Assistant.
My husband Mark and I like traveling, especially to Texas to visit our family. One of our favorite adventures is taking day trips throughout New England, especially in the Fall. I also enjoy cooking, reading, and watching old movies. But one of my greatest joys is being a doting aunt and great aunt to my two nieces and four nephews.
I look forward to touching the lives of the many students who will attend our school in the future.
Delaney Horan – Kindergarten Special Education Teacher
I began working at Learning First Charter Public School in 2016 right after graduating from college. I originally am from the Worcester area but went to Delaware for college where I attended the University of Delaware. I came back to this area to be with family and found a wonderful community here at LFCPS.
I love to cook, read, and spend time with my family and my dog. My favorite foods always involve potatoes such as french fries, baked potatoes, and mashed potatoes. I have spent some time traveling and like to spend a lot of time on the Connecticut shore with my family.
Jessica Sarsfield – Kindergarten Teacher
I started at Learning First Charter Public School nine years ago as a special education teacher grades K-2. I moved into the Kindergarten teacher role six years ago. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with or without disabilities pre-k – 2 and a Master’s degree in Special Education.
I absolutely love our school, our community, and what I do. Kindergarten holds a special place in my heart. I love reading and arts and when I am not at school I am spending time outdoors with my family.
Lauren Fay – K-8 General Music Teacher
I have been working at Learning First Charter Public School for three years now. I believe music can help children express their thoughts, feelings, and emotions. It stirs up creativity, individuality, and inspiration in them, and I enjoy seeing our students develop a love for music.
I got my Bachelor’s degree at UMass Amherst and I am currently pursuing my Master’s degree at Kent State University.
When I am not at school you can usually find me outside. I love hiking, skiing, going to the beach, fishing, etc. I love to travel and visit new places. My favorite place I have traveled to is Italy! I loved being surrounded by so much history and delicious food.
GRADE 1
Holly Arel – Grade 1 Teacher
I have been teaching at Learning First Charter Public School since 2016. I got my Undergraduate degree at Westfield State University in 2015 and my Master’s degree from Worcester State in 2019. In my free time, I enjoy getting myself outside as much as possible, riding on my workout bike and I’ve been planning a wedding for the summer of 2022!
Noelle Gleason – Grade 1 Teacher
I started working at Learning First Charter Public School in 2018. I first was hired for response to intervention (RTI) and throughout the year I started working as an Instructional Assistant in Ms. Arel’s 1st-grade classroom and have been there since. I’m a proud Mom of a 9-year-old boy and during my free time, we love to go on hikes, play basketball and go on day trips.
Nicole Ortiz – Grade 1 ESL Teacher
I started as a substitute teacher in 2012. Later on, I transferred into the second-grade math IA position, and I am currently an ESL teacher. In 2017, I graduated with my Bachelor’s in Early Childhood (k-2.)
I work with students who are non-native speakers to help them learn to speak, read, understand, and write in English, and I love my work. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing and seeing that I have made an impact on my student’s life and made them more confident in their ability to communicate with others in English.
GRADE 2
Alicia Chestna – Grade 2 Teacher
This is my first year at Learning First Charter Public School, and I am so excited to be here! For four years I was a daycare teacher, providing care to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, and for the past two years, I have been working with third, fourth, and fifth graders at a public elementary school. I have Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Psychology, and my MA teaching license for Early Childhood Education.
In my free time, when I’m not with students, I love spending time doing fun things with my son! I also love the beach and camping and relaxing with my friends and family. I’m thrilled to be a part of the LFCPS family now too!
Whitney Harding – Grade 2 Teacher
I started working at Learning First Charter Public School in 2016. I started as a fifth-grade teacher, then taught fourth-grade students for three years, and I am currently teaching second-grade. I am a graduate of Worcester State and Southern New Hampshire University with a Master’s degree focusing on curriculum and instruction.
The gym is my happy place. I go to a Crossfit gym in Worcester and love it. It’s an addition. Recently, I have taken up painting with acrylics as a hobby and plan to continue to get in touch with my creative side. I am relatively well-traveled; all of the Caribbean, Punta Cana, Mexico, Beliz, Ireland, Italy, Bermuda, Curacao, and much of the US. I love to lesson plan and make Google Drive folders within folders.
Jennifer Quintin – Grade 2 Teacher
I have been working at Learning First Charter Public School for three years and this is my fourth. I was an Instructional Assistant and am now teaching 2nd grade! I went to Elmira College for my Bachelor’s degree. I have lived in Massachusetts for about ten years now and still love it! I love relaxing at the lake, watching the Patriots and other sports on TV, and love taking my new puppy on walks at different places!
Jordan Roth – Grade 2 Teacher
This is my first year at Learning First Charter Public School and I couldn’t be more excited! I am a recent graduate of Boston University with a degree in Elementary Education. I have spent time traveling to over 46 countries and I love to cook when I am not teaching 2nd grade!
My second-graders love school, and are creative and funny! They are eager to learn and soak up content like sponges, so our every day is super fun!
Christine Fairbanks – Grade 2 ESL Teacher
This is my 8th year teaching at Learning First Charter Public School. I have my Master’s degree in teaching English as a second language.
I love getting to know all of my students’ backgrounds and interests each year in a small group setting. I believe that knowing multiple languages is such a great benefit. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, going to the beach, swimming, exercising, and traveling. I look forward to a great year of growing and learning together 🙂
Janice Yick-Cuadra – Grade 2 Special Education Teacher
I have been at LFCPS since 2010, and I have worked with students in kindergarten, first, and second grades at the school. I have a Master’s degree in Special Education with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology. I am originally from New York City and have lived in several cities since then before moving back to the Northeast. I enjoy relaxing, reading, and spending time with my friends, family, and cat. I am always looking forward to meeting and learning from my new students each year!
GRADE 3
Caterina (Cate) Kennedy – Grade 3 ESL Teacher
I am the third-grade MSA/ESL teacher at Learning First, and I have been teaching here since 2014. I went to college at St. John’s University in Queens, New York and I studied Italian language and literature. It was while I was in college I really started being passionate about language learners and how people learn different languages. During college, I worked at preschools in New York City through a program called Jumpstart and many of the students I worked with spoke a language other than English at home.
After I graduated, I got a job as an aid in a first-grade classroom where again, many of my students were English learners. That’s when I decided to enroll at Framingham State University to get my Master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language, where I graduated in 2015. I love teaching and I love being a part of the Learning First Community. I have two sons, my husband and a pet kitten at home. In my free time, I love to spend time with them!
Jessica Kerr – Grade 3 Teacher
Worcester was born and raised! I joined the LFCPS team at the start of the 2017-18 school year. Being from this city, I wanted to give back to my community. I love bringing a depth of knowledge, creativity, and diverse, hands-on learning to the classroom. I completed my Master’s in Elementary Education in 2021.
When I am not teaching, I am exploring nature, spending time with my loved ones, baking, hanging with my cat, and taking care of my houseplants.
GRADE 4
Lana McDonald – Grade 4 ESL Teacher
After studying abroad in college, I decided to spend a few years traveling. I traveled through South America and Europe by myself, teaching English and working on farms. It was a great life experience! I came back to the US at age 25 and met my now-husband, who also works at the school.
This is my 3rd year at Learning First Charter Public School and I love it so much!
Abigail Palmgren – Grade 4 English Language Arts (ELA) Teacher
I have been teaching for seven years, and this will be my fifth year at Learning First! After graduating high school in Pennsylvania, I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Rhode Island College. I fell in love with Rhode Island and started my teaching career there. Eventually, I met my husband who is from Worcester and I moved to MA. Fun facts about me: I have two children, I love buffalo chicken and coffee, and I used to be a competitive dancer!
GRADE 5
Alanna Lewis – Grade 5 Special Education Teacher
I started at Learning First nine years ago as a third-grade teacher. Through the years I have taught grades 2 and 3. This year I’m starting a new position in grade 5. While at home I love running with my running group and spending time outside with my family. I cannot resist a good french fry or jalapeno poppers (cream cheese filling only). If I were to go on a trip in New England I’d either visit Newport, RI, or the White Mountains.
Ilana Lopez – Grade 5 Math Teacher
I have been teaching for 14 years, and the past 8 of have been at Learning First Charter Public School. I attended undergraduate school at Westfield State College and graduated with a degree in Education in 2007. I then got my Master’s from American International College in 2010. I am currently in the process of earning my second master’s so I can become a Principal. I live in Worcester with my husband Israel, dog Tony, and my 16-year-old stepdaughter Aliceya. In my free time, I enjoy dog sitting and traveling. Our favorite place to travel to is Myrtle Beach.
Cherise Villanueva – Grade 5 Science and Social Studies Teacher
I grew up in Worcester, MA, and even graduated from Learning First, back when it was Seven Hills! For high school, I attended Worcester Tech and thought I would be a chef when I grew up. Although I LOVE everything about cooking and food, my true passion is teaching and learning.
Science can sometimes sound dry and boring for children, so I really enjoy taking the opportunity to make it more interesting and hands-on for my students. I’m a little weird and love to bring creativity into my lessons!
GRADE 6
Sara Cohen –Grade 6 Math Teacher
I have been teaching 6th-grade math for three years now at Learning First. I graduated from Worcester State with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and in Elementary Education. This year, I graduated from Fitchburg State University with a Masters’s in Curriculum and Instruction. My favorite color is purple, and whenever I get the opportunity, I make pasta for dinner.
James Kilmartin – Grade 6 Science and Social Studies Teacher
I have been working at Learning First since 2015. I taught 5th-grade math and social studies for five years. This is my second year teaching 6th grade science and social studies. I have a 20-year-old daughter and two little boys. My favorite things to do are to play with my boys, read, and watch movies. I am a HUGE Walking Dead fan, and my favorite foods are French fries and potato chips!
GRADE 7
Victoria Dewhurst – Grade 7 Math Teacher
This will be my 4th year at LFCPS. I started the 2018-2019 school year. I taught two years in 5th grade and now this will be my 2nd year in 7th-grade math!
I went to Framingham State University where I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education 1-6. In May 2019, I graduated with my Master’s in Elementary Education 1-6 from Worcester State University. In April 2021, I became a certified Math teacher in grades 5-8.
I am an avid reader, but my favorite subject in school is math. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and my nephew Charlie (he is 6). I have a rescue dog named Finn – he is from Aruba! My favorite food is sushi, my favorite color is blue, and I like to travel anywhere there is a beach!
Nicole Beauregard – Grade 7 Special Education Teacher
I began teaching at Learning First in January of 2020. I have undergraduate degrees in both Elementary Education 1-6 and American Studies from Keene State College and a graduate degree in Moderate Disabilities PreK-8 from American International College. I enjoy arts and crafts, traveling to warm, sunny places, live music, and more. I’m also a huge animal lover and have a habit of petting every dog I see!
GRADE 8
Maritza Perez – Grade 8 Teacher
I’ve been teaching for 21 years! I taught for 15 years in my home state of Georgia. I’ve lived in Massachusetts for the past 6 years and have taught at Learning First for those 6 years as well! I am a wife and mother to two daughters who are in 3rd and 6th grade. I love to be outdoors, I am a runner, and I love adding fun adventures to my bucket list!
Lauren Blumberg – STEAM Teacher
I have been teaching for 10 years, 6 at Learning First! After growing up in Texas, I attended college in Tulsa, OK, and then lived in New Orleans, LA! You may have seen me in 2nd or 3rd grade before, but I am excited to bring new projects to the mix as the new STEAM teacher! I love art, music, delicious food, a beautiful spring day, and all things bright and sparkly!
Lauren Koleros – Guidance Department
I started at LFCPS in 2010. I received my Bachelor’s degree from Endicott College and then worked as a home health aid and then as an ABA interventionist for Early Intervention. I went back and got my Master’s degree and CAGS at Worcester State University in School Psychology.
Kristen White – Occupational Therapy
This is my first year at Learning First as a part of the team but I did complete a 3-month internship during the Fall of 2020. I graduated this past May from Springfield College with my Master’s in Occupational Therapy. In my free time, I enjoy being outside, spending time with my family, reading books, and doing anything arts or crafts-related.