Who’s Who at ONE Arts Community School Colchester

Sam Lyons (she/her) Director of Colchester & Superintendent of ONE Arts Schools
I am a CT native who fell in love with Vermont when I came up here to attend Champlain College. That was 10 years ago and I have not looked back. I have my VT teaching license for infants through 6th grade. Though my passion in teaching has always been with the younger years. I believe that early education is very important for children’s growth and development. I strongly believe in emergent curriculum as children are active learners in their environment and what they are learning about should be based on their questions and interests. As director I hope to create a center that is a safe and welcoming space for the community we create together.
Infant Room

Infant & Assistant Director
My name is Holly. I moved to Vermont in 2016 to get my children settled in one place throughout their education. In my free time I enjoy hiking with my dog, cooking, house projects, and spending time with my family. Before moving to Vermont I operated a FCC home childcare center on a military base. Since moving to Vermont I have worked at a drop-in care facility, and then I was a teacher at Heartworks. I am currently attending classes at CCV to get my Early Childhood Education degree. I believe that children learn and grow at their own pace. By providing the children with a loving, developmentally appropriate environment that fosters their growth, they will reach their full potential. I am excited to continue my early childhood education career in a program that involves and supports their community.

Infant
My name is Abby and I am happy to be a part of the growing community of ONE Arts community! I was born and raised here in Vermont and I love it. I have been in the childcare field for fifteen years. I received my Childcare/Human Services certificate from Center Of Technology Essex and have an associates degree in Visual Arts. In my free time, I love creating art, gardening, traveling, camping, kayaking, biking and spending time with my pets.
Young Toddler Room

YT Classroom Support
Hi families! My name is Jaileen, I typically go by Jai as it’s easier for the kids. I am so happy to be here with ONE Arts! My son Wilder is also here with us in the infant room and we are having a blast. I have been working with children for 10 years and I am working on my Ed.D. in Leadership with a focus of study in Early Childhood Education. I will be the Director at the up and coming Saint Paul location when we open it later this year, for now I am thrilled to be getting to know the families, children, and staff at Colchester. I grew up in Naples, Florida and have been living in Vermont for three years. I love our sense of community and look forward to growing with ONE Arts!

YT Support
Hi, I’m Tiffany! I’ve worked in Early Childhood Education for about 20 years and I am excited to spend the summer caring for your little ones! I live with my boyfriend and our two daughters, ages 12 and 17, our two dogs, two cats and some chickens. I enjoy spending my free time with my family and our dogs by the lake, as well as reading and binging netflix shows. I look forward to getting to know your families over the coming weeks!

Infant and Toddler Support
Hi, I’m Christel! Here’s a little about me: I am Congolese, I love to dance, cook, and write. I am a rising junior at the University of Vermont. The end goal is to pursue law and public health. I have cared for kids since I was a kid, so your children are in very good hands. If you see me, always feel free to have a chat if you have the time. Happy to see you and your children!
Older Toddler Room

Older Toddler
Hi, I’m Laci! I am so happy to be a part of the One Arts Community! I graduated from Castleton University in May of 2020 with a bachelors in MDS. I’m a big believer that children learn the most through play. I believe it helps them learn about the world around them, develops their social and cognitive skills and also helps them gain self confidence all while having fun! Mission statement -To treat students as individuals and to meet their intellectual and emotional needs. I want to help inspire students to develop self-confidence that they can carry with them for years to come.

Classroom Support
Hi! My name is Abby, I’ve lived in the Burlington area for most of my life, and I have been working in schools with kids for almost 2 years. I love playing and exploring, so being in a classroom of little humans suits my personality. I’m interested in arts & crafts both at home and at school, and I love bringing my own hobbies here to school. Exploring the outdoors together is so much fun here at ONE Arts, as well as the heart-filling, nurturing aspect of accompanying kiddos through our days together. I’m happy to be a floating teacher in your family’s school.

Older Toddler
Hello! My name is Bonnie, and I am so happy to be a part of the One Arts family! I graduated from Castleton with my degree and MDS, and I am currently trying to go back to school for art. I’m a firm believer in having equity in the school and classroom. I love to bring laughter, art, and music into the classroom!
Preschool Room

Preschool
Hi, I’m Julia! It has been a pleasure to be a part of the growing ONE Arts community team since the day we first opened our doors back in August of 2021. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, I have lived and worked in various positions within the field of community arts and education in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and now Vermont. In 2019, I graduated from Lesley University where I received my degree in expressive arts therapy; a holistic counseling psychology degree that focuses on incorporating music, drama, dance, creative writing, and visual arts into the field of healing. I have been a musician for my entire life and am passionate about sharing the transformative power of music and the arts with children and families. Having been fortunate enough to grow up in a household full of warmth and laughter, I believe that early childhood education should reflect that same welcoming sense of warmth and provide a safe space for children to learn, grow, and explore the world around them. When I am not spending time with my littlest friends, I love writing and performing music of my own, traveling, swimming and hiking, and visiting with my family and friends.

Preschool Support
Hi, I’m Maddy! I am so happy to be a part of this program and initiative with ONE Community Schools. Since graduating from SUNY Potsdam with a degree in Biology, I have taken on many roles in the education sector in both public and private school settings as well as at Environmental Education Centers. I really enjoy teaching my students about science and nature, and have really put an emphasis on outdoor play and exploration as well as helping children learn in a way that feels exciting and beneficial to them as individuals as well as a group. ONE Community School has allowed me to excel and create programming that works towards benefitting the whole child by allowing them to explore and learn in fun, productive ways. I look forward to continuing to create with our class and this amazing school and program.

Preschool
Hi there! My name is Bella and I am from Chicago, Illinois. I am a recent UVM graduate and studied studio art and psychology. I have a passion for the arts and enjoy drawing and painting in my free time. I also have a love for stuffies/stuffed animals which I collect (especially frogs!). Some of my favorite activities are going on hikes, gardening, and taking my cat Remi for walks in my neighborhood. Over the summer, I helped out at the ONE Arts summer program where we created pinatas, collages, puppets, and so much more! I am so excited to be a part of this program and look forward to not only teaching but also learning from all of you.