Leadership and Staff
Meet the People Who Make Learning Come Alive
Our skilled teaching staff guides and supports students while encouraging them to work independently and take ownership of their own learning. Teachers develop unique curricula full of meaningful and memorable learning experiences for every grade level. They take an active role in students’ learning, working alongside them on classroom floors to construct model bridges for a math lesson, helping them act out stories at reading time, and getting messy mixing paint or conducting experiments during science class. This spirit of play and creativity and unwavering dedication to each child shows students firsthand the joys of learning and discovery.
Administration
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Emilyw@commonschool.org
Education:
B. A. University of Virginia
M.A. Columbia University, Teacher's College
Started at The Common School:
2024
Outside interests:
Exploring nature with my family, cooking, reading, gardening, visiting National Parks and thrift store browsing.
What brought you to The Common School?
Visiting The Common School for the first time, on the first large snowfall of the year, students were playing joyfully and loudly outside and I immediately felt a sense of homecoming. I was impressed by the warm, affirming and inclusive school community. I saw students deeply engaged in thoughtful in-depth studies, critically examining issues of equity, and working in community together in the classroom.What do you like best about The Common School?
Our brilliant, creative students and talented, reflective, dedicated faculty! I am inspired by our beautiful campus and the ways we connect with nature throughout the day. I feel incredibly fortunate to join this school and to work here each day. -
emma@commonschool.org
Education:
M.Ed. University of San FransiscoStarted at The Common School:
I have been at The Common School many times over, as a Nursery-E2 student, an after school teacher in high school, and a SummerFun teacher in college. I joined The Common School in this season of my life in 2022 as The SummerFun Director and a math intervention teacher.Outside interests:I love exploring the valley with my kids especially through little field trips to farms, restaurants, orchards and ice cream stands. We also love to immerse ourselves in all kinds of water, oceans, lakes, streams and pools! In my quiet time I love to read and relax.
What brought you to The Common School?
I can never be too far from The Common School and when my son, Jonah joined the Green Nursery in 2021, I was so thrilled at the opportunity to come back to my happy place.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment at The Common School:
I have loved every second of doing math with my students but perhaps the best moment was when we had our math picnic party at the end of the year and we played their favorite math games in the spring sunlight of the courtyard.
What do you like best about The Common School?
I love the way The Common School dedicates itself to taking the time and effort to know each child and family individually. From the warm greetings in the morning to the deeply thoughtful progress reports, every interaction is full of compassion, caring and knowledge of what makes each child truly themselves. It is the most authentic version of “child-centered” education I have ever experienced and such a gift to be a part of.
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Education:
BA: Hampshire College
MSW: Smith College
Started at The Common School: 2021
Outside interests: Baking, hitting the local hot spots with my family and friends, finding new hot spots!, seeing live music, “nerding out” about the neurobiology of play, circus arts, paper crafts,
What brought you to The Common School?I was brought to the Common School initially as a consultant and slowly built my position into full time. I have known about the Common School for a long time (having grown up in the area) and I have always been drawn to non-traditional education settings. I am excited to join the Common School community in a full-time capacity and a caregiver!
What do you like best about The Common School?I love working with thoughtful, creative, compassionate people and the adults and kids here at the Common School are just that. The meaningful conversations and engagement makes this a wonderful place to come to work every day… That and I truly enjoy hearing the sounds of joy, play, and laughter outside my window!
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Ale Alcaraz, Director of Enrollment and Programs
Education:
B.A. Universidad Valle del Bravo (Mexico)
M.A. Northeastern University
Started at The Common School:
2025
Outside interests:
Cooking, time with family, traveling, and being in natureWhat brought you to The Common School
When I first visited The Common School as a prospective caregiver, I immediately felt something special — the warmth of the community, the creativity flowing through the classrooms, and the joyful energy of children deeply engaged in learning. It felt like a place where both children and adults could grow together with curiosity and care. I knew right away that this community was the right place for our family.What I love most about The Common School
I am so grateful for The Common School’s deep commitment to nurturing the whole child — socially, emotionally, creatively, and academically. The strong sense of community and the focus on hands-on, curiosity-driven learning make it a truly special place. I’m especially inspired by how social justice is woven into everyday experiences, helping children think critically about the world and feel empowered to make a difference. -
Bradley@commonschool.org
Education:
B. A. Savannah College of Art and Design
M. A. University of Arizona
Started at The Common School:
2024
Outside interests:
Drawing, making music, tag sale rummaging, making plant medicine and learning as much as possible about mushrooms
What brought you to The Common School?
I've been an operations leader and maker space educator for nearly a decade and when I moved to the valley last year from New York City, I was immediately drawn to the Common School; such a warm, creative place!
What do you like best about The Common School?
I deeply appreciate The Common School’s creative, project-based approach to learning and I am excited to be part of this dynamic community.
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businessoffice@commonschool.org
Education:
B.A., University of Massachusetts
M.A., University of MassachusettsStarted at The Common School:
2021 (Also, a parent from 2008-2017)Outside interests:
Being somewhere near the ocean with my family and friends, walking on the trails of Shutesbury and cooking!What brought you to The Common School?
I was an Associate Teacher in E1 for 3 years in the late 90s after finishing up in grad school. About a decade or so later, when my husband and I became parents, we decided to send our daughter to The Common School. Alexis started in the Blue Nursery in 2008 and graduated from E2 in 2017. I am back at The Common School as the Business Manager and it is amazing to be back at a place I hold near and dear to my heart!
What do you like best about The Common School?
I love that The Common School offers education with a purpose. Children are running up the walk way every day curious and eager to make an impact on their community. The Common School is there to support and offer their students a safe place to explore and satisfy their curiosity. I know from our own personal experience what a gem of a place this was for our daughter. Thanks to The Common School in part, she is a more caring, nurturing, determined person and a learner.
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Emily@commonschool.org
Green Nursery
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(she/her/hers)
Education:
B.S., Wheelock College
Started at The Common School:
2015Outside interests:
Hiking/walking in the woods, reading, spending time with my family and friendsWhat brought you to The Common School?
The school’s location, set back away from the street and surrounded by woods, first sparked my curiosity and interest in the The Common School. After exploring the schools website, its approach to teaching and learning resonated with me. When I moved back to the area, I began subbing at The Common School; experiencing the school first-hand solidified that it was a school I wanted to work at.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment at The Common School:
This fall I had the opportunity to take Green Nursery students for walks in the woods in pairs and let them lead the way. We discovered fallen trees blocking the path, a bird’s nest, and even ran into a front loader! Some children stayed close to me and chatted as they walked, while others were off and running with their classmates. It was an all around enjoyable experience, and I look forward to reflecting back on it with the class and seeing where it will lead us this winter!
What do you like best about The Common School?
I am thankful to work at a school where the faculty and staff are continually learning and thinking about their teaching practices and applying that to their teaching and interactions with children, families, and co-workers.
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Education
BFA New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University
MA University of Wales, Cardiff UK
Started at The Common School
2020
Outside interests
Keeping my hands busy, knitting, gardening, baking, and recently breaking glass and putting it back together in new arrangements of pattern and design. I also enjoy reading with my kids and walking in the woods near my house.
What brought you to the Common School?
I first came to know The Common School as a Nursery parent ten years ago. I immediately felt as though the favorite comfy sweater that I had lost had just been returned to me. My family felt supported and cared for and we loved being part of the School.
In the middle of the pandemic I felt a desire to engage differently in the world through my work life. I was excited to have the opportunity to contribute to the Green Nursery, especially around issues of social justice and the environment, and to reconnect more deeply with this community.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment at The Common School:
Many of my favorite moments happen during our rambles through Bramble Hill Farm and the surrounding woods and ponds. I love that a beautiful Monarch and a dead flattened snake in the road are equally revered by Green Nursery children and that these moments are just brimming with curiosity and wonder. I also love working on collaborative projects, such as when we worked on a large scale clay project over several weeks where students' ideas bounced off each other sparking excitement and creative thinking. They approached the experience with such generosity with calls to other classes of “ come, come, there’s room for you”
What do you like best about The Common School?
I so appreciate that as a school we are deeply invested in the social emotional health of our students. That all members of our community–students, teachers, caregivers, and staff–are seen as valued individuals. That children are trusted as leaders and learners.
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Blue Nursery
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(she/her/hers)
Education:
B.A., Sarah Lawrence
MAT Early Childhood Education, Tufts UniversityStarted at The Common School:2016
Outside interests:
Yoga, hiking, cooking, reading, spending time with my familyWhat brought you to The Common School?
As someone who grew up in the area I had long been aware of the school as a progressive institution that dug deep into topics with hands-on activities.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment at The Common School:
In the Blue Nursery we have a curriculum thread each year that we call the Changemakers Project. We introduce the children to people who are standing up to various injustices in the world, and we want to empower them to also be agents of change. Each year the changemakers vary but Martin Luther King, Jr. is always one of them. One year we were discussing his legacy and showing a picture book with a drawing of a water fountain with a sign that said “Whites Only.” One child proposed chopping the sign down. A second suggested there could be no sign at all, and then another added that anyone could use the fountain if there was no sign. The last child commented that if there was no sign anyone could use the fountain, no matter what their skin looked like. It was heartening to hear these three, four, and five-year olds noticing something that was unfair and talking about ways to resist.
What do you like best about The Common School?
The ability to co-construct curriculum with my colleagues and students, the support I have from my colleagues as we explore social justice issues as a faculty and with our students, our beautiful outdoor spaces and the amount of time we spend outside with children no matter the weather!
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Education:
B.S., Unity College
MAT., Mt. Holyoke CollegeStarted at The Common School:
2021Outside interests:
Animals, audiobooks, crafting (needle felting), writing, drawingWhat brought you to The Common School?
I was lucky enough to connect with Dana while studying at Mount Holyoke!
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment at The Common School:
A group of children from BN, GN, and P1 worked together to collect as many worms as they could, and shared what they knew about worms with each other!
What do you like best about The Common School?
What initially drew me to The Common School was its focus on nature and the natural world. Students here have the freedom to safely explore the world around them and are encouraged to take risks, whether during daily outside playtime or weekly trips into the forest and nearby farm. Kids can climb trees, jump in puddles, and call teachers by their first names — all things that were never allowed in my schools growing up! I really admire how The Common School encourages independence in its students.
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Education
Mount Holyoke College ‘24 Environmental Studies and Studio Art
Started at The Common School:
August 2025
What brought you to The Common School?
I wanted to work with preschoolers, and I wanted to be in Amherst. I was really drawn to the Reggio-Emilia approach of The Common School with its strong outdoor component because I am very passionate about bringing kids outdoors. The values and interests of the school align with what I wanted my teaching experience to be.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment at The Common School:
Recently kids have been exploring leaves that have fallen off of trees. I have been able to teach them about maple, beech, and oak trees, and now when I ask a child to identify a leaf from one of those three trees, they can correctly do so!
What do you like best about The Common School?
Farm Days with Farmer Robert and spending my days with all of our wonderful children!
Primary 1
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she/her
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She/her
Primary 2
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(she/her/hers)
Education:
B.A., Cornell University, Double major: English and Feminist, Gender, Sexuality StudiesMAT., Bennington College, Elementary Education (Grades K-6)
Ed.M., Harvard Graduate School of Education, Human Development and Psychology
Started at The Common School:
2022Outside interests:
I am an avid runner, hitting the roads and trails in all seasons! I also love board games, reading, and I recently learned to ski. It’s actually my love of reading that inspired me to teach first/second grade! I still remember how proud I felt checking out my very first chapter book from my elementary school library when I was in second grade.What brought you to The Common School?
I found The Common School when my family relocated to Western Massachusetts. I was particularly excited to join this community because of its strong commitment to social justice.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment at The Common School:
During the summer of 2022, I spent a lot of time sitting quietly in front of the computer or puttering around the empty, silent classroom, thinking about the school year. My favorite Common School moment was the moment when children arrived on the first day of school and the classroom was no longer quiet. In the blink of an eye, it became a community full of noise and laughter, thinking and learning, and the rumbling excitement of something wonderful just beginning.
What do you like best about The Common School?
I like the strong sense that we are all part of a shared community, in our classrooms, in the school, and beyond.
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Education:
MFA in Playwriting, UCLA.
B.S in Theater, Skidmore College.
Started at The Common School: 2023
Outside Interests: Nature, Hiking, Theater, Writing, Dance, Astrology, Cooking, Learning Languages, and Traveling.
What brought you to The Common School?
I went to TCS as a kid from P2-E2. Many years later I had recently moved back to the valley from LA where I had been teaching in large college and high school programs, and was looking for an educational environment that was smaller, more lowkey and nature-focused, and here I am again.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment at The Common School:
The nursery kids love to put on spontaneous puppet plays where they make their own puppets and then perform together. Not only is it a lot of fun to see what sorts of interesting puppets they come up with, but it’s also great to watch them learn how to work together and come up with creative solutions to interpersonal issues.
What do you like best about The Common School?
I love the neighboring woods and farm. Whether that’s exploring them with kids or taking a walk there on my own, it’s pretty magical to have all that land be right there. I also enjoy the smallness of the community and how everyone, (faculty, kids, caregivers), knows one another personally.
Elementary 1
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(she/her/hers)
Education:
B.A., Ohio Wesleyan University
B.F.A., Ohio University
M.Ed., Smith CollegeStarted at The Common School:
1992Outside interests:
kayaking, Black history, needle craftsWhat brought you to The Common School?
While I was working on my masters in education at Smith, I heard wonderful things about The Common School from my professors. Team teaching, in-depth studies and the use of theater throughout the school were the big draws for me as a new classroom teacher.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment at The Common School:
One of many favorite teaching moments at The Common School was the Saturday morning a group of us spent helping three E1 students meet their goal for a social justice project. We had all gone to a school event sponsored by a Common School parent to help make shoes for children living in Syrian refugee camps. After the event, three E1 second years asked the parent what else they could do. She showed them how to hand sew small cloth dolls, and asked if they would make enough so that she could place one in each pair of shoes. The students flew to the task, involving classmates from two classrooms. However as the deadline drew closer, they weren’t sure if they would meet their goal. So, on a Saturday morning, the students, classmates and two parents, who are Common School alums, got together and helped with the final push. We had a great time sewing, talking, drinking tea and helping the students exceed their goal!
What do you like best about The Common School?
What I like best about The Common School is having two years to get to know children and their families. Working with students for two years helps me develop a relationship with the child and a partnership with the family. Getting to know students and their care-givers this well builds a trust that helps us unravel challenges to growth and support strengths both of which are necessary to students taking risks and spreading their wings.
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They/them
Elementary 2
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(she/her/hers)
Education:
B.A., Simmons College
M. Ed., Smith CollegeStarted at The Common School:
2021Outside interests:
I love reading, music, times with loved ones, and adventures near and far.What brought you to The Common School?
I came to The Common School in 2011, when my daughter Ajika started in P1.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment at The Common School:
I am really moved by the way that our community works to help young people build compassionate, responsible practices and patterns that they’ll use throughout their life. This looks like everything from silent reading several times a week, fostering a lifelong love of reading, to engaging in a respectful classroom debate, listening to a different perspective and potentially revising your own. We facilitate conversations of restorative justice, asking young people to listen to feedback, empathize, apologize, and forgive. We learn together how to research and we learn together how to play.
What do you like best about The Common School?
I feel incredibly grateful to work at a school which centers the humanity of each child. This philosophy shapes the school, from its deep focus on social justice to its prioritization of outdoor play, every day.
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she/her
Specialists
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Bea Carlson (they/them)
Education: My formal education is a B.A in Linguistics and minor in Latin American Studies from University of New Hampshire. My musical education comes from years of studying guitar, performing in competitive jazz bands through adolescence, connections through global music communities, and performing professionally since 15. My background in education comes from work with private students, coaching bands, and time spent working in after school programs.
Started at The Common School: March/April 2025What brought you to The Common School?
I’ve always wanted to teach and was drawn to the common school after hearing about what an amazing place it is to work, go to school, and be a community member of.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment at The Common School:One of my favorite moments of teaching was our foley day. Students learned about silent film, sound effects, and arranged the sounds for a silent performance.
What do you like best about The Common School?I love the strong sense of community I’ve found at TCS. It makes me feel at home and allows for incredible collaboration.
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Education:
B.A., University of MassachusettsStarted at The Common School:
2016Outside interests:
I love spending time with family, and hiking in the woods with my dog!What brought you to The Common School?
I found The Common School while looking for a nursery school for my son Myles.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment at The Common School:
I have so many favorite teaching moments here, but what stands out most is an amalgamation of many different Wednesdays in the Woods. I love setting off with a multi-age group of students, in all sorts of weather, through the beautiful woods and farmland of the Larch Hill Collaborative. Together, we have seen owls, bushwhacked through the thickets, swung on the bubble swings, helped Carole feed the animals at Bramble Hill Farm, observed snakes in their hibernacula, gotten stuck in the mud, and on and on. The lighting at that time of day, combined with the beautiful landscape and so many joyful faces, makes me feel very lucky to work in a school such as ours.
What do you like best about The Common School?
I love the joy of learning that is fostered here. I love how known all of the children are, and how connected they feel to each other and the broader school community.
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Education:
B.S., Farmingdale State CollegeStarted at The Common School:
2022Outside interests:
Playing and teaching all kinds of sports, hiking, art, writing, gaming, and spending time with my loved ones.What brought you to The Common School?
I was a teacher who had recently moved from Long Island, NY to the Springfield, MA area and was researching schools nearby to see where I could find a new home and become part of a community who shares my passion for working with children. After some searching, I came across The Common School and was immediately interested and motivated by their mission.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment at The Common School:
Where to begin? A favorite teaching moment of mine here at The Common School was being so warmly welcomed on my first day by the E1 kids and teachers, and then proceeding to teach hockey to all the kiddos out on the snowy, slippery soccer field.
What do you like best about The Common School?
Not only do I love how the school has such a connection to the natural world and gives the kids the room to discover but also that the students are encouraged to explore topics that interest them. Plus, the smiles on the kids faces and seeing them learn and grow into their own individual each and every day!
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she/her
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Education:
MFA in Playwriting, UCLA.
B.S in Theater, Skidmore College.
Started at The Common School: 2023
Outside Interests: Nature, Hiking, Theater, Writing, Dance, Astrology, Cooking, Learning Languages, and Traveling.
What brought you to The Common School?
I went to TCS as a kid from P2-E2. Many years later I had recently moved back to the valley from LA where I had been teaching in large college and high school programs, and was looking for an educational environment that was smaller, more lowkey and nature-focused, and here I am again.
Tell us about a favorite teaching moment at The Common School:
The nursery kids love to put on spontaneous puppet plays where they make their own puppets and then perform together. Not only is it a lot of fun to see what sorts of interesting puppets they come up with, but it’s also great to watch them learn how to work together and come up with creative solutions to interpersonal issues.
What do you like best about The Common School?
I love the neighboring woods and farm. Whether that’s exploring them with kids or taking a walk there on my own, it’s pretty magical to have all that land be right there. I also enjoy the smallness of the community and how everyone, (faculty, kids, caregivers), knows one another personally.
Support Staff
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Provides both math and literacy intervention.
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Board of Trustees
These generous and committed volunteers help set the strategic vision for The Common School as well as oversee its financial management, fundraise, and select and evaluate its leadership. If you are interested in serving on the Board or in volunteering your time in other ways, please contact the Vice Chair of the Board at vicechair@commonschool.org.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging as the Cornerstone to the Work of the Board
As outlined in its Statement on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, The Common School has made a strong commitment to being a place where everyone feels valued. We believe a diversity of identities, life experiences, and perspectives is essential for wholly realizing and fulfilling our responsibilities as a Board of Trustees.
When we are a group of people with diverse backgrounds who feel supported and empowered to participate fully, the Board of Trustees can:
Gain a holistic and nuanced understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the school;
Ask the breadth of questions that lead to creative ideas and informed analysis of solutions; and
Build partnerships that strengthen our mission.
Therefore, the Board is committed to:
The identities of trustees reflecting the diversity of identities within the school community;
Continual examination and improvement to internal practices, structures, and resources in order to remove unintended barriers to participation;
Ensuring that all trustees are equitably engaged and invested, sharing power and responsibility for the Board’s work;
Ongoing discussion and training to support the development and leadership of all trustees; and
Being a place where all Trustees can voice their opinions and thoughts productively.
Why do people join The Common School Board of Trustees?
A variety of reasons, often multiple, bring people to the Board. Reasons shared include:
Wanting to make a significant contribution to an organization dedicated to progressive education with a deep commitment to social justice and the environment;
Building finance and/or other leadership skills to further professional goals;
Looking for a way to apply professional skills and/or life experiences to a mission-driven organization;
Having a sense of purpose and living their values through community service;
Being part of a collaborative team working to figure out solutions to nuanced problems;
Being lifelong learners and getting energy from learning and growing; and
Wanting to give back to an organization that impacted them in significant ways.
As with many things, what a person gets out of being on the Board is driven in large part by what they put in. Engaged participation in and contributions to the work of the Board and its committees result in personal growth and the satisfaction derived from making a significant difference in furthering the mission of the school.
Interested in Volunteering?
If you are interested in serving on the Board or in volunteering your time in other ways, please contact the Board at: vicechair@commonschool.org.
Click here to view the Personal Statement Form those interested in joining the Board must complete as part of the nomination process. Thank you for your interest. We look forward to hearing from you!