Meet Our Team

All Children's Center staff members have earned Department of Early Education and Care Preschool Teacher qualification and some have attained the highest preschool teaching credentials offered by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, including Preschool Lead Teacher and Director

Joanne Hogan, Director of Children's Center 

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Joanne Hogan has been in the field of early childhood education since 1989. She has worked at three other campus-based preschool programs, all of which were NAEYC accredited, in the roles of preschool teacher, lead teacher, and director.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Assumption College and a Master of Education in Early Childhood from Bridgewater State College.  She is currently licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Pre-k-grade 2, and has a Director 2 certificate from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. She has served as a cooperating practitioner for numerous college students who hope to be future early childhood educators.

Joanne is currently a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Council of Child Development Lab Administrators. She is serving on Tri-County Regional High School’s Program Advisory Committee where she serves as an advisor to the early childhood program. She is passionate about the field of early childhood education and believes in the importance of providing high quality developmentally appropriate learning experiences for young children.

Megan Bubier

Megan Bubier

Megan is a teacher in the 2-day and 3-day morning classes.

She is a recent graduate of Dean College where she received her bachelor’s degree in Dance and her Associates degree in Early Childhood Education. Prior to her experience at the Dean College Children’s Center, Megan has had years of experience working with children in the arts. She has been with Applause Academy since 2015 working as a choreographer for children ages 6 to 16 during their summer and school year programming. In 2020, Megan began teaching dance at Silver City Dance Center in Taunton, where she teaches many classes including Creative Movement, Ballet, Tap and Jazz.

Megan is thrilled to be back at the Dean College Children’s Center!

Kate Day

Kate Day

Kate is the office manager of the Dean College Children's Center.

Kate first came to the Children’s Center as a parent. Her boys both attended the school and had a wonderful experience. The school’s staff, and the families she met, were so friendly, kind, and supportive. Kate was excited to join the staff herself a few years later.

Kate holds a BA and MPA from Clark University. She worked in administrative roles in publishing and higher education before her years as a stay-at-home mom. Kate lives in Franklin with her husband, two sons, a dog and a cat. She enjoys the mini crossword, her favorite blog, books, and buying plants. Above all, she loves to spend time connecting with family, friends, and - when at work - preschoolers!   

Lexi Hackett

Lexi Hackett

Lexi Hackett is an assistant teacher at the Children’s Center.

She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Montserrat College of Art with a concentration in interdisciplinary arts. Throughout her academic career she has been featured in half a dozen gallery shows. Hackett’s work involves a multitude of mediums, such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, papermaking, photography, and many more. Her work is featured in the Max, Chevalier, and Kinneman private collections.

Lexi’s work has a playful and colorful life about it. She focuses on color vibration and takes inspiration from the natural world, often deconstructing and questioning formal art practices. Hackett's love for her own education extends to her passion for others' education as well.

Meg Jacobs

Meg Jacobs

Meg teaches in the morning program.

She has a Bachelor of Arts in English Language & Literature from Lehigh University and a Master of Education in Innovative Pedagogies in Early Childhood from Lesley University. Meg first came to the Children’s Center in 2003 as a parent. She stayed on as a volunteer and as an Early Childhood Education student, completing the Dean College preschool teaching certificate program. Through this program, she received Department of Early Education and Care Lead Teacher: Preschool certification. Meg taught at Norfolk Children’s School and in Attleboro High School’s lab preschool before coming to work at Dean in 2017.

Meg loves to read, travel, and spend time with her family, especially her two grown children.

Valentina Sternadore

Valentina Sternadore

Valentina is a Teacher Assistant at the Children’s Center.

She has a bachelor’s degree in Music from Syracuse University and a Master of Fine Arts in Music Performance from Boston Conservatory. Val first began working with children at the Children’s Center as a parent volunteer over 20 years ago when her children attended the school. After her children went off to kindergarten, she continued on as a community volunteer. Also at this time, she worked at the Bernon Family Branch YMCA in Franklin teaching pre-school gymnastics for 12 years. In 2019 she earned her associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Dean College, as well as her Lead Teacher certification from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. Val enjoys pre-school so much, she hasn’t left! 

During her free time Val enjoys gardening, reading, walking, hiking, and spending time with friends and family. 

Paula Waite

Paula is a Lead Teacher and Assistant Director at the Children’s Center. She has been teaching at the Dean College Children’s Center since 1997.

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Before coming to Dean, she was a teacher and Education Coordinator at Woonsocket Head Start Child Development Association. She also provided at-home childcare while raising her three sons. Paula received an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education from Dean College and her B.S. in Early Childhood Education from Framingham State University. She is certified by the Massachusetts Department of Education.  

Paula says the Children’s Center feels like home. Not only was she a student teacher at the Children’s Center, she also volunteered at the center when her now grown boys attended.  “I truly believe in the center’s philosophy, recognizing the importance of play and problem-solving. I also value regular active and outdoor time for children.” In addition to teaching preschoolers, Paula mentors and supervises Early Childhood Student Teachers. 

In her free time, Paula enjoys walking, reading, camping and spending time with her family and friends. She resides in Franklin with her husband.