Miss Katie

Lead Teacher (Full Time)
Marvelous Maples Classroom

Katie Hawley joined Treehouse as a substitute teacher in October 2022. Being a sub gave her the chance to dive into every classroom, meet all the amazing staff, and get to know each child in the program. By fall 2023, she was ready to jump in as the full-time Lead Teacher in Marvelous Maples to share her passion for teaching.

Katie lives in East Longmeadow with her three children and their mischievous dog, Earl. They keep her life busy and her heart full. Her love for working with kids started when she was young but really took off in high school when she helped open Little BIG Kids Nursery School, which is still going strong at East Longmeadow High School.

With over 25 years of experience with kids of all ages, from infants to school-age, Katie loves watching them grow into confident, independent learners. She's all about creating a fun, supportive environment where every child can shine!

Katie holds an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood as well as the following certifications from the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC):

•  Director I

•  Lead Teacher Preschool

• Infant/Toddler Teacher

• Certified Family Child Care Assistant

• School Age Site Coordinator

Katie is CPR/First Aid/AED Certified, expires January 2027.

Miss Kim O.

Teacher (Full Time)
Marvelous Maples Co-Teacher
& Extraordinary Elms After School Lead Teacher

Kim O'Neill  joined the Treehouse Team in September 2024. She is a Co-Teacher in the Marvelous Maples Preschool classroom and the Extraoirdnary Elms After School Lead Teacher for our school age students.  During the Summer of 2025, Miss Kim was the Lead Teacher for our Bonsais classroom (school age 7-14).

 In addition Kim offers our Treehouse children an Extracurricular Activity: Timber Time!  Timber Time is a fitness / movement program for our toddlers and pre schoolers offered once a week. 

Kim, husband Jon and 16 yr old son Owen live on a small nearby lake where they enjoy kayaking, fishing and the lake life!

Miss Kim, previously Coach Kim at the Springfield JCC, taught Pre school PE and ran all the after school pre school and youth athletics programs from soccer and basketball to tiny tumblers! During the summer, Kim enjoyed the outdoor summer camp where you would find her in the woods challenging the kids on the ropes course to teaching archery.

For the 2022-2023 school year, she worked with preschoolers. It was there that she learned her love for working with this age group spanned from coaching on the sports field to teaching in the classroom!

Kim grew up in Longmeadow and attended the University of Vermont, graduating with a Bachelor's degree. Kim also played lacrosse and swam while at UVM.  Some of Kim's other experiences include Marketing at AAA 10 years, nannying for 5 years, coaching  Girls Varsity Lacrosse at LHS for 2 years, and Lifeguarding off and on since she was 16.

Kim is currently certified by the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) with:

• Teacher Preschool

• School Age Site Coordinator

Kim is CPR/First Aid/AED Certified, expires April 2026.

Miss Sarah K.

Teacher (PartTime)
Marvelous Maples Classoom

Sarah Kulig joined the Treehouse team in August 2022. Sarah works part-time while enrolled at Mount Holyoke College.  Sarah is working towards a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology.  While in college Sarah has taken coursework in topics related to Child Development and Education.

Since joining Treehouse, Sarah has completed the Department of Early Education and Care coursework and classroom time requirements for initial certification.  Sarah currently holds the following EEC Certifications: 

• Preschool Teacher

• Infant/Toddler Teacher

Miss Sarah is also CPR/First Aid Certified, expires January 2027. 

Sarah has experience working with children as a tutor, and also as a babysitter.  Treehouse is Sarah's first classroom experience and she is eager to learn.

Miss Krissy

Interim Lead Teacher Mighty Oaks
Assistant Director / Classroom Support Specialist
Preschool & School Age focus

Krissy Hathaway joined the Treehouse team in August 2023 and held the role of Mighty Oaks Lead Teacher until her promotion in June of 2024.  Krissy is currently our Assistant Director / Classroom Support Specialist. 

Krissy moved  to Westfield in 2023 after growing up around Northshore MA. She now lives with two of her best friends and their cat Missy. Outside of school she loves reading, playing games with her friends, spending time outside, and visiting her family and their 6 dogs. 

Krissy holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, earned in 2020 and 2021 respectively. She currently holds the following Department of Early Education and Care certificates:

• Director (to be completed July 2024) 

• Lead Preschool Teacher

Krissy is CPR/First Aid certified (expires January 2027). 

Krissy has been working with children in a variety of settings since 2016. She was inspired to follow a career path in Early Childhood Education after volunteering for the preschool where her mom works as a director and building relationships with the children there. Graduating in 2020 meant she kicked off her career in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, where she independently taught a class of 7 preschoolers while working towards her Master’s Degree and student teaching remotely. Most recently, she has spent the last two years working primarily with the transitional kindergarten program at an outdoor, play based center. This will be Krissy’s fourth year as a lead teacher and she is so excited to further her career and bring her passion for nature based learning to Treehouse!

Miss Tara

Teacher  (M-T-W-Th)
with Infant/Toddler/Preschool certification

Tara B.  originally joined the Treehouse Team from February - October 2022 before she left to teach abroad.  Tara returned in June of 2025.  She spent the summer with our Bonsais (School Age) before joining Mighty Oaks in the Fall of 2025.

Tara  graduated from Keene State College with a Bachelor's Degree in Film Production.

Tara previously worked in childcare starting first as a volunteer camp counselor, then babysitting, and then worked at a center-based preschool program  for about 3 years. 

Tara holds the following Department of Early Education and Care certifications:

• Infant/Toddler Teacher

• Preschool Teacher 

Tara has  a passion for working with children and being able to give love and support to her community. Tara is excited to return to the Treehouse Team and see what the future holds!

Preschool Teacher

Teacher - Full Time
Mighty Oaks Preschool Classroom 

We are currently hiring for this position!

In the meantime - this role is covered by our Support Team - you can read their bios on the Support Team page.

We understand not having an assigned full  teaching team can create worry in parents - but rest assured it is our intent to hold out for the right team of teachers before we move forward so if the process seems length, know that it is a decision we are making with purposeful intent.

Miss Penny

Interim Lead Teacher
Early Elms Preschool Classroom 

We are currently hiring for this position!  In the meantime, Miss Penny (you can read her full bio on the School Age team page) has graciusly extended her hours with us to support our Early Elms Students.  Miss Penny is Preschool Teacher certified.

 Currently after she says farewell to the Befoer School students as they are picked up on the bus, she steps in to the Early Elms preschool role!

When Miss Penny is unable to support, our Leadership Team Directors Miss Loren, Miss Chace, Miss Lori, or Miss Krissy support the classroom in the Lead role.

We understand not having an assigned teacher can create worry in parents - but rest assured it is our intent to hold out for the right teacher before we move forward so if the process seems length, know that it is a decision we are making with purposeful intent.

Preschool Teacher

CoTeacher - Monday through Friday 9:05-12:40
Early Elms Preschool Classroom 

We are currently hiring for this position!

In the meantime - this role is covered by our Support Team - you can read their bios on the Leadership Team & Support Team page.  

We understand not having an assigned teaching team can create worry in parents - but rest assured it is our intent to hold out for the right team of teachers before we move forward so if the process seems length, know that it is a decision we are making with purposeful intent.

Preschool Teacher

CoTeacher - Monday through Friday 9:05-12:40
Early Elms Preschool Classroom 

We are currently hiring for this position!

In the meantime - this role is covered by our Support Team - you can read their bios on the Leadership Team & Support Team page.

We understand not having an assigned teaching team can create worry in parents - but rest assured it is our intent to hold out for the right team of teachers before we move forward so if the process seems length, know that it is a decision we are making with purposeful intent.

Miss Emily

Lead Teacher (full time) 

Emily Gemme joined the Treehouse Team in May 2024 and became the Lead Teacher in Powerful Pines in 2025.

Before working at Treehouse, Emily had experience working with children ranging from preschool to 4th grade in a variety of different classroom settings, including inclusive classroom environments.   

Emily graduated from Springfield College studying Early Childhood Education with a minor in Psychology. After college, Emily hopes to continue working with children, teaching 1st or 2nd grade. 

Emily holds the following Department of Early Education and Care certificates:

•  Preschool Teacher

• Infant Toddler Teacher

Emily is also CPR/First Aid Certified, expires January 2027.

In her free time, Emily enjoys going to the beach, cooking, and baking for friends and family. 

Miss Elizabeth

Teacher
Powerful Pines Classroom  (M-T-W-F)

Elizabeth joined the Treehouse Team in January 2025.   She initialy gained experience and worked towards certifications by supporting all classrooms. She joined the Powerful Pines Team in the afll of 2025.

Liz recently copleted her Associate's Degree in Computer Science from  Springfield Technical Community College. .Liz in her own words has taken a “non-traditional” path to working with children. 

Liz currently holds a Department of Early Education and Care certification as:

• Preschool Teacher

 Liz’s experience with children comes from being the family babysitter while growing up, and raising her daughter Kayleigh, a current student in Marvelous Maples. 

Liz enjoys spending time with her family, and working with computers. Liz’s favorite part about working with children is that they love to learn! Liz spent her working orientation building computers with the Early Elms classroom and the children loved it. 

“Kids have limitless potential, and if I could somehow be a part of their motivation to keep reaching for the stars and never stop learning then I have done my job.” 

Miss Felicity
Teacher
Powerful Pines Classroom

Felicity R. joined the Treehouse team in June 2025.   She spent her first summer working in our Bonsais (School Age) clssroom before joining the Powerful Pines Team in the fall of 2025.

Felicity is excited to join the Treehouse team! She enjoys traveling and spent five months abroad last year on a mission trip. She also loves to sing and play instruments, make crafts, explore nature, and be active.

Felicity studied Music Education at Wheaton College in Illinois and is certified in the state of Massachusetts to teach Choral, Instrumental, and General Music for grades PreK-12. She is currently certified from the Department of Early Education and Care as:

• School Age Group Leader

• Preschool Teacher

Felicity is CPR/First Aid certified, expires July 2027.