Our Staff

 

Director
 
Kathy Niejadlik
 
Kathy  joined Circle Nursery School in 2007 and has led the 2 year old class, Circle Tots, since 2009.  She began as Co-Director in the fall of 2011 before taking full Director responsibility in 2017.  Kathy has a bachelor’s degree and, prior to working with children, worked in retail management.  She is currently taking college level Early Childhood Education classes and is pursuing her CT Director’s Credential.  Kathy and her husband have lived in Madison since 1993 and have 2 daughters, Julie and Emily.  In her free time, Kathy enjoys cooking, gardening and reading.
 
Little Known Fact:  Kathy is a certified Jazzercise instructor.                                                                                         
 
 
Educators
 
 Amy Heilmann
Amy has been a nursery school teacher for many years, and was very excited to join Circle Nursery School in 2014 as the Lead Teacher in the Five’s Class.  Amy has her Bachelors degree in Child Study and is a Connecticut certified head teacher. Amy is originally from New York City and now lives in Westbrook with her husband and two teenage sons. She enjoys gardening, and discovering new places to visit in New England, and donating rocks she paints each week for the “Kindness Rocks” exhibit at the Westbrook Library.  Amy is very involved with Boy Scouts and is a merit badge counselor for Troop 7 in Clinton.   
Little Known Fact: Amy was in charge of fundraising and construction of the Town Beach Playground in Clinton.                                                                                                                 
Debbi  White
Debbi joined Circle Nursery School in 2014 as the Assistant  Teacher in the Five’s Class.  She worked at another nursery school for five years until it closed.  Prior to teaching, she had a Licensed Child Care program in her home for 13 years.  She received her Child Development Associate Certificate in April of 2012 and her Head Teachers certificate in November of 2013.  She has three terrific daughters, and a beagle named Copper.  She loves to read and walk with her dog along the shoreline.

Little known fact: Debbi  loves Chinese food & Twizzlers!                                                                                  

Shannon Baker

Shannon has been with Circle Nursery School since 2014 and is honored to be both the 3’s and the 4’s lead teacher.  She believes that high quality early childhood education is about giving young children the chance to learn through play in a nurturing, language-rich, and unhurried environment.  Her classroom reflects a culture that values play and deep relationships.  Shannon holds a BA in elementary education from Boston College, Lynch School of Education and a MS in special education/early childhood education from Southern Connecticut State University.  She currently holds Connecticut certifications in both elementary education (gr. 1-8) and special education (K-12).  Shannon and her husband have five children and live in Madison.

Fun fact:  Shannon has a twin brother!

 

Holly Rotermund

Holly is new to Circle Nursery School this year.  She’s very excited to be an assistant teacher in the three’s class!
Holly has a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.  Before having her own family she taught both kindergarten
and first grade in Denver, Colorado.  Holly lives with her husband and 3 children in Madison.  She has enjoyed volunteering
at their schools throughout the years.  In her free time she enjoys time with her family, traveling, running, yoga, skiing, paddle
boarding and reading.
Little known fact:  Holly is a midwestern girl!
Debbie Edwards
Debbie joined CNS in February 2017 as the Assistant Teacher in the Four’s Class.  She holds an associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education and has worked with children since a teenager in several different capacities (nursery school teacher, Sunday School teacher, Madison Public School volunteer, Vacation Bible School volunteer, and babysitter).  She also works as the Sunday School Supervisor at First Congregational Church, Madison.  Debbie has lived in Madison since 2005 with her son and two daughters.  She enjoys reading, cooking and walking. 
Little Known Fact:  there are multiple sets of multiples in Debbie’s  family– her own son and daughter, sisters, grandmother and great-great grandfather are all twins!! 

Katie Wilker

Katie, a former CNS parent, joined the staff in the summer of 2018 as Assistant Teacher in the Three’s classroom.  Katie earned a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Tufts University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.  As an undergraduate, Katie completed her Bachelors of Science, with Honor, in Art at Skidmore College.  Katie volunteers at her children’s schools and is involved in many charities and numerous ministries at her church.  In her free time, Katie enjoys spending time with her family, time in her kitchen, sewing, quilting, and crafts.  Katie lives with her husband, their three children, and rescue Ragdoll cat, Marshmallow.  Her favorite drink is French roast coffee with cream (which she likes to drink early in the morning with a good book) and her favorite food is cake!
Little Known Fact: Katie participated in a choral festival concert of gospel and folk music at Woolsey Hall, Yale University