Windham Child Care Association
Our Staff
Elizabeth Raposa
Executive Director
Extension 311
Elizabeth Raposa brings over twenty-five years of working in non profits supporting children and families to her role as Executive Director at Windham Child Care Association. Her professional experience includes infant, toddler, preschool teacher; parent educator and support group facilitator; birth and postpartum doula; and director of a mentor program for teen parents. A parent to five extraordinary people and Nona to three lively grandchildren, Elizabeth is an avid master gardener and seed collector. She also enjoys hiking, kayaking, getting together with her ‘foodies’ pals, reading, and working with textiles.
Sarah DiNicola
Communication and Events Coordinator
Extension 310
Sarah has worked with or in support of children for 15 years. She's been a substitute pre-school and elementary school teacher, a full-time nanny, a 'big sister' and an arts & crafts teacher. She's also worked for numerous community organizations, focusing on after-school care and one-on-one relationships . Most recently, she worked for a non-profit organization that provided professional development and publications for elementary grade educators. Sarah appreciates joining a team that is making child care more attainable for local families. She is a happy mom to 3 year old Sylvia and 5 year old Nina.
Grace Esdon
Child and Adult Care Food Program Support Specialist
Extension 315
Grace has over twenty years experience working with children and families. She has held every position in child care from janitor and cook to teacher and director. Her favorite part of working with children is talking with and listening to the children. Grace likes to garden, read mystery stories, and playing with her cat. She also likes snow, broccoli and roller coasters. Grace believes nutrition education is more than learning about healthy foods. Nutrition education teaches children about math, science, literacy and social studies. You can build a whole curriculum around food and food is fun!
Jeanna Genest
Support Services Coordinator
Extension 318
Jeanna Genest has been with Windham Child Care Association’s Child Care Financial Assistance Program since 2008. She has a B.A. in sociology/anthropology from Ohio Wesleyan University. Jeanna enjoys being part of Windham Child Care Association because the agency strives to make a positive difference in the lives of families and young children. As a mother of three children, she recognizes the stress involved with balancing child care and work and that her work helps families alleviate some of that stress.
Willie Gussin
CIS Child Care Coordintaor
Extension 319
Willie Gussin started at Windham Child Care in the winter of 2011. He has had many different roles in his work with children; he's been a Camp Counselor, Babysitter, Boys and Girls Club Counselor, Tutor, Preschool Teacher, Art Teacher, and Gardening Teacher. He grew up in northern Los Angeles County and graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, but is excited to be living and working in Brattleboro. In his free time, Willie enjoys reading, cooking, and listening to music.
Julianne Mills
Office Manager
Extension 313
Julianne joined Windham Child Care Association in the fall of 2010. Having spent 10 plus years of her career working in the fields of customer service, sales and supervising, her family then relocated to Marlboro, VT. She then spent several years to stay at home raising her daughter. She was most recently the assistant teacher at Meetinghouse School in Marlboro as well as substitute elementary school teacher. She also is involved in numerous community organizations and enjoys skiing, hiking and travelling to visit family and friends.
Rebecca Salem
Director of Development
Extension 316
Rebecca Salem has been working within the non-profit sector as an ecologist, educator and administrator of these programs since 1998. She comes to Windham Child Care Association with a keen interest in putting her past experience to work in support of Windham County's young children and families. Having once been a single mother, she brings an intimate understanding and appreciation of early childhood education and childcare services as a vital community resource, a lifeline for anyone who is in need of getting to work to support their children. In addition to being a mother, she is an aspiring writer and experienced yoga instructor in Chester, Vermont where she lives with her husband and two boys.
Emily Walsh
Early Childhood Outreach Specialist
Extension 321
Emily, a mother of three fabulous children, has been working as an educator in vermont for the past twelve years. Over the years she has had the opportunity to work with children across the developmental spectrum with the past eight years dedicated to early childhood education. Emily's passion for early education has brought her to join the Windham Child Care Association team.
Nancy Witherill
Resource Development Specialist
Extension 312
Nancy returned to Vermont after 35 years in Boston in the early education field. Nancy had been a teacher, center director, trainer, and licensor, and most recently was the director of training and professional development for the Boston child care resource and referral agency. Nancy enjoys working with centers, family child care providers, and after-school programs to provide great professional development and support quality child care. When she’s not at work, Nancy loves to garden and make compost, and help her family care for their new goats.