Providence Team

Head of School

B.A., Amherst College
Ed.M., Harvard University
Ph.D., University of Michigan
areinish@thecroftschool.org

Annie joined Croft in 2022. Annie is honored to lead The Croft School - Providence. She loves being a part of Croft's diverse, close-knit community, and she loves working closely with a team of educators who are excited to blend practices from different parts of the field, always striving to create an engaging, rigorous, social-justice oriented – and joyful! – learning experience for students.

A native New Yorker, Annie was a school leader and teacher for ten years in New York City district schools and charter schools and, prior to coming to Croft, served as the Principal of a K-8 school in Hartford, CT. She also has experience as an instructional coach, curriculum designer, and researcher.

Annie enjoys hiking and running with her dogs, spending time with family and friends (especially in Maine), and cheering on her beloved New York Yankees and Michigan Wolverines.

Assistant Head of School

Currently pursuing a doctorate in Ed leadership from Johnson & Wales
American College of Dublin: Masters in Business Administration
Lincoln University of PA: B.A in English Liberal Arts
cclarke-tracey@thecroftschool.org

Courtney joined Croft in 2024. Courtney wanted to work for an organization that she believed prioritized the entire child. Croft has a unique model that emphasizes instruction - while also finding value in play and project based learning. This excited her. She did her research, came to visit, and knew this was where she wanted to be.

Before coming to Croft, Courtney served in many capacities: ELA teacher (5,6, & 8), Instructional Coach, Curriculum Fellow, Dean of ELA - and most recently, Assistant Principal!

Courtney really loves traveling! When she's not doing that, she enjoys Facetiming her friends and family, trying new foods - and watching all the new little milestones her 3 month old is making (Kennedy Elle). She’s the best!

Director of Operations

B.A. from Bowdoin College
M.A. in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education
cbuckland@thecroftschool.org

Christine joined Croft in 2022. Christine values the close-knit, collaborative community at Croft, and she truly appreciates working with students, families, and colleagues who are committed to making our school and broader world better each day.

Christine began her career as an elementary school teacher - first in Brooklyn, New York, and then in Austin, Texas. After seven years as a classroom teacher, Christine transitioned to school operations leadership. She spent three years leading school operations at a charter school in Austin before joining the team at Croft in 2022.

Outside of school, Christine enjoys singing, spending time near the ocean, and playing with her dog, Dexter.

2nd Grade Teacher

B.A., Clark Universtiy - MALS
Wesleyan University
ablackadar@thecroftschool.org

Adrian joined Croft in 2019. Adrian believes that Croft is a great place to work because of the wonderful student body and fantastic staff. Getting to make a difference in a child's education makes coming to work every day exciting.

Adrian was and still is a college soccer coach.

Adrian's interests include photography, cooking, music, and exploring.

School Nurse

BSN Rhode Island College
RN CCRI
anickerson@thecroftschool.org

Alyssa returned to Croft in 2024. Alyssa's favorite thing about Croft is the close family atmosphere. As a mother of two children herself, family is very important to her and she loves being a part of a school that incorporates the children's families year round.

Alyssa previously worked as a pediatric urology nurse at Brown Urology in Rhode Island Hospital.

Alyssa spends most of her extra time at her children's sports games. She's their biggest fan and loves cheering them on from the bleachers. Alyssa also loves traveling to other countries with her husband and kids to experience other cultures and see how beautiful the world really is.

Academic Interventionist

B.S./M.Ed Champlain College
Burlington, Vermont
afratantonio@thecroftschool.org

Amy joined Croft in 2019. Amy joined The Croft School Providence in its first year as a Kindergarten teacher and believes strongly that young children learn best through deep and meaningful play experiences and interactions with their peers and their environment.She strives to create rich learning environments that foster curiosity and lay a foundation for lifelong learning. She strongly supports Croft's mission to achieve this type of learning experience alongside research-based, rigorous academic opportunities unique to the Croft experience.

Amy began her career working with children back in high school where she worked after school with infants and preschoolers and began taking Child Development courses. Her passion for working with children and her interest in the way their brains develop and learn led her to her undergraduate path where she studied Psychology and Elementary Education and eventually found her niche in Early Childhood Education. Amy has since spent many years teaching at the preschool and elementary levels in various places including Vermont, Massachusetts, South Carolina and Rhode Island.

Outside of the classroom, Amy enjoys her time with her twins Chase and Charlie and husband Bob, going to the beach, bike rides, hiking in the woods, dancing to live music, traveling, gardening, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Operations Associate

Bachelor of Arts,
Smith College
akinney@thecroftschool.org

Amy joined Croft in 2019. Amy enjoys working at Croft because the focus is on supporting students and teachers so they can establish deep positive relationships and meaningful learning environments. Working in operations, she loves creating systems that allow people to accomplish their goals efficiently and effectively so they can focus their time on each other and smiling more.

A New England native, Amy has worked in education for 25 years as a classroom teacher, a program director, an administrator, and a small business owner. Her educational background is in mathematics, expressive arts, and mental health.

When she’s not working, Amy loves the arts, gardening, time with family, and being out in nature. She has two dogs and two children, one of whom is currently a student at Croft.

3rd Grade Associate Teacher

B.A., Providence College
M.A.T., Simmons University
C.A.G.S, Rhode Island College
aheffron@thecroftschool.org

Angela joined Croft in 2024. Angela has spent time in many classrooms and after spending time at Croft felt that she found a school that embodied the balance of support, play, and deep learning in the classroom. Croft is a wonderful team of educators and staff that are truly dedicated to each student and their family, ensuring a rich experience for everyone.

Angela's professional experiences include: Classroom teacher, 2nd-4th grade; Intervention Teacher K-5th grade; Long-term LT Substitute.

Angela's interests include spending time with her family, especially at the ocean, playing with her pups, reading, hiking and learning.

K & 1st Grade Music Teacher & Educator Associate

Bachelor of Arts,
RIC in Theater
amascena@thecroftschool.org

Ava joined Croft in 2022. There is a multitude of reasons why Ava has enjoyed working at Croft. From the families, to the teachers & staff, and especially the students - Croft offers a unique and magical community. She has enjoyed being at a school that has such a high level of family engagement, and support, and dedication from the staff for fostering and growing our students education in both life and school.

Ava Mascena is a Rhode Island based Teacher & Artist. She received her BA in musical theatre performance from Rhode Island College in 2017, where she worked in the theater industry until March 2020. In November 2020, she took her first wheel throwing class at Mudstone studios and has been hooked ever since and soon started to teach at Mudstone as well as community centers in RI. In 2022, she was ecstatic to join the team at Croft at start teaching Ceramics, Fiber Arts and Music at the school.

When Ava is not at Croft, Ava can often be found in her pottery studio, baking, singing or practicing a multitude of instruments. She loves to spend time with her friends, playing games, reading or spending time in nature!

Kindergarten Associate Teacher

Bachelor of Arts,
Temple University
caubert@thecroftschool.org

Chelsea joined Croft in 2024. The culture at Croft is like no other school Chelsea has been a part of. With community at the forefront, teachers, staff and students are cared for holistically. She feels excited to be a part of a school where empathy, self-advocacy, and social justice are key features of the experience.

Chelsea has a background in teaching music and theatre to children as young as three years old. She has taught in many capacities, from the music classroom in private schools to voice/piano lessons along with intensive musical theatre programs.

In her spare time, Chelsea can be found randomly breaking out into song, caring for her plants or studying Brazilian Portuguese.

Founding 5th Grade Teacher

B.Ed., McGill University
M.Sci., Johns Hopkins University
cbergmark@thecroftschool.org

Chloë joined Croft in 2023. Chloë is passionate about inspiring her students to fall in love with Math and Science through creative and exciting learning experiences. Croft’s vision for spark and rigor allow Chloë to do her best work every day.

Born and raised in Prince Edward Island, Canada, Chloë moved to Texas after college to begin her teaching career with Teach For America. She earned the Transformational Teaching Distinction from Johns Hopkins University for her work as a 5th grade Science and Social Studies teacher in Houston, Texas. Since moving to Rhode Island, Chloë has worked as a teacher and school leader serving the students from Kindergarten to 6th grade.

Chloë lives in Providence with her husband, daughter, and cat, Margaret. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, sailing, and checking out local Grateful Dead cover bands.

1st Grade Associate Teacher

Bachelor of Science
Towson University
dbennett@thecroftschool.org

Dahlia joined Croft in 2024. Dahlia believes that Croft has an incredible focus on creating a diverse community while nurturing a safe space for children to feel confident in expressing their true selves. It’s exciting to wake up each day feeling a part of that type of community.

Previously, Dahlia ran a non profit organization “Play For Keeps” in Orlando Florida.

Dahlia's interests include exercise, travel with family, reading, and attending her son’s football games.

PE Teacher

Bachelor of Arts
Montclair State University
elincoln@thecroftschool.org

Ethan joined Croft in 2021. Ethan puts a high value on the idea of flexibility and diversity in education and has found a happy home with that at Croft where he can create his fun and challenging PE classes.

Ethan spent most of his working career before Croft rotating around soccer. He has been a full-time coach for all ages, through high school; he has worked as a professional futbol-freestyler for the New York Red Bulls; he has been a coach for Nike's youth-soccer initiative "The Chance."

When he's not working, Ethan looks to find his balance between a number of different hobbies. He can often be found chasing down the newest bite in a PVD restaurant, tucked away on his massive bean-bag chair with a fantasy book or out cheering for one of his many favorite teams!

1st Grade Teacher

Master of Education,
University of New Hampshire
fmasterson@thecroftschool.org

Faith joined Croft in 2022. Faith believes that Croft is a fantastic place to work. The dedication to inspiring all learners, creating rigor and curating life long community is evident. Croft brings together a diverse population of both staff and students. The curriculum that is taught deepens students understanding of each concept while also being extremely engaging. Croft is a place where all students’ voices are heard and everyone always feels welcome.

Since graduating college, she accepted a job at a public elementary school in Portsmouth, NH where she taught for 9 years. During this time, she taught kindergarten, first grade and second grade. Faith was responsible for creating an Outdoor Classroom at her elementary school which allowed all learners, K-5, to spend time interacting with nature. She was an integral part of her schools’ garden program which teaches students a Farm to School connection. Faith is a lifelong learner who believes in finding the magic anywhere you go.

When Faith is not working, she enjoys being active, reading, spending time in nature and going to concerts. She loves spending time with her family which includes her wife, Emily, Lucas (4), a pup named Rudder and 2 cats named Mittens and Charlie.

Founding Spanish Teacher

Master of Arts in Global Education and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
Providence College
icespedes@thecroftschool.org

Isa joined Croft in 2021.

Isa previously graduated from Providence College with a master’s degree in in Global Education and TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). Isa has worked for a number of diverse youth programs and organizations, such as City Arts, Inspiring Minds, and Henry Barnard’s after school program Explorations. Most recently she has worked for the Lincoln School as the Early Childhood Spanish teacher, a position in which she has been able to combine her love for play based learning and bilingual education, as she introduced the school’s youngest learners to the world of Spanish. During the summer Isa got the opportunity to direct the school vacation camp Little Lynx where she was in charge of implementing activities such as arts and crafts, cooking lessons, as well as free and purposeful play for the younger campers.

In addition to being passionate about her studies, working with youth, and teaching Spanish, Isa also enjoys painting, reading, riding her bicycle, and traveling to her hometown in the Dominican Republic.

Music Teacher & Strings Program Coordinator

B.M. DePaul University
M.M. Manhattan School of Music
icastellvi@thecroftschool.org

Isabel joined Croft in 2021. Isabel believes that the Croft's values as a progressive and social justice minded school provide an opening for learning about the power and importance of music for humanity as students learn about musical traditions from around the world.

Isabel has been teaching and performing music professionally for over 20 years. Before moving to Providence and joining the Croft school she taught in various music schools throughout the country, summer music programs and retreats, youth orchestra programs and taught workshops in contemporary strings composition at universities around the world. She has spent most of her career as a performing, touring and recording artist alongside sharing the joy and power of music through teaching.

Outside of Croft Isabel continues to perform, collaborate and compose music. In addition to music she loves attending performing arts & theater shows, hiking and spending time with her dog Olive.

1st Grade Teacher & Co-Coordinator of Anti-Bias Practices

B.A. in Communication Disorders, University of Connecticut
M.A. Early Childhood General Education and Special Education
jfrazier@thecroftschool.org

Janel joined Croft in 2020. Janel works at Croft because it aligns with her progressive beliefs about education being a source for future change. Croft allows her to turn her passion into purpose and provides flexibility in the ways she teaches to make sure students are challenged and have a voice and independence within the classroom. It is an organization that supports their teachers with continued education and growth.

She has enjoyed teaching in a variety of private progressive schools and a charter school in New York, and teaching a variety of age groups from 3-9. After ambitiously taking the opportunity to support the opening of a start-up progressive elementary school in the Middle East, she was able to take on a variety of leadership roles in and out of the classroom.

You can find Janel continuing to explore and get acquainted with what Rhode Island has to offer. She loves to dance and spend time with friends and her family in NY.

Office Assistant

B.S. Rhode Island College in Psychology
jvedro@thecroftschool.org

Jenn joined Croft in 2023. She joined Croft because she genuinely loves the vibe here - coming to work at Croft makes her so happy.

For the last 20+ years, Jenn was a kitchen designer and although that was a really fun way to spend my days, Croft feels like where sheI belongs.

Outside of school sheI loves to spend time with my family, garden, read, and make art- mostly watercolors

Science Teacher

Master of Education
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
jkakar@thecroftschool.org

Jes joined Croft in 2023. Teaching is such a passion project for many people, and Jes is no exception. She chose to join the Croft family in order to pursue her passion for Science Education for Elementary students, and appreciates the great value the staff, students, and community place on furthering science education for children.

Jes was a public school teacher both in the classroom and the STEM lab in Massachusetts, Miami, and Maine.

Jes is a creative soul with a passion for travel, and enjoys many different areas in the arts including pottery, watercolor painting, jewelry making, sewing, and embroidery. She also can be found reading in her hammock, going for walks with her husband and their dog Rocky, and eating yummy foods.

3rd Grade Teacher

Wheaton College: Bachelors of Science (Psychology/Elementary Ed)
Wheelock College: Masters in Social Work (Currently LICSW-Licensed Independent Social Worker)
jcote@thecroftschool.org

Jill joined Croft in 2021. Jills believes that Croft is a place that thinks out of the box to meet the needs of all children. Students, families, and educators have a voice and active involvement in the day to day at Croft. Croft believes in providing a progressive and rigorous education experiences while balancing the teaching time with rich experiences outside of the classroom.

Jill's professional background includes the following:
- Founding 2nd Grade Teacher: Paul Cuffee Charter School (3 years before finishing grad school full time for one)
- Children Intensive Community Based Therapist: The Providence Center (CIS)
- Fee For Service Clinician: The Providence Center
- Emergency Service Clinician: The Providence Center
- 2nd Grade Teacher, Math and Writing Interventionist, Instructional Coach: Learning Community Charter School (over the course of 10 years)
- 4th Grade Math and Science, 1st and - 2nd grades: Northbridge Public Schools
- Independent Math Consultant working with AmeriCorps: Providence Children's Museum

Jill enjoys spending time with her partner and three children, running, and breathing in the ocean air any chance she gets!

4th Grade Associate Teacher

B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies, University of Rhode Island
jcorsetti@thecroftschool.org

Jillian joined Croft in 2024. Jillian was drawn to The Croft School because of the true excitement for teaching students that Croft has and its emphasis on student centered philosophies. She believes one size does not fit all when it comes to an education. Stressing the importance of creative outlets, quiet time and social-emotional learning is critical for every child and she is happy to work in a place where these beliefs are highly valued.

Before joining Croft, Jillian worked in special education with children who experience behavioral and emotional difficulties. After graduating from URI in 2022, she has worked in different special education classrooms with a focus on therapeutic and student centered practices. So far, she has spent her career helping students see their potential and grow into the person she knows they can be!

Outside of work, Jillian enjoys finding new hobbies and nurturing old ones. She loves to crochet, scrapbook and buy new plants! Jillian is fond of spending time outside and enjoying the sunshine with a good book.

Founding 4th Grade Teacher

B.A. in Elementary Education, University of Rhode Island
B.A. in Psychology, University of Rhode Island
jsorianoveloz@thecroftschool.org

Julie joined Croft in 2021. Julie chose to work at Croft because of its commitment to being reflective, student-centered, and community-oriented. Her favorite aspect of teaching is fostering deep and meaningful connections with students and families, as she believes that families are an integral part of student success. She looks forward to going into work each day and seeing her students' eyes and smiles light up, eager to take on the day's learning. She values being surrounded by supportive and caring colleagues who, along with her, reflect on best practices both academically and socially emotionally to best support students.

Before joining Croft, Julie taught third grade for three years at a charter school in Central Falls. She currently serves as the coordinator for Onward We Learn's CAAP Program, where students practice troubleshooting challenges and applying strategic thinking to various tasks, while building and discussing key elements of leadership skills and resiliency.

Outside of her time at Croft, Julie enjoys cooking new recipes, going for walks on the beach, reading at the park, and spending time with her close friends and family.

Kindergarten Teacher

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Education
Unity College
kshippee@thecroftschool.org

Kailyn joined Croft in 2022. Kailyn was drawn to Croft's welcoming community. She quickly fell in love with the school's project based learning approach and the way it gives students the opportunity to take ownership over their learning.

Kay holds a BS in Environmental Education from Unity College. She spent 8 years teaching outdoor education and managing summer camps before making the jump to the classroom; first teaching Montessori early childhood education and now at Croft.

In her free time, she loves to be outside with her family (Ian, Matilda, and Bowen) and dogs (Moxie and Gansett). They are currently establishing a rural homestead in Foster, RI complete with chickens and a big pumpkin patch.

Kindergarden Associate Teacher

Massachusetts Bay Community College
Associates Degree of Science Early Childhood Education
kryan@thecroftschool.org

Kate joined Croft in 2022. Kate believes that Croft inspires and highlights the importance of early literacy skills and reading. Her favorite part of teaching at Croft is working with her team to implement creative ways to spark curiosity, wonder, and learning when it comes to bringing phonics and literacy into the classroom in new and innovative ways! Watching children start to read and gain confidence in my classroom is wonderful to witness.

Kate has a background in teaching children how to snowboard and working with children in the ski industry! She was given an opportunity to study at Colorado Mountain College after working in an adaptive ski program to start her Early Childhood Ed work. She started classes specifically in Early Intervention and fell in love with academic theory while studying there.

Kate's interests include snowboarding, Art and reading lots of fiction books!

Founding 5th Grade Teacher

B.A. University of Nebraska Lincoln
M.A.T. Clark University
kcolson@thecroftschool.org

Kelsie joined Croft in 2023. Kelsie is a proud Croft educator. Croft provides educators the space and tools necessary to provide a rigorous, quality education, develop professionally, build authentic relationships with students and family members, be creative, and make school fun!

Kelsie's teaching career started with teaching English abroad in Spain and South Korea. Upon receiving her master's in teaching, she spent 5 years teaching 2nd and 3rd grade in a public school.

Outside of Croft, Kelsie is an avid reader, jigsaw puzzler, and a loving mom to her mini goldendoodle Shep.

Academic Interventionist

M.A of Special Education
M.A. of Reading
Certified Reading Special
Certified Wilson Practitioner
B.A. Psychology
khalliday@thecroftschool.org

Kathleen joined Croft in 2022. Croft is an amazing place to Kathleen because it prioritizes the students' academic and emotional well-being, and that's been her career long focus. She believes that you can't work on one without working on the other, and she's proud to be associated with Croft, and to contribute her skills and approach to the mission.

Kathleen is an experienced and passionate educator who has worked as a classroom teacher and reading specialist in a variety of school and tutoring settings. Over the past ten years, Kathleen’s professional focus has been providing research-based reading intervention to children who struggle with learning to read. She finds great satisfaction and joy in supporting her students as they progressively gain skills and confidence as readers.

Outside of work, Kathleen is a mom to three adult sons who continue to fill her life with love, laughter, and occasional chaos. With her boys grown and independent, Kathleen, along with her husband, dote a little too much on their two adorable and sometimes exhausting dogs, Hunny and Finn. Kathleen loves travel, running, hiking, and of course, reading!

Theatre Program Director & 3rd Grade Associate Teacher

Bachelor of Arts,
Dean College
krobertson@thecroftschool.org

Kelly joined Croft in 2021. Kelly works at Croft because she values meeting kiddos where they are, helping elevate their voices and passions while also supporting them in feeling brave to face challenges. She believes wholeheartedly in the power of play, and she is so grateful to have found a school that values play as much as academic rigor.

Kelly is a professional actor and has taught theatre all over New England for organizations like Commonwealth Shakespeare Company and the Gamm Theatre. She is an artistic associate at Studio Playground, where she teaches clown for Social Emotional Learning, and she is also certified to teach theatre to folks with disabilities through The Center for Applied Drama & Autism and does so at Generations Adult Day Health Center.

Outside of teaching and acting, she loves being in nature, reading, and playing with her cats!

Founding 6th Grade Teacher

BA, Oberlin College
MFA, Washington University in St. Louis
kdieter@thecroftschool.org

Kieran joined Croft in 2023.

Kieran first encountered Croft when they decided it was a great fit for their child's education, and then was so inspired by Croft's warm, welcoming community, spirit of innovation, and student-centered values, that they decided to join the Croft teaching team.

They have over ten years of experience as an educator in a variety of settings, ranging from teaching 6th grade in a public school in the South Bronx to working as a reading specialist in a charter high school outside of Boston.

Outside of work, they enjoy watching the hilarious games their children invent together, traveling to the Pacific Northwest, and creating visual art.

2nd Grade Associate Teacher & Co-Coordinator of Anti-Bias Practices

B.A, Economics, University of Florida
M.A.,Curriculum and Instruction, George Mason University
larce-ferri@thecroftschool.org

Laura joined Croft in 2023. Laura fell in love with the Croft community when her oldest son joined Croft as a first grader in 2021. She found herself learning with her son on a daily basis. This lead her to seek a job in 2023 to continue learning and growing as a professional at Croft.

Laura worked as an elementary school teacher in Providence, RI; Austin, TX; Washington, DC; and Langley Park, MD.

Laura enjoys being outdoors with her family, reading, cooking, and traveling.

3rd Grade Teacher

egyves@thecroftschool.org

Liz joined Croft in 2024. Liz believes that students and teachers deserve a space where they can have fun, feel appreciated, and be inspired. Croft offers small class sizes, which helps teachers build relationships with students and their families while fostering academic growth. Liz is passionate about designing clear, rigorous lessons that engage students and spark their curiosity. She loves seeing a student’s sense of determination and pride after grappling with a challenging task. Croft is an organization that values rigor and a love for learning. Most of all, the people that Liz met at Croft made the decision easy to join the team.

Liz began her teaching career immediately after graduating from Boston College in 2006. She started as a bilingual sixth-grade teacher in the Bronx and has been teaching in the classroom ever since. She taught middle schoolers in Bushwick and Williamsburg, Brooklyn before moving with her husband to the Northeast to be closer to family. She was teaching fifth grade at a public charter school in Cranston, Rhode Island before joining Croft in 2024.

Outside of school, Liz enjoys exploring hiking trails, playing card games, painting, and reading a good chapter book with her three kids.

Founding 4th Grade Teacher

B.A, Ithaca College
M.S. Ed, University of Pennsylvania
mjannetta@thecroftschool.org

Mary joined Croft in 2022. Mary loves Croft's strong sense of community; its amazing faculty, staff, students, and parents; and its commitment to rigorous and innovative curriculum and instruction. In particular, she loves teaching PBL, our Friday fieldwork trips, and milestone projects!

Prior to joining Croft, Mary taught fifth grade for 10 years in both public and independent schools in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

Outside of school, Mary likes to read, write, travel, and spend time with friends and family. Her two young sons keep her very busy!

2nd Grade Teacher

M.A.T. in Childhood Education from Manhattanville College
B.A. in Sociology with a concentration in Social Work from Saint Anselm College
mdemasi@thecroftschool.org

Michelle joined Croft in 2020. Michelle was initially drawn to Croft for the wonderful sense of community, dedication to learning and innovation. She enjoys the opportunities to grow as a professional at Croft, and is inspired by her colleagues.

Michelle is a certified Structured Literacy and Dyslexia Practitioner. She has over 15 years of classroom experience. Before coming to Croft, she taught at an independent school in Connecticut and public school in Massachusetts.

Michelle loves spending time with her family, and supporting her daughters in their sports and activities. She enjoys being outdoors and reading.

School Counselor

BA, Harvard University
MA (Child Development), Sarah Lawrence College
MSW, New York University
mfeatherstone@thecroftschool.org

Miranda joined Croft in 2022. Miranda values Croft's focus on community, inclusivity, justice, and support for kids and families.

Miranda has worked in school mental health for over ten years. Prior to that, she worked as an editor and an early childhood teacher.

Miranda is a writer whose work has appeared in the New York Times, The Atlantic, and other publications. She enjoys reading, exploring the New England coast, and spending time with her family.

Kindergarten Teacher

Bachelor of Arts,
Plymouth State University
rmarshall@thecroftschool.org

Rachel joined Croft in 2022. Rachel loves Croft for many reasons but the biggest part for her is the sense of community. There is so much respect, trust, and partnership between family and staff.

Rachel's degree is focused in Early Childhood. Before coming to Croft, she supervised and founded quality early childhood programs. She is also Montessori trained which has a large impact on her teaching and work with young children.

Rachel loves being outdoors! Her favorite place in the world is being at the beach. She loves hiking, yoga, reading and spending time with her family and friends.

1st Grade Associate Teacher

BFA Massachusetts College of Art & Design,
current MAT graduate student at Rhode Island College
rconlin@thecroftschool.org

Ryan joined Croft in 2023. Ryan works at Croft because the school prioritizes a diverse by design approach to education. The Croft School promotes collaboration and growth for students and staff.

Ryan worked in higher education classroom technical support for 10 years and has recently made the transition into a teaching role. Ryan is currently working toward obtaining a Masters in Elementary Education.

Ryan's interests include art, traveling, and the outdoors.

2nd Grade Associate Teacher

Bachelor of Arts,
Swarthmore College
rkennedy@thecroftschool.org

Ryan joined Croft in 2024. Ryan joined Croft because of the warmth and friendly welcome he received during each interaction. He is excited to join the Croft team!

Ryan is a dedicated educator who grew up in Massachusetts and began teaching while living in Brooklyn, New York. He studied Political Science and Economics at Swarthmore College, and taught elementary school in New York City for 3 years. He believes that children learn best when the classroom is welcoming and joyful.

Growing up, Ryan always loved the outdoors, playing sports, and reading books. When he is not teaching, he still loves to go for hikes, play soccer, and read a good book.

Art Teacher

B.S. in Art Education
Rhode Island College
selby@thecroftschool.org

Sophi joined Croft in 2020. Sophi was drawn to Croft for its emphasis on play (a large part of creating art) and its student centered approach. In her curriculum she allows space for students to explore, tell stories, and create based on their individual interests.

Sophi is a lifelong learner who has always felt at home creating art and being in the classroom. She has been a member of the National Art Education Association for many years and is a strong advocate for the arts in education.

Outside of Croft, Sophi enjoys taking local art classes, hiking, and going to concerts.

Educator Associate

I have taken courses in early childhood and classes that certified me
as a teacher assistant and a nursing assistant
tchevalier@thecroftschool.org

Tracy joined Croft in 2018. Tracy met founder Scott Given in 2018 when looking for a school for her child who would be entering kindergarten. She learned about Croft and the vision before there was even a building for the school. She has seen Croft grow from literally an idea into the wonderful place that it is now! Tracy, speaking as an employee and a parent, loves the staff, families and support in the tight knit community that Croft provides. She thinks you can't help but smile everyday when you're there and she can't imagine a warmer, happy in place to be working in and where her child goes to school.

Tracy has always enjoyed working with children. She has worked in several daycare and preschool settings and was a nanny for 15 years. When her child started kindergarten at Croft Providence in the founding class of 2018 Tracy was a volunteer and was hired the next year as an educator associate at the school.

Tracy enjoys drawing, painting, exploring in nature, spending time with her family and four pets in Providence and is always reading a book.

Founding 6th Grade Teacher

Bachelor of Arts,
Missouri State University
zwilkinson@thecroftschool.org

Zane joined Croft in 2024, seeking to create a marvelous middle school here in Providence. The mission of Croft (and work done up through fifth grade) aligns with his own views on a small, engaged, and community-driven education system. His pedagogy is focused on the ways humans use and impact our natural world.

For the last 8 years, Zane has taught middle school Science and Math in Rhode Island.

When not playing with this two young kids or walking in the woods, Zane spends most of his free time learning how to tend his garden and watching soccer.