We are proud of the high quality professionals that provide the safe nurturing environment that allows our children to flourish. We currently employ about 15 teachers, who have over 150 years of experience teaching, of which 60 years worth are from Nurture and Nature itself! 
​Nurture and Nature meets or exceeds state standards for teacher to child ratios for all age groups, creating more opportunities for 1-on-1 attention and care. We encourage scaffolded learning, creating a community atmosphere between classrooms. This allows older children to learn empathy, while empowering them to help our younger learners.

​Jennifer Blackwood - Executive Director
Education: Masters of Science in Family, Culture & Society (Wheelock College - Boston, MA), Bachelors of Science in Child & Family Studies (University of New Hampshire - Durham, NH)
Experience: 20+ years experience working with children in early childhood education settings; 15+ years working as a Director in both nonprofit and corporate ECE centers
Hobbies: Reading, crocheting, puzzles, spending time with my family and doing anything outside!
Why I choose to work with children:  Children are the key to the future!  Their curiosity for the world around them, their trusting nature, and their genuine joy for life should be cherished and nurtured, which is what we do here at Nurture & Nature.  Along with their families, it is my goal to give young children the safe, loving and nurturing environment to grow and develop into caring, inquisitive, compassionate and successful humans.   

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Kaitlin Dickens - Assistant Director & Sweetpeas Lead Teacher

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Cassidy Delano - Daisies Lead Qualified Teacher
Hi I’m Cassidy! I graduated from University of Maine at Farmington with my Bachelors in Early Childhood Education, and want to earn my Masters in Nature-Based Education. My favorite season is fall and I love all things purple. I love long walks, the ocean and spending time with my eight nieces and nephews. 

Cassidy's favorite quote: “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” ~Benjamin Franklin 
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Jenn Rochette - Sunflowers Lead Teacher
Jenn loves spending her free time with friends and family at the lake, paddle boarding, and sitting by a cozy bonfire. 
 
She has an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Stratham Technical School. Jenn has over 25 years of experience working at Nurture and Nature with all ages of children, with her specialty being the toddler age group. She loves watching children grow and learn with excitement.

Jenn’s favorite quote: “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ~Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh
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Merrilyn SanSoucie - Sunflowers Associate Teacher
Merrilyn lives in Newmarket with her husband of 45 years, Mason (her tyrant cat) and Newman (the perfect Miniature Schnauzer). She loves to take Newman for walks, work in her gardens and read.
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Merrilyn taught art at East Kingston Elementary, created quilts at many schools around NH as artist-in-residence, taught preschool-aged children at Montessori of Exeter and started her teaching career as a third grade teacher in Newfields. ​
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Ann Elliott - Sunflowers Associate Teacher
Ann lives in Newfields with her husband, Tim, and their cat, Rocky. She is an active member of the Newfields community, participating in the Newfields Garden Club, which often donates perennials and vegetable plants to Nurture and Nature. She has been a mentor in the Big Brother Big Sister program over the past 25 years. Ann is an American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard. She has been an Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program Instructor and Trainer, Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program Instructor, Tai Chi for Health Instructor, Aqua Zumba and Zumba Gold Instructor. Ann has her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Physical Education from Springfield College. Ann's real passion is teaching children in the classroom and swimming pool.

Ann's favorite quote: "Most folks are as happy as they make up their mind to be."
​~Abraham Lincoln

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Kat Ellison - Lilacs Lead Teacher
Katerina lives with her partner, Dow and their cat, Arlo. She enjoys seeing live music, hiking, gardening, painting and cooking. Katerina graduated with her Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire. She has over three years of experience working in the childcare field. Prior to starting at Nurture and Nature, she was a nanny. She grew up with a younger nephew whom she would take care of often. 

Katerina loves working with children because she loves seeing them grow and develop. She also loves listening to the stories they come up with and how they are such genuine/beautiful individuals. 
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Katerina's favorite quote: "Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood." ~Fred Rogers
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Caitlin DeCoster - Lilacs Associate Teacher
Caitlin grew up in Gilmanton, NH and currently lives in Newmarket where she spends a lot of time outdoors. She was inspired to become a teacher at a nature based school after her daughter attended a nature based preschool. She have a love for animals and enjoys sharing knowledge with students...you can frequently catch her catching frogs to show children and helping children look for worms.
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She likes to go for woods and beach walks to collect natural elements to add to her fairy houses. She loves working with children because each day is unique and an unpredictable adventure. She enjoys watching their personalities and confidence blossom.
 
Caitlin's favorite quote: "I am happy out here. Dirty feet, messy hair & wild water on my skin. Out here with the wild things; this is where I belong." ~Brooke Hampt
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Amya Burton - Lilacs Associate Teacher
I live in Dover, NH with my best friend. I love music, going for walks, spending quality time with my family/boyfriend and traveling! I grew up helping with my youngest brother, as well as helping my sister with my niece and nephew who have become my best friends. I went to St. Thomas Aquinas High School and did one year of ECE at SNHU, then took some courses at NHTI. I look forward to taking courses at Great Bay to get my degree in Elementary Education. Ever since I was young, I was always wanted to be in a classroom teaching and helping kids grow. I love how each child is different and wants to learn as much as they can. I love growing bonds and friendships with kids. I always want a child to be comfortable to come to me with their feelings. 
 
Amya's favorite quote: “Children re-invent your world for you.” ~Sarah Sarandon

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Renee Johnson - Snapdragons Lead Teacher
I live in the seacoast area with Chris (my other half) and Tubby (our cat). My passion for reading and writing led me to receiving a bachelor's degree in English from Plymouth State University in 2013. I started working in an early childhood program as an after-school job in 2006 and quickly fell in-love with it. I have been working at Nature Nurture since 2018 and loved every second of it. My philosophy has developed over my professional career, and I can confidently say I believe in child-lead learning with a nature-based approach. I really like getting to know the students' interests and talents and incorporating them into the classroom. Watching them enter my classroom and grow into independent individuals fills my heart to overflowing. In my free time you can find me reading, journaling, visiting family and camping! 

Leona Hosack - Snapdragons Associate Teacher
Leona loves to play guitar, ukulele, and tin whistle with friends, has written many original songs and used to perform professional children’s music with her husband Larry. She has three grown children and five grandchildren! She loves to take walks on the beach in Maine and collects brass bells. She has over 50 vintage bells in her collection.

Leona has a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Design/Illustration and a Teacher Certification in Art Ed. She also has 30 years of experience in the childcare field, plus many years of illustrating children’s books, and work as a Portrait, Caricature and Silhouette Artist.

Leona’s favorite quote: “A picture book is a small door to the enormous world of the visual arts, and they’re often the first art a young person sees.” -Tomie Depaola

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Christine Belanger - Float Teacher
Christine enjoys spending time with her family, antiques, history and writing. She has a certificate in Early Childhood Education that she earned through Great Bay Community College. Christine joined Nurture and Nature in March of 2023 and has three years’ experience working in the Early Childhood Education field. She enjoys being part of Nurture and Nature’s educational community and that each day brings new learning experiences to children. She appreciates that each child is unique and enjoys their energy and excitement. 

Christine's favorite quote: “If a child cannot learn in the way we teach, we must teach in a way the child can learn.” -Unknown
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Nicole Kalway - Float Teacher
Nicole lives in Lebanon, Maine with her husband, two black labs, and cat. She loves spending time camping with family, going to the gym and traveling! She studied many different fields throughout her college career, but fell in love with Early Childhood Education after starting at Nurture and Nature! Although she is new to this field of work she knows it is exactly where she belongs. She loves that every time she walks in the classroom, she is greeted with a smile, hug and a new story from the children. 

Nicole’s favorite quote: “It takes a big heart to help shape little minds.” -Abbie Burke C.