Meet Our Team
All Children's Center staff members have earned Department of Early Education and Care Preschool Teacher qualification and some have attained the highest preschool teaching credentials offered by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care, including Preschool Lead Teacher and Director.
Joanne Hogan, Director of Children's Center
Joanne Hogan has been in the field of early childhood education since 1989. She has worked at three other campus-based preschool programs, all of which were NAEYC accredited, in the roles of preschool teacher, lead teacher, and director.
She holds a bachelor’s degree from Assumption College and a Master of Education in Early Childhood from Bridgewater State College. She is currently licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Pre-k-grade 2, and has a Director 2 certificate from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. She has served as a cooperating practitioner for numerous college students who hope to be future early childhood educators.
Joanne is currently a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the Council of Child Development Lab Administrators. She is serving on Tri-County Regional High School’s Program Advisory Committee where she serves as an advisor to the early childhood program. She is passionate about the field of early childhood education and believes in the importance of providing high quality developmentally appropriate learning experiences for young children.
Kate Day
Kate is the office manager of the Dean College Children's Center.
Kate first came to the Children’s Center as a parent. Her boys both attended the school and had a wonderful experience. The school’s staff, and the families she met, were so friendly, kind, and supportive. Kate was excited to join the staff herself a few years later.
Kate holds a BA and MPA from Clark University. She worked in administrative roles in publishing and higher education before her years as a stay-at-home mom. Kate lives in Franklin with her husband, two sons, a dog and a cat. She enjoys the mini crossword, her favorite blog, books, and buying plants. Above all, she loves to spend time connecting with family, friends, and - when at work - preschoolers!
Valentina Sternadore
Valentina is a Teacher Assistant at the Children’s Center.
She has a bachelor’s degree in Music from Syracuse University and a Master of Fine Arts in Music Performance from Boston Conservatory. Val first began working with children at the Children’s Center as a parent volunteer over 20 years ago when her children attended the school. After her children went off to kindergarten, she continued on as a community volunteer. Also at this time, she worked at the Bernon Family Branch YMCA in Franklin teaching pre-school gymnastics for 12 years. In 2019 she earned her associate degree in Early Childhood Education from Dean College, as well as her Lead Teacher certification from the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. Val enjoys pre-school so much, she hasn’t left!
During her free time Val enjoys gardening, reading, walking, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.