Meet our Specialists!

The CFCE Coordinators and Early Childhood Specialists are committed to our mission, our community and our families.
Read on...then click here to see our schedule of virtual play & learn groups and come meet them!

Bethany Gay
CFCE Coordinator

Bethany was a playgroup coordinator and a parent child home program home visitor in Wareham.  She earned a master's degree in Early Education and taught kindergarten in addition to working as a reading specialist assistant. Bethany says, "If I could invent a holiday it would be National Spend The Day with Your Family in the summer months. The most inspiring part of my job is watching children and their caregivers enjoying time together. My favorite way to have fun at work is being creative and fun!"

 

María Petchuk
Early Childhood Specialist

María was born and raised in Argentina and where she taught dance and aerobics to adults & children before moving to the US in 2001 with her two sons. For over a decade she has been teaching Spanish to children on Cape Cod in immersion classes, camps, & private lessons. María says, "Taking care & teaching little ones my culture, music & language is very rewarding and something I really enjoy. The most inspirational part of my job is the kids & their big eyes looking at me. My favorite way to have fun is with kids, parents, grandparents, & friends in a big circle playing in the learning process!" 

 

Nancy McDermott
​Early Childhood Specialist

Nancy taught High School Home Economics for 36 years in Milton and Falmouth, during which time she became the Director of the Child Development Laboratory Preschool. Nancy says, "If I were a superhero, my superpower would be being in more than one place at a time so that I could do more events with children. If I could invent a holiday, it would definitely involve celebrating friendships. The most inspiring part of my job is witnessing the beauty of children learning and my favorite way to have fun at work is chat and play with children and parents!" ​​

 

Rosemary Modic
​​Early Childhood Specialist

Rosemary worked in a daycare/nursery school before teaching Grade 2 and preschool in the Falmouth schools. ​Rosemary says, “If I were a superhero, my superpower would be flying. If I could invent a holiday, it would definitely involve more food... I love to cook and eat. The most inspiring part of my job is seeing the children grow and develop and the parents connecting and supporting each other. My favorite way to have fun at work is, well, my whole job is fun: it is like hosting a children's party! Oh but I do enjoy introducing children to new books!”

 

Norina Reif
​​Early Childhood Specialist

​ Norina worked as a social worker before becoming an Expressive Arts Therapist and puppeteer. You may have also seen her at the Cotuit Center for the Arts with the Falmouth Theatre Guild or with Dream Tale Puppets. Norina says,  “If I were a superhero, my superpower would be to fly. If I could invent a holiday, it would definitely involve dancing and puppets. The most inspiring part of my job is toddler smiles. My favorite way to have fun at work is shaking our sillies out!”

 

Rachael Rhude
​​​Early Childhood Specialist

​Rachael worked as the Children’s Program Coordinator for several women’s refuges in Scotland & Guatemala. She was also an Elementary School Teacher in the U.K. at a therapeutic school for children.  Rachael founded & directed a preschool for children living in extreme poverty in Guatemala. Rachael says, “If I were a superhero, my superpower would be healing people. If I could invent a holiday, it would definitely involve lots of colorful lanterns. The most inspiring part of my job is seeing parents and children enjoy each other. My favorite way to have fun at work is messy play (the clean up...not so fun!)”

 

Molly Henriksen-Rowland
​​​​Early Childhood Specialist

Molly is a Certified PreK-12 Art Teacher with a Master’s in Art Education from Mississippi College and studied Art Education at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Molly has worked with young artists in a variety of settings including three years teaching in Mississippi and more than five years teaching in Massachusetts. Her students range in age from toddlers to high school! Molly says, "If I was a superhero my super power would be to breathe underwater so I could swim with the sea turtles. If I could invent a holiday it would be a day of cozy things: soft blankets, hot cocoa, and warm fires. My favorite part about working with children is seeing the joy on their faces when they make something beautiful!"

 

Amy Wyman
​​​​Early Childhood Specialist

​​Amy has worked with children & families in schools, hospitals & special educational settings both in the U.S. and abroad. Amy has a masters degree in Expressive Art Therapy and is a Board Certified Music Therapist and Certified Child Life Specialist. She is also the founder of Good Grief Cape Cod, an educational program helping children cope with death. Amy says, “If I were a super hero my super power would be making people laugh. If I could invent a holiday it would be National Chill Out Day where nobody works and everyone just has a day to chill and rest. The most inspiring part about my job is getting to do some of my favorite things: making music, making new friends and being a part of our community.”