Joanne has been with Small Friends since 1999, as a teacher in the infant room. Joanne is originally from Belfast, Ireland where she attended the University of Ulster. Her daughters Katie and Amy Rose are both Small Friends alums.

Lauren, mother of two of our students, began working at Small Friends in September of 2008. Lauren attended the University of Maine, where she studied Chemistry and Education.

Steevy Ann joined the Small Friends teaching staff in September of 2008. Steevy was born on Nantucket and grew up on island. She holds a bachelor's degree in human development from Wheelock College. Steevy was able to gain exposure to a wide variety of teaching styles and metholdologies through her work in several Boston area schools. Steevy has also taught in several capacities on Nantucket.

Dana joined the Small Friends staff in the fall of 2007. She has worked with numerous age groups within our program and maintains age-appropriate teaching strategies with each. Dana spends her mornings with the Scallops and her afternoons with the After-School Program.

Lauren, mother of two of our students, began working at Small Friends in September of 2008. Lauren attended the University of Maine, where she studied Chemistry and Education.

Katherine joined Small Friends in September of 2007. She attended the Palm Beach Community college where she studied art and education. She has several years experience teaching toddlers and preschool aged children.

Rossi has been with Small Friends since the fall of 2006. She is originally from Bulgaria and has been pursuing her education in early childhood education since coming to Nantucket. Rossi's two children, Viktoria and Nikolas, are currently enrolled at Small Friends.

Kim holds a Masters of Science in Education and has taught in a number of different early childhood settings in the San Diego area. Kim joined us in the fall of 2009 and has been a positive addition to our staff.

Audrey joined the Small Friends teaching staff as a permanent substitute in the fall of 2007. In the fall of 2009, Audrey joined the Bluefish teaching team where she demonstrates high quality teaching methods.

Jen has been with Small Friends since 1992 when she began teaching at the Vesper Lane campus. She has worked with the pre-k group since September of 1995. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Delaware.

Anne, a Small Friends alum, joined the teaching staff in September of 2007. She is teacher certified by the Department of Early Education and Care, and is a native of Nantucket. Anne, a former employee of A Safe Place, has a history of working with children and their families.

Delreen has been a teaching assistant at Small Friends since 2006. She is currently enrolled in a Child Development Associate (CDA) program.

Dana joined the Small Friends staff in the fall of 2007. She has worked with numerous age groups within our program and maintains age-appropriate teaching strategies with each. Dana spends her mornings with the Scallops and her afternoons with the After-School Program.

As permanent substitutes Lisa and Jackie provide consistency and stability to children throughout the Small Friends program as well as extra one on one instruction in the classrooms.

Steve grew up in Ohio and went to college in Cleveland, Switzerland and New York. After receiving his Masters Degree in Business and Economics he moved to Nantucket in 1970 and worked as a bartender, carpenter and scalloper. He opened Company of the Cauldron restaurant in 1975. He sold his business in 1998 and began working at the Nantucket Community Pool where he taught swimming, coached the Dolphins Swim Team and eventually became Director of Aquatics. In 2006 he left the Community Pool and went to work for Nantucket Bank in commercial lending. During this time Steve served on Small Friends Board of Directors and was their Treasurer. In 2009 Steve went to work full time for Small Friends on Nantucket. He is a member of the Town of Nantucket Finance Committee, a Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association certified swim official and a member of Sankaty Head Golf Club. Steve is married to Kendra Lockley and their daughter Merrill attends Nantucket High School.

Thayer attended Wheelock College of Education where she obtained a BA in Visual Arts with a Child Development Specialist concentration. She worked in a number of different educational settings, including the Boston Public Dennis C. Haley Elementary School in Roslindale and the Reggio Emilia-inspired Newtowne School in Cambridge. Thayer began her teaching at Small Friends during the summer of 2007 and began teaching full-time in the Bluefish Class in May of 2008. In September of 2009, she was appointed Program Director.