"I believe that our own experience instructs us that the secret of education lies in respecting the pupil. It is not for you to choose what he shall know, what he shall do. It is chosen and foreordained and he only holds the key to his own secret"
-RALPH WALDO EMERSON
The '26-'27 Emerson Team
Executive Director & Team Teacher
Christina Oliva
Christina accepted the position of Executive Director in 2024, after years serving the community as school registrar, teacher, board member, pyramid model leadership team member, and parent. Christina is passionate about working with children, building healthy teams, and creating rich learning experiences for people of all ages. Christina brings over 20 years of teaching and leadership experience to her position. In her youth, she struggled to choose between her love for working with people and her love of being in nature. Instead of being forced into one path, she created a duel Masters program at Antioch University New England and specialized in both Environmental Studies and Education. Working at Ralph Waldo Emerson School for Preschoolers is a dream come true - a heart-centered, nature-based learning community. When not at Emerson, Christina enjoys adventuring with her son and husband near and far, being creative in the kitchen, growing food, reading and spending time alone in the forest.
Team Teacher
Dory Lecount
"I am so excited to begin this school year with you all. I am looking forward to getting to know each of you and to building a year of joy and curiosity together. My summer has been filled with the sound of crickets in my back yard and lots of lazy days in the sun. I am currently finishing up my 12th book of the summer: “Raising Hare” by Chloe Dalton. I have 25 left to go to reach my goal of 50 for the year! Will I find time to read between all the investigating, trekking, singing, building, dancing, playing, painting, and laughing we’ll be doing this year!? We’ll have to wait to find out! I can not wait to see you so very soon!"
Team Teacher
lori burnham
Lori has been working in the early childhood field for over 15 years, and her work with young children has always been rooted in curiosity, connection, and a love of learning through play.
Lori studied Early Childhood Education at NHTI and holds a New Hampshire Early Childhood Lead Teacher Credential. Lori is also a certified ChildLight Yoga instructor, which has given her another way to support children’s bodies, minds, and growing sense of self through movement, mindfulness, and play. Lori has been a mentor to fellow teachers focusing on emergent curriculum and documentation in the classroom.
Lori's connection to Emerson is especially meaningful because both of her children attended the program. After spending several years as a preschool teacher and then staying home with her boys, returning to Emerson as a teacher feels a little like coming home.
Lori is especially drawn to nature-based learning, creative expression, and giving children the time and space to wonder, explore, and follow their own ideas. Lori loves being outside with children, noticing the small things together, and watching their confidence and curiosity grow.
Team Teacher
bailey magana rosales
Bailey began her journey as a preschool teacher in 2021, originally serving as a substitute but quickly moving into a full time teacher position at a school up north. She quickly developed a passion for child-led, play-based learning. She is an advocate for risky play and outdoor learning, believing that preschool is for learning social emotional skills, how to be a friend, and how to be curious. She is currently taking Early Childhood Education classes at NHTI. Bailey became connected to the Emerson community in 2016. She is a big sister to two Emerson alumni and daughter of a former Board member. In her free time, Bailey can be found reading romance novels, watching sitcoms, creating art, playing with fashion, listening to Taylor Swift, and spending time with her special people, including but not limited to, her husband, four brothers, and five cats.
Team Teacher/Mentor/Volunteer
Pam Mosca
Pam joined Emerson in the fall of 2018 as a MWF afternoon class teacher. Since retiring in 2022, she has returned as a mentor teacher and volunteer. She fell in love with Emerson’s philosophy of child-initiated, collaborative, emergent curriculum when her two children attended Emerson in the mid-90s. Pam received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from the University of New Hampshire and her Master of Education from Plymouth State University. She has taught 3rd, 4th and 5th grades in Concord Public Schools. Research shows that social, emotional and intellectual learning are intertwined and Pam is honored to journey with parents and Emerson teachers as children grow in so many beautiful ways. Pam’s interests include mindfulness, yoga, reading, discovering fabulous picture books (for people of all ages), gardening and pickleball.
Registrar & Team Teacher
Kimberly Porter
Kim started working at Emerson in January of 2018. She needed a part time job to supplement her seasonal position as a landscaper and thought it would be great to be back in the world of early childhood education - even if it was just on the periphery. What began as a cleaning job, evolved into filling in as a substitute, and then becoming a part time teacher. Now, she is a core part of our Emerson teaching team. She can often be found in the office, keeping our paperwork in line. Kim has a passion for gardening (both for work and pleasure), spending time with her feline bestie, Mr. Furley, and for good music and good books. Kim received her Associate’s Degree from NHTI in 2014 in the field of Early Childhood Special Education.