ABOUT HARRISVILLE CHILDREN'S CENTER

Linda MacGillvary
Director

Linda has been the Director of the Harrisville Children’s Center since 2002. She has her
Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and her Master’s degree in Early Childhood
Education/Special Needs. She has taught preschool through grade two in both private and public
school settings. She also has experience as an educational consultant, workshop presenter,
curriculum developer, and a museum docent. Linda is the mother of two sons, Jonas and
Zachary. She enjoys gardening and landscaping, photography, reading, and working on her
antique cape. Linda can be reached weekdays at HCC, typically between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.

 

Claire Gargan
Teacher – Infant Program

Claire has been working at HCC since August 2012 as Lead Teacher of the Infant Program.   She
enjoys being a part of a hard-working, dedicated team of professionals who have the best interest
of every child at heart. She is certified as a NH Infant/Toddler Lead Teacher. Claire believes in
holistic care of infants and toddlers.  Each child learns at his or her own pace and needs to be
nurtured to their full potential.  Claire has more than 35 years’ experience in the field of
parenting, teaching and child care and she is the grandmother of one grandson and four
granddaughters.  She arrived in NH from Southern Africa in 2012, where she taught in
elementary schools for 18 years in both Zimbabwe and South Africa as a classroom teacher and
school principal.  Claire has two Montessori Diplomas from London in the field of Nursery
Foundation Education and Primary Teaching and a Hornsby Diploma in Special Education, also
from London.  She enjoys sewing, knitting, reading, swimming, travel, and spending time with
her grandchildren. Claire is a Board member of the Harrisville Wells Memorial School and is an
active member of Harrisville Community Church.

 

Jessica Kipka

Afternoon Teacher – Infant Program and Permanent Substitute Teacher
Jessica is delighted to begin her tenth year at the Harrisville Children’s Center. She finds it
absolutely fascinating to explore the world through the curious and wondering eyes of young
children. Watching closely and encouraging their unique expression as they move through
various and sundry developmental stages is a joyful experience for her. Jessica holds a B.A. in
Sociology and a Master’s in Elementary Education. She has taught tennis, swimming,
gymnastics, theater, older and younger toddler classes, and first grade.  Her education in human
development has been, and continues to be, supplemented by her own three children who
(unbelievably!) range in age from 19 to 26. Jessica lives with a big, fluffy dog, and three silly,
black cats in Peterborough.

 

Deb Paulette

Assistant Teacher – Infant Program

Deb joined the Harrisville Children’s Center community in February of 2020 as an assistant
teacher in the infant program and was very excited to be back caring for children, which she has
always enjoyed. She cared for nieces, nephews and cousins in her home while raising two sons
and a daughter. After 15 years she decided to work outside of her home in the medical records
field, which she retired from in 2019. A native of New Hampshire now living in Alstead with
her husband, she enjoys sewing, being outdoors and loves spending time with family, including 8

grandchildren. Deb made each grandchild a baby quilt and then a twin-size quilt as they grew
older. Not to forget those who have her grandchildren, she made lap quilts for her daughter and
sons, son-in-law and daughters-in-law.

 

Gina Wright

Assistant Teacher – Infant Program

Gina is starting her third year at HCC.  She enjoys working with children of all ages.  Gina
graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2004 from Chester College of New England, where
she studied Art and Art Education.  Gina has worked with children in a number of different
capacities:  An assistant preschool teacher, childcare associate, and a Zumba Kids instructor.
Gina lives with her husband in Jaffrey, NH.  She enjoys spending time with family, going to the
beach, being creative, and teaching Zumba Fitness Class.

 

Erika Curtiss
Teacher- Buttercup Room

Erika began her education in Fine Arts at Antioch College where she received her BA in Visual
Arts. She then went on to obtain her MFA at Marywood University. Upon graduating from
Marywood, Erika moved back home to Keene, New Hampshire after being gone for fifteen years
to take care of her grandparents. While caring for her grandparents she came to the realization
that art assists in the growth and health of all human beings, young or old. It was then that Erika
decided to attend Antioch University New England for both Elementary Education and Early
Childhood Education. Her intention was to integrate art into all aspects of the curriculum with
the idea that art aides in the formulation of motor skills, the ability to observe, as well as
cognitive development. Upon completion at AUNE, Erika joined the HCC community as the
Toddler Teacher in January 2012. She is very excited about being with children that are open to
opportunities to explore not just art but everything around them.

 

Jackie Gallo

Assistant Teacher – Buttercup Room

Jackie started working at HCC in February of 2021. She has enjoyed taking care of children in
different environments, such as being a nanny, volunteering at afternoon programs for children
in kindergarten, and teaching 2-5 year old children in cheerleading. Jackie cared for her niece
from age one month until she entered child care at age three years old. Jackie loves watching
children grow and explore the ventures of life. She lives in Stoddard with her boyfriend and
their two Great Danes. Jackie enjoys hiking, playing soccer, and fishing on the weekends, as
well as spending time with her family.

 

Ruth Klingler

Afternoon Teacher- Buttercup Room

Ruth is very happy to begin her eighth year at the Harrisville Children’s Center. She has a B.S.
degree in social work as well as an Associate degree in child development from Ellis College.
Ruth has been teaching young children in a preschool setting more than for twenty years and is
also running Adventures, a church-scout club for girls and boys ages four to ten years old. Ruth
enjoys hiking, canoeing, fishing, reading, and crochet work. She lives with her husband and two
children in Jaffrey.

 

Lilli Somero
Teacher – Sweet Pea Room

Lilli is a lover of beautiful things including literature, nature and children, all of which have
surrounded her throughout her upbringing and continue to be a reminder providing her with
inspiration.  Her passions collide through watching the patience and desire of children and their
ineffable drive to learn about what surrounds them.  Rarely is there a time when Lilli is not with
children, at which point she walks local mountains and forests seeking the solitude and calm that
comes with the acceptance of time passing, only to drive home to an atmosphere filled with
children playing outdoors and laughter all around.  Lilli begins her tenth year at the Harrisville
Children's Center.

 

Ellen Winston

Afternoon Teacher – Sweet Pea Room

Ellen is happy to be returning to HCC and being part of this wonderful center.  Ellen moved to
New Hampshire 8 years ago from Connecticut where she taught preschool and then was the
director of a large child care center for 6 years.  She has an AS from Lasell University and a BS
in Early Childhood Education from Southern Connecticut State University and a Connecticut
Director's Credential.  Ellen lives in Swanzey and enjoys spending time outdoors and with her
daughter, son-in-law, and 2 granddaughters who live in Rindge, as well as visiting her other 2
children and their families living in California.

 

Candice Gagne
Teacher - Sunflower Room

Candice joined the Harrisville Children’s Center in March of 2017 as the lead teacher in the
Sunflower Room.  She has an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Nashua
Community College and has been teaching in the field for 7 years.  Candice encourages children
to grow and learn through hands-on experiences, play-based learning, and art. She loves to see
the children express themselves throughout the day with different activities. Candice enjoys
exploring nature, taking photos, reading, and crafting with her busy 5 year old son and husband
in Rindge, NH.

 

Heather Dalrymple
Assistant Teacher – Sunflower Room

Heather joined the HCC staff in January 2017 simply because she loves children.  She respects
and appreciates them as individuals and wants to encourage their interests and to help them to
sparkle.  Growing up, Heather and her family left their home town in Connecticut to live in
Brazil, where Heather graduated from Escola Graduada in Sao Paulo.  It was an educational and
cultural experience she will always value.  She finished her education in the states at the
University of Tennessee, majoring in Special Education.  Heather created and ran a summer
program for preschoolers in Connecticut.  She worked as a counselor at Crotched Mountain
Rehabilitation Center until her daughter was born.  Heather ran the Day Care at the Crotched
Mtn Ski area.  Heather then founded Hancock Baskets Inc. which she still manages.   Heather
lives at her home in Hancock with her husband Keith, daughson, August, 2 cats, NaNa and Dizzy
Lizzy and pup, Tilly.  Heather enjoys kayaking, walking, reading, the arts, nature and all
creatures great and small.

 

Andrea Clifford

Teacher – Floater/Afternoon Preschool

Andrea is beginning her eighth year at HCC.  She has been working with children in various
capacities since 1995.  Over the years she has filled the roles of infant teacher, teacher for two
and three year old children, kindergarten assistant, before and after school program facilitator,
school age summer program leader, and private nanny. Andrea took a hiatus from children's
programs in 2003 to prepare for opening an espresso café/gift shop in Dublin, NH, with her
mother, which she ran successfully through 2012.  After enjoying the 2021 summer program as
the morning preschool teacher, she will return to spending afternoons with the
preschoolers.  Andrea lives in Peterborough with her Borzoi, Lucy, and enjoys vegetable
gardening, cooking, tent camping, trips to the ocean and New England historic sites, and
spending lots of time with her 8 nieces and nephews.