HCNS Teachers
Linda Shemanske, our director since 1995, received her BS in education at SUNY Potsdam and her MS from Nazareth College. She has been with HCNS for the past two decades and uses her wealth of experience to lead the school and its program, making it what it is today.
Meg O’Leary joined us again as our 2-day teacher in 2009. Meg was part of HCNS for three years from 2005 to 2008, teaching the 4-day class, helping out with the After-K Program, teaching the summer program, and working on our NAEYC re-accreditation. She received her BS in elementary education/special education from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, CT, and her Masters degree in early childhood education from the University of Phoenix in 2007. Before joining the HCNS staff in 2005, Meg was a respite-care provider for children with special needs, worked at the Ray School as a preschool/elementary special educator, and taught preschool in Massachusetts.
Meg grew up in Korea and speaks Korean fluently. She lives in Etna with her husband, and they have three grown children.
Gill Billo is currently our 3-day teacher and began teaching our 2- and 3-day classes in 2002. She received her teaching diploma from the University of Bristol, England. She taught for several years in England and Italy. Gill was a teacher for a cooperative school in Bethesda, Maryland prior to her move to Hanover. She taught at the Ray School as a special assistant before joining us the Hampshire Cooperative Nursery School. Gill has a love of literature, is conversant in French, German, and Italian.
Gill has three grown children, who demonstrate the warmth and kindness that she so carefully teaches during her classes. When not at school, she volunteers with Good Beginnings and loves to play tennis.
Sandy Bailey, our classroom assistant, has been involved at HCNS since 2002. She has been a helping parent at the school for both of her sons. She has also been a soccer coach, a lunch leader, and a classroom rep. Sandy is currently a classroom assistant in both the Preschool Program and After School Enrichment Program and continues in her role as a lunch leader. She graduated from William Woods University with a BS in both Equestrian Science and Business Administration. She has completed twenty hours towards her Masters in Early Childhood Education at the University of Edmond, Oklahoma. She loves animals, being active with her family, gardening, and baking.
Molly Riordan, teacher for our 4-day class, joins our school in 2008. She came to the Upper Valley from Fairbanks, Alaska. Raised in Connecticut, Molly graduated from St. John’s University in NY with a BA in Environmental Studies. She began teaching at Lincoln Community Preschool in Corvallis, Oregon. From there, she moved on to spend four years teaching at Fairbanks Montessori School. She completed teacher certification for ages 3-6 through the North American Montessori Center in Vancouver, BC in 2004. Molly also works locally with children with autism. She lives in Wilder with her husband and two children. She loves cooking, enjoys hiking and gardening, and most of all, reading.
Nancy Menton has been our After School Enrichment teacher since 2003. She has a BS in Art Education from Plymouth State University and an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. Nancy's experiences include teaching and substitute teaching in Art from pre-school to 12th grade and she has 20 years of experience in corporate education. She also spent several years as an HCNS helping parent and board member. Nancy and her family love all of the outdoor activities the Upper Valley offers.
