Who we are
We are a small family cooperative preschool, offering programs during the school year for children aged 3 to 5 years. Residents of any town are welcome. We are NAEYC accredited and earned 5 STARS and are a preapproved PreK Partner. Our school has highly skilled and experienced teachers and is overseen by a volunteer board of directors.
Children
Shelburne Nursery School serves children ages 3 to 5. Children must be 3 years old by September 1 for the program. Children who turn 3 between September 1 and December 31 may be considered if space allows. If the program is not full by May 1, these children may register and join the class when they turn 3.
Family Cooperative
Family involvement plays a large role in a child's educational success.
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Shelburne Nursery School is a cooperative and therefore relies on families to help in as many ways as possible. Although our teachers develop the curriculum and teach all classes, all families are a part of the organization and administration of the school. This allows for the opportunity to play an important role in a child's first school experience.
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Each family agrees to our Co-Op Responsibilities and Expectations which are:
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Assisting at one Cleaning Day (August or June)
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Cleaning the school two weekends throughout the school year
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Helping with fundraisers
By cooperating together, all families will contribute to Shelburne Nursery School's on-going success. We offer a safe, fun and enriching environment thanks to your time and effort.
We sincerely appreciate your future assistance in the education experience of our children.
Faculty
Director
Sheri Hill, BS
Sheri's Shelburne Nursery School experience began in a volunteer capacity. She served as Fundraising Coordinator and President of the School Board while her daughters attended.
After serving on the board at, Sheri started as a substitute teacher and was hired as an assistant teacher in 2008. Today, she serves as the program director overseeing the daily operations of the program.
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​She currently holds a Professional Educators License with an endorsement in Early Childhood Education. Her ​
In her spare time, she enjoys time with her family, being near the water and playing Pickleball!
Sheri resides in Colchester with her husband, Shawn. They have two adult daughters, Rachel and Anna.
Head Teacher
Rachel James, BS
Rachel enjoys being outside, hiking, bird watching, running, snowboarding, swimming, all those fun things. She got her start “teaching” at Camp Hochelaga. She fell in love with environmental education by teaching the campers all that she had learned in school that year. From there she helped out at Ascension Childcare for a little bit and fell in love with the natural curiosity of young children. She was one of their toddler teachers for about 5 years and loved every second of it. She stretched her wings by becoming a behavioral interventionist at the Orchard Elementary School EEE program, where she learned valuable lessons with young children with special needs. She enjoyed that so much that she is actually back at school seeking her early childhood special education initial license.
Rachel likes to think that she takes on Ms. Frizzle’s philosophy when it comes to teaching: “Take Chances, Make Mistakes, and GET MESSY!” She will be there right along side your kids getting as messy as they are, laughing and getting excited as they discover something new. The curiosity of a child cannot be beat, and she wants to help scaffold their learning and take it to the next level.
Rachel and her husband Derek both love to explore with their dog, Kingsley as well as travel. If you need some travel pointers just ask, she would love to help, it would have been her back up plan if she didn’t fall in love with teaching.
Lead Teacher
Kim Stevens, BA
Kim joined the staff at Shelburne Nursery School in the Fall of 2016. Prior to that she was a substitute teacher at the Shelburne Nursery School and The Shelburne Community School, as well as working in the Early Essential Education Pre School classroom at the Shelburne Community School.
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She believes strongly in the values and educational approach that is promoted by Shelburne Nursery School.
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Her three children attended SNS and during that time Kim volunteered in the classroom and served on the Board of Directors.
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As a parent, educator, coach and playgroup facilitator Kim is creative, resourceful and flexible. Before working in the schools Kim was active in promoting a public health approach to child sexual abuse prevention, and continues to support such efforts.
Kim and her husband enjoy attending many of the extra curricular activities and events that their children participate in. They also like spending their time walking, skiing or paddling around our community, you are likely to cross paths with them one day.
Assistant Teacher
Susan Bokelberg, BS
Susan joined our staff in 2020 after teaching for ten years at another local preschool. She has her Bachelor of Science from Clarkson University (Chemical Engineering) and earned her CDA credential in 2013.
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When not teaching, Susan enjoys playing soccer, skiing, hiking and reading. Her favorite thing to do is spend time with her family! She lives in Colchester with her husband Eric and her 2 cats, Fritz and Benny. They have 3 adult children Ethan, Evan and Sarah.
Assistant Teacher
Julie Thompson, BA/MA
Julie first experienced the wonderful community of Shelburne Nursery School when her older child attended in 2019. She went on to join the SNS Board when her second child attended and in the 2024-2025 school year became a regular substitute teacher. Julie is thrilled to have joined SNS as an Assistant Teacher after nearly 10 years of being a stay at home parent to her two kids. She hopes to help other kids and families joyfully step into learning and community when they come to SNS, just as she did and her children did.
Julie earned her BA in English and French at Middlebury College in 2024, and her Master's in English Literature at UNH in 2010. In 2015, she completed teacher licensure in elementary education through the Graduate Education program at St. Michael's College. Julie loves building relationships with students and helping them feel comfortable, connected and engaged with learning.
She and her family love reading books and making up silly stories together, taking nature walks, and exploring Shelburne Museum and other cultural treasurers.
Emily Dem,psey
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Board Members
President
Kiri Iovu
Vice President
Becky Chiaravelotti
Secretary
Madeline Wilson
Treasurer
Jessie Toto
Community Outreach
Al
Alia Liberatore