Meet Our Staff!
Kevin Lenane, Preschool Program Director
Kevin is the Newton South Preschool Program Director and the Family and Consumer Science Department Chair here at Newton South High School. Kevin has been a special education teacher with the Newton Public Schools since 1996. He worked ten years as a preschool teacher at the Newton Early Childhood Program from 1996-2005 and worked as an Inclusion Facilitator at Newton South High School for ten years. Kevin graduated from Assumption College in 1989 with a B.S. in Social and Rehabilitative Services. He earned an M.S.Ed. in Severe Special Needs from Simmons College in 1992 and an Ed.S. from Simmons in Special Education Administration in 2005. Kevin has been on the faculty at Simmons since 2005 teaching Assessment and Curriculum Development for Severely Impaired Learners and Inclusion Consultation and Collaboration. Kevin and his wife Christine own The Adams Street Early Learning Center in Milton MA. |
Nicole Maloney, Assistant Director/Early Childhood Ed Teacher
Nicole is thrilled to begin her Fifteenth year with the the Newton South Preschool. Nicole worked as a lead teacher for thirteen years and is now teaching all of our high school early childhood education classes and works as the assistant director of the preschool. She earned her M.Ed. in Special Education with a focus in Early Childhood from Boston University in 2013. In 2007, she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Hartford. Nicole believes that providing a positive and nurturing experience during the first years of school can lead to a life-long love of learning. She adds, “There is nothing I love more than encouraging and guiding a child’s first school experiences and supporting developmental growth and successes.” Nicole is a mother to Abigail who is a student at the NSHS Preschool. Nicole also enjoys practicing yoga, visiting the beautiful beaches on Cape Cod, and spending time with her family, including their dog, Sasha. |
Jilleen Songin, Lead Teacher of the Hedgehog Classroom
This is Jilleen’s third year as a lead teacher with the Newton South Preschool. She has been working at the program for five years. Jilleen graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2016 with a B.S. degree in Human Development and Family Studies. Jilleen began working with preschoolers during her sophomore year at the University of Rhode Island's Child Development Center. she is currently working on her masters degree in special education Jilleen is passionate about working with young children and early childhood education. She believes that children learn through play, as well as by exploring and questioning the world around them. Jilleen uses a positive approach to teaching that supports each child’s individual developmental needs. In her spare time Jilleen enjoys spending time with friends and family, going to the beach (in every season), painting and drawing, and listening to music! |