Little IvyLearning Academy

Our teachers

The people your child will come to know.

A small school lives or dies by its teachers. Ours are experienced early-childhood educators — many from right here in the Wilbraham public schools — chosen as carefully as the families who join us.

Portrait of Nicole Disa, founder and director of Little Ivy, smiling in a garden of coneflowers.

Nicole Disa

Founder, Owner & Director

Meet our founder

Led by Ms. Nicole.

Nicole Disa grew up in early childhood education — her mother owned and operated a well-respected Massachusetts preschool for more than 25 years. Nicole began her career there, teaching preschool and later leading a private kindergarten classroom, and went on to serve as Assistant Director.

She then spent years teaching kindergarten, first, and second grade in the Wilbraham public schools, so she knows exactly what children need to walk in confident on their first day. She founded Little Ivy to give that same start, with the play-based balance the early years deserve.

Read Ms. Nicole’s full story

The teaching team

Meet our founding teachers.

Alongside Ms. Nicole, these are the teachers who greet your child each morning. Here they are, in their own words.

  • Portrait of Ms. Carrie, a Little Ivy teacher, smiling outdoors in front of green foliage.

    Ms. Carrie

    Teacher

    Ms. Carrie brings more than 15 years of working with young children and their families, most recently as a Special Education Paraprofessional in the district’s elementary classrooms. She’s also a mom of four.

    Read more about Ms. Carrie

    Hi, I’m Carrie! I’m so excited to welcome you and your family. For over 15 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with young children and their families, and I truly can’t imagine doing anything else. Helping children learn and discover the world around them has always been my passion.

    As a Special Education Paraprofessional working in the district, I have worked in the elementary classrooms, supporting children with a wide range of learning styles and abilities. Those experiences taught me the importance of patience, kindness, flexibility, and celebrating each child’s unique strengths.

    I’m also a mom of four, so I know how important it is to find a preschool where your child feels loved and excited to come each day. My hope is that when you walk through the doors, your child feels loved and supported at Little Ivy.

    I can’t wait to meet you and your little one and welcome you to our community!

  • Portrait of Ms. McKenna, a Little Ivy teacher, smiling outdoors in front of green foliage.

    Ms. McKenna

    Teacher

    Ms. McKenna holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Roger Williams University and brings hands-on preschool experience, from teacher assistant at Paper Crown Preschool to one-on-one paraprofessional at Green Meadows.

    Read more about Ms. McKenna

    Hello, I’m McKenna, and I could not be more excited to be joining the Little Ivy team! I recently earned my Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Roger Williams University, and I have always had a passion for working with young children to support their learning and development.

    My many years of experience in education have allowed me to work with children in a variety of settings. During my time at Roger Williams, I worked as a teacher assistant at Paper Crown Preschool, where I helped create engaging learning experiences and encouraged independence through play. I have also worked as a substitute teacher at Green Meadows Elementary School, where I supported students across different grade levels and classrooms. I gained a lot of great experience at Green Meadows, which led me to my most recent position as a one-on-one paraprofessional in preschool, also at Green Meadows. In this position, I provided individualized academic, social, and emotional support to help students thrive throughout the school day.

    These experiences have most definitely strengthened my passion for early childhood education. I believe every child deserves to feel excited to learn, and I hope to create a positive environment where each child can grow with confidence.

    I am looking forward to getting to know all of the children and families who join us at Little Ivy, and I am excited for a fun-filled year of learning, laughter, and growth together!

Our hiring standard

Chosen the way we’d choose for our own children.

Every teacher at Little Ivy is a fully qualified early-childhood educator who shares our belief that the early years should be warm, unhurried, and full of wonder. We hire for the same things we hope to grow in children: kindness, curiosity, patience, and genuine delight in the work.

Because our classes are small, our teachers can do what larger rooms cannot — truly know each child, and build the day around what they see. If you share that calling, we’d love to hear from you.

Teaching at Little Ivy

Come meet us

Give your littlest learner a curated start.

The best way to know whether a school is right for your child is to stand in it. Book a visit, walk the rooms, and picture your littlest learner here.

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