Faculty & Staff

Office Staff
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Kathy Sweetland
Director 
director@fairwindlearningcenter.com

This is Kathy’s first year in the director position. She has been with Fairwind since its inception and has taught in all four of the Fairwind classrooms. Kathy’s experience and knowledge of all of our programs, in addition to her experience teaching Kindergarten, allow her to effectively support all of our families and staff as they learn and grow. She looks forward to continuing Fairwind’s traditions while maintaining current best practice.

Teaching has been a calling of Kathy’s for as long as she can remember. A graduate of Dartmouth College, she began her career teaching kindergarten in public school in Basking Ridge, NJ. While there, she was a grade level leader and a mentor teacher. After moving to Massachusetts, Kathy spent time teaching kindergarten in private schools, including an anti-bias school in Arlington, MA.  When Kathy started her family, she took some time to be home with her children and then spent three years working in Fairwind’s TK classroom. She worked as an assistant in the toddler classroom and most recently co-taught a Preschool I class with Lacey Blaisdell in 2022-23. She is passionate about helping children develop self-confidence and a love of learning. She also believes in fostering a partnership with parents and enjoys celebrating students’ successes with their families.

​​​​​​​Kathy and her husband have lived in Marblehead for over 14 years and have two sons in middle school. She enjoys boating, tennis, skiing, knitting, reading and cooking with her family. She loves teaching within Marblehead’s community and having the opportunity to see students grow over the years.​​​​​​​

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Anne Tassel-Todisco
Office Manager
​fairwind@fairwindlearningcenter.com

Anne Tassel-Todisco has worked as the Office Manager at Fairwind since 2015. She is a native Marbleheader who still resides in her hometown. Anne attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she earned a degree in Early Childhood Education and Human Services. She feels very lucky to be able to work in such a bright, beautiful school and loves the connections she makes with the children and their families. Anne worked in the medical field for most of her professional life, first as an administrative assistant at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and later as a medical transcriptionist and biller at a busy North Shore medical practice for 22 years. ​​​​​​​

She has two wonderful children; a son who lives in New York City and a daughter who recently graduated from Boston University. Anne is an avId badminton and pickleball player and also enjoys photography.


Our Toddler Team 
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Lacey Blaisdell

Toddler Lead Teacher

lacey@fairwindlearningcenter.com


Lacey holds her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College in Boston. She has taught a variety of ages, from toddlers to first grade. While pursuing her Master’s, she worked at a private preschool in Newton MA, teaching children ages 2-5. After graduation, she taught kindergarten for 6 years in the Chelsea Public Schools.  Lacey then spent a few years at home raising her 3 kids, Harry, Keller, and Eloise.  Once her youngest was in school full time, she started teaching at Fairwind in the first Toddler classroom.   Last year Lacey co-taught both a preschool I and toddler class. She believes the most important part of your child’s first school experiences are creating a lifelong love of learning in a safe, creative environment.

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Kathy Sweetland 

Toddler Assistant Teacher



Teaching has been a calling of Kathy’s for as long as she can remember. A graduate of Dartmouth College, she began her career teaching kindergarten in public school in Basking Ridge, NJ. While there, she was a grade level leader and a mentor teacher. After moving to Massachusetts, Kathy spent time teaching kindergarten in private schools, including an anti-bias school in Arlington, MA.  When Kathy started her family, she took some time to be home with her children and then spent three years working in Fairwind’s TK classroom. She worked as an assistant in the toddler classroom and most recently co-taught a Preschool I class with Lacey Blaisdell in 2022-23. She is passionate about helping children develop self-confidence and a love of learning. She also believes in fostering a partnership with parents and enjoys celebrating students’ successes with their families.

Kathy and her husband have lived in Marblehead for over 14 years and have two sons in middle school. She enjoys boating, tennis, skiing, knitting, reading and cooking with her family. She loves teaching within Marblehead’s community and having the opportunity to see students grow over the years.

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Our Preschool I Team


Gail Rowe
Toddler & Preschool I Lead Teacher 

Gail has worked for Fairwind for the past six years. She has developed and led both our Preschool l and Toddler programs and worked as a substitute teacher prior to joining our staff. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education as well as an associate degree in Infant/Toddler Care. She worked with young children and their families in an Early Intervention program while perusing her degree. Gail spent several years teaching in the Lynn Public School system at the Pre-K level. She relishes the opportunity to provide young children with opportunities to learn in a safe and nurturing environment and to discover their world.




Ann Mauriello 
Preschool I Assistant Teacher
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Ann Mauriello joined the teaching team of Fairwind Learning Center in 2022.  She has both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education from Salem State University.  She has spent almost twenty years teaching this age group and she continues to look for new teaching ideas and activities to bring into the classroom to engage young learners and bring out their natural curiosity about the world.

When she is not teaching, Ann enjoys taking walks, baking, reading, and spending time with her three grown children and husband. 



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Franny Spitaleri
Preschool I Assistant Teacher​

Franny Spitaleri joined Fairwind Learning Center in September 2021. Prior to joining the Fairwind team, she spent time as a paraprofessional in the Revere Public Schools and has years of experience in independent childcare. She has a passion for working with young children. Franny is the mother of two and the proud Grandmother of three (1 FLC alum). In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and walking the beautiful North Shore beaches. 

 

Our Preschool II Team

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Sophie Roch Piersol
Preschool II Lead Teacher​ 

Sophie Piersol has been a preschool teacher for 20 years, and the Preschool II Lead Teacher at FLC since it opened in 2015. She holds a degree in Early Childhood Education and certifications as a teacher and a director. Sophie previously worked as a preschool teacher in a local learning center and was the owner of a small in-home French Early Childhood Program named "Un Jardin d'Enfants."​​​​​​​

Each day, Sophie encourages exploration, creativity, independence, and respect for one another. She believes that children learn actively by having hands-on experiences with their surroundings. Her classroom supports learning through consistent daily routines, which reflect and build upon the children's ideas and interests. Her philosophy has always been "play to learn and learn to play." Sophie understands the importance and value of involving parents in her classroom, where families have opportunities to share their unique knowledge and create positive relationships.

Sophie is French Canadian originally from Montreal, Canada. She lives locally with her husband, three children, and two rescue dogs.



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Linda Carroll 
Preschool II Assistant Teacher​

From the time she played school in her basement with young friends until today, Linda has always had a passion for teaching children of all ages. She was a tennis, swimming, and drama camp counselor and Director of Counselor-In-Training program at Rivers Day Camp. She graduated from Bates College with a B.A. in Biology and taught 7th and 9th grade science. When her children were young, she worked at the Bell School, Middle School, Eveleth and Glover Schools as a school secretary and Kindergarten Paraprofessional, after working for 5 years with the Boston Celtics. The past two years she was a Teacher Assistant in a four year old classroom at a private school in Lynnfield.  After she became an empty nester, she was a nanny after school for 5 wonderful families in Marblehead for the past 13 years. 

Linda and her husband and have lived in Marblehead for 34 years.  Their son and daughter both got married recently and they live near each other in VA.  Linda enjoys playing tennis, golf, traveling and vacations with family at Lake Winnipesaukee.             

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Debbie Leibowitz
Preschool II Assistant Teacher​

Debbie Leibowitz knew from the age of 4 that she wanted to be a teacher, and years later she continues living out that dream! She is a graduate of Salem State College/University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Early Childhood Education and is Director II certified by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. She has been a local early childhood educator and preschool assistant director and is constantly creating exciting enrichment classes for children at school and in the community. Debbie’s intent is to always challenge and motivate children to not only enjoy their learning, but she tailors her teaching so her students can take their learning ‘out into the real world’, making it all meaningful to them.

One favorite part of her teaching life is when she sees children from her classes at local places like ice cream shops, beaches, playgrounds, community events, and they smile, hug, and chat about the different things they ‘have learned together’! 

Debbie and her husband, Len, grew up in Marblehead and still reside here. Having raised 3 children, they are now in the Lucky Grandparent Club with their 6 grandchildren!                                 

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Our Transitional Kindergarten Team

Lydia Gilman
Transitional Kindergarten Lead Teacher

Lydia Gilman holds her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and is currently completing her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and Creative Arts at Lesley University. This is Lydia’s third year teaching TK at Fairwind Learning Center. Lydia taught at Tower School in the Pre-Kindergarten classroom for six years before joining Fairwind and also worked as a special education paraprofessional in the Beverly School District.  Lydia loves teaching this age group and witnessing the children’s genuine curiosity as they learn, grow, and explore. She readily uses her training in the Responsive Classroom approach to create a joyful and engaging classroom community with an emphasis on social-emotional learning to build students’ academic skills. When Lydia is not happily teaching, she enjoys being active outside in all seasons and spending time with her husband, her six-year-old son, and overly excited Goldendoodle.




Christina DiRuzza
Transitional Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
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Christina DiRuzza joined the Fairwind Team in 2021.  Christina holds her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Salem State University.  Prior to working at Fairwind she was Lead Infant Teacher at the Lynch Van Otterloo YMCA Early Learning Center.  Christina has also served as Dance Studio Director and Teacher for young children at Lisa’s Dance Studio in Marblehead.  She is a certified Infant, Toddler and Preschool Teacher through Massachusetts Early Education and Care.  Christina loves teaching this age group and enjoys seeing young children develop and grow into curious and excited learners.  





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