About Us
Christine Heer, M.Ed., Sprouts Director
With over twenty five years of experience as an educator in many different capacities, Christine Heer brings her heart and soul into her teaching. She respects every child’s innate ability to learn at their own pace and in their own way. Her nurturing guidance began at Rainbow’s End Child Development Center in Salt Point, New York. During her time at Rainbow’s End she earned her Masters degree in Education.
After she married in 1990, Christine, her husband Tom and their children lived in Germany for four years. There she saw how her daughter flourished in a German Kindergarten, especially on Waldtag - a day spent entirely in the forest. This was not the start of Christine’s passion for bringing children outside to learn through play- her own childhood in rural upstate New York provided the unique back drop of forest and fields learning experiences and connection and respect for life that only the Earth offers.
Christine returned to work in 2010 at Dover Nursery School. Christine was also accepted into the first cohort for a post Master’s Degree program at UMass., Boston in 2013 where she immersed herself in current research, policy and practice in early childhood education.
Christine continued her pursuit of loving the land as a volunteer at Powisset Farm in Dover, Massachusetts. She is a member of the Powisset Education Program Committee and assists at workshops and festivals. Christine is also an avid hobby naturalist (a facilitator for Project Wild!, Mass. Wildlife), environmentalist, gardener, composter and recycler. She believes it is imperative to pass these life skills along to future generations.
Christine also delights in all types of art and music, with a particular affinity for mosaics. She brings these elements into her home, to her family and to every classroom she has taught in, using innovative, fun and captivating ideas. She strives to bring her passion for Earth stewardship and the healthy development of all children to a wider audience as the next part of her teaching and learning journey unfolds.
Lisa Henderson, Sprouts Assistant Director
Lisa has adored and worked with children her whole life. Aside from nannying through college and raising her own kids, she has studied and trained in mindfulness, yoga, holistic health and energy medicine with a focus on supporting children and families with managing overwhelm and stress.
Lisa left her career as Telecommunications Manager at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston in 1997 to stay home with her kids. Lisa and her husband Bill decided to homeschool as their oldest son was finishing preschool and they were looking for options that allowed him to continue to be “the curious and imaginative learner he was." Lisa homeschooled all 3 of her kids until 8th grade. 'Homeschooling gave me the opportunity to watch my own and other children thrive and learn at their own pace, driven by their curiosity, and often out in nature.' Her homeschooling experience included a co-op where Lisa taught nature-based science classes, Spanish and more to 4-7 year old kids.
Prior to opening Sprouts, Lisa volunteered as a Playspace Activities Leader (PAL) in a preschool classroom at the Horizons for Homeless Children Putnum Children's Care Center in Jamaica Plain for 2 years, where she had the pleasure of sharing many of her passions (gardening/nature, mindfulness, baking, reading, hugs!) with the children in her class.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing, is married and lives in Dover, MA with their 3 children.
Lisa left her career as Telecommunications Manager at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston in 1997 to stay home with her kids. Lisa and her husband Bill decided to homeschool as their oldest son was finishing preschool and they were looking for options that allowed him to continue to be “the curious and imaginative learner he was." Lisa homeschooled all 3 of her kids until 8th grade. 'Homeschooling gave me the opportunity to watch my own and other children thrive and learn at their own pace, driven by their curiosity, and often out in nature.' Her homeschooling experience included a co-op where Lisa taught nature-based science classes, Spanish and more to 4-7 year old kids.
Prior to opening Sprouts, Lisa volunteered as a Playspace Activities Leader (PAL) in a preschool classroom at the Horizons for Homeless Children Putnum Children's Care Center in Jamaica Plain for 2 years, where she had the pleasure of sharing many of her passions (gardening/nature, mindfulness, baking, reading, hugs!) with the children in her class.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing, is married and lives in Dover, MA with their 3 children.