Our teachers
Hi I'm Cathie the proud owner of Courtyard! Before entering the childcare business, I was a high end esthetician in downtown Boston. Although I loved the hustle and bustle of working in Boston and getting to know my clients, there always seemed to be something missing for me. Growing up I always dreamed of being a mom. Thirty four years ago when my oldest son Brian was born, not only did my dream of becoming a mom come true, but it also uncovered a passion of working with young children that I didn't know I had.
I began Courtyard simply as an opportunity to stay home and care for my three young children. Courtyard started just as any other in home daycare; in my home! As both my own kiddos and the daycare kiddos grew, so did the business and my passion for creating a safe nurturing environment for children to create explore and grow.
When the opportunity arose to again continue to grow Courtyard I couldn't resist. Purchasing the house two doors down has allowed the opportunity to open our preschool program, lead by my daughter (despite how many times I told her she wouldn't want to work with her mommy). Since a young age I have watched the spark in my daughter Megan's eye shine brighter and brighter each day she works with these children and it has been such a wonderful blessing being able to work with her to grow this Courtyard Family
Hi I'm Megan not only am I the Director here at Courtyard but I am also Cathie's daughter! Having a family child care business in my home growing up I was given many opportunities to not only assist my mom in teaching, but also observe her and the love and joy she constantly brings to children's faces. As I grew up I continued to feel a growing love for teaching children and knew this was the path I was meant to go down. I earned my bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from Keene State College before moving back home to join and help expand the family business. I live here in Dedham with my husband Mike and our daughter Addie. Living two doors down from my mom and where I grew up has given me a unique perspective on fun places to explore not only with my own little family but also with my ever growing Courtyard family!
Hello I'm Martha. I'm originally from Bogota, Colombia, where I earned my degree and stared my career in the business world. As a designer I was visiting families at home to help them to decorate their house (my favorite room was always their children’s room) I’ve been helping others ever since.
In 2006, I decided to devoted myself to working full-time with young children. I stared as a nanny and tried hard to bring love, joy and energy into all the homes where I worked. Over the years, I’ve worked with families across Needham, Newton & Dedham. Because I am fully bilingual I’ve led programming in both English and Spanish, including full immersion at request of multiple families. I got my EEC teacher licenses in March, 2018. I continue my education in child development and I got my CDA in June 2022.
As a mother, and grandmother, I cherish every child’s uniqueness, and I treat each child as they were my own because I know how precious they are.
Helping families raise their children is not a job for me, it is truly my calling. I have always enjoyed, the lightness and silliness that children bring to life. I admire how the curiosity of child’s mind can bring everything into perspective and help us to see things differently. I truly cherish the wonder and magic children bring with them everywhere they go.