Meet Our Staff
Birgitta Breen
"The Tree House is a very nurturing, caring environment where the children are always first. It is a very happy, supportive place to work and play!"
Birgitta Breen has been a teacher at The Tree House for 10 years and has been teaching the three year olds with Debbie Zettlemoyer for the past 7 years. Her two sons, aged 19 and 17, began at The Tree House at ages 4 and two and a half, and attended until they went into Kindergarten! Birgitta enjoys playing games with the children, and she marvels that kids have a natural ability to make anything a game! This is congruent with Birgitta's own teaching philosophy, which contends that we all learn through play and it is possible to have fun while learning!
Birgitta lives in Basking Ridge with her husband and two sons. In her free time, Birgitta is passionate about riding horses.
Moira Bontempi
"The Tree House is a very warm place and our classroom is a very nurturing environment. It is a place where the parents can feel secure because their children feel happy and safe being here!"
A teacher of three year olds for 13 years, Moira Bontempi is known for being full of fun, experience, and as someone who welcomes an open relationship with the parents. Not only does Moira enjoy the joys experienced in her own classroom - she also revels in taking part in special activities which involve the entire school and classes of all ages. Moira currently teaches both the two year old and three year old classes.
Moira lives in Basking Ridge with her husband, John and their two dachshunds, Truman and Tess. They also have two children: Gabbie, a sophomore in college and Zach, a junior at Ridge High School.
Lesley Borup
"I always want to make sure the children are having fun and that they want to come back every day! Children should enjoy being children!"
Lesley Borup has been teaching at The Tree House for nearly 16 years, mainly with the four year olds. She currently shares a classroom with Tracy Paul. Lesley believes that The Tree House is like a home away from home for the children. For this reason, she strives to create a warm and comfortable environment in her classroom where the children feel safe and loved, and where the parents feel welcomed. She believes in balance in the classroom as well, and recognizes that there is a time for structure and a time for flexibility when it comes to playing and learning.
Lesley lives in Morristown with her husband, Scott. Her hobbies are cooking, exercising, reading, and working on projects around the house. She also loves to travel and see new places!
Megan Falduto
"Our main goal as teachers is for the parents to drop off a happy child and to pick up a happy child."
Megan Falduto has been teaching two and three year old classes at The Tree House for fifteen years. She knows the importance of making the preschool years a great experience for the children so that they will enjoy going to school. "Each year is a preparation for the following year and each skill learned is a building block for a life skill." Megan has been described by her longtime teaching colleague, Moira Bontempi as "very creative and artistic, loving, and always FUN!"
Megan lives in Basking Ridge with her husband, Doug, her three children and their two dogs. She loves to bake, go to the beach and spend time with her family!
Lisa Fitzgerald
"The 4 Plus class gives children that extra year they sometimes need to make sure they have learned what they need to feel ready when they go to school."
Lisa Fitzgerald, who teaches the 4 Plus class with Carol Torr, has been teaching at The Tree House for 26 years! In fact, her son, now 30 years old, was a student at The Tree House! Lisa focuses on the children's sense of self-esteem, and encourages self confidence through problem solving, independent work and cooperative activities. Mostly, Lisa believes in motivating by giving lots of praise and encouragement and even clapping for a job well done!!
Lisa lives in Morristown with her husband and poodle, Kelby.
Joanne Loya
"If it isn't in their hands, it isn't in their brains."
This is one teaching philosophy of Joanne Loya, a seasoned teacher of the two and a half and three year olds, with 24 years experience at The Tree House. Known for coming up with creative ideas, Joanne's goal is to foster learning through fun activities where the children are encouraged to be proud of their own creations! Joanne and her co-teacher, Lynn Wolf, encourage independent learning and exploration in all areas. Their goal is for the students to come to school in the morning with a smile as they look forward to starting their day, and leave in their parent's arms with a smile, satisfied and content from a day filled with joy, laughter and a renewed sense of self-worth.
Joanne lives in Basking Ridge with her husband Joe. Joanne has four grown children and is the proud grandmother of two girls and one boy. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, taking walks and going to the beach.
Mary Beth Preston
"I enjoy seeing the children have fun. Of course they have to follow rules for their safety and protection. But I think play is so important."
Mary Beth Preston, currently a part of the afternoon staff of The Tree House, has a long history with The Tree House, having been a teacher's assistant for the 3&4 year olds and the Bridge Class from 1990-1996 After realizing how much she missed the children during a twelve-year hiatus, Mary Beth has returned to The Tree House which she has described as "a wonderful, fun place to work". She finds it fascinating to spend time with the children as they navigate their social environments, develop their creativity and learn to negotiate and interact with others.
Mary Beth raised her grown family - 1 daughter and 2 sons - in Basking Ridge with her husband, Bill. They now live in Morristown, and enjoy spending time in New York City, taking in dinner and theater.
Carol Torr
"Our environment is a very loving and accepting one."
Carol Torr, who co-teaches the Bridge class with Lisa Fitzgerald, has been a teacher at The Tree House for 14 years!! Carol is known for her kindness and compassionate heart for all those she encounters - parents, children and colleagues alike. Laughter can often be heard emanating from her classroom, and Carol believes it's important to laugh often and have fun. A sense of humor is an essential tool in instilling the kids with a sense of self worth. So is the ability to admit mistakes: "We as teachers admit every mistake we make, so the children learn it's ok to make mistakes, admit them, and grow from them."
Carol lives in Basking Ridge with her husband, Mike. She has two grown children-Michael and Steven -and two cats and a dog! When she's not at the Tree House, Carol is busy gardening, cooking and reading!
Lynn Wolf
"The time spent at Treehouse is a basis for the rest of their education. We want to foster good feelings as they proceed into any school situation."
Lynn Wolf has been a teacher at The Tree House for 11 years, most of that time spent teaching the two and a half and three year olds with Joanne Loya. Flexibility is an essential part of Lynn's teaching philosophy and Lynn knows that sometimes the best laid lesson plans may need to be altered to go along with the flow of the classroom. She and teaching partner, Joanne Loya, are very aware of the queues they receive from the children themselves and lovingly adapt to make every day the best day ever!
Lynn resides in Bernardsville with her three children and husband, Darin. In her free time, Lynn is very involved with animals and horseback riding. The family pet, Ryan, a charming pit bull mix, is a rescue dog from one of the organizations of which Lynn is a devoted volunteer.
Debbie Zettlemoyer
"The little ones are just so loving, they can't wait to play and do their projects first thing in the morning. This is a good job for me."
Debbie Zettlemoyer is a seasoned teacher, having taught at The Tree House since 1996!! While she adores the playful nature of the children in her care, Debbie also recognizes the importance of them being able to make their own simple decisions. The time in the 3s class, which she shares with Birgitta Breen, is filled with games and fun, warmth and love.
When Debbie is not in the classroom, she enjoys being a grandma to her wonderful grandchildren, Mya (9) and Andrew (14).