Our experienced teachers give their hearts and souls to guide and encourage children through carefully planned activities that allow them to develop at their own ideal rate. Many of the tree house teachers and staff have been part of our school for ten years with many over 15 years. We offer a very stable environment and consistency for your children. Our teachers receive ongoing, extensive training, and all are certified in First Aid and CPR.
In addition to the changes in the classroom, the teachers have also had extensive training in ‘The Creative Curriculum’. All of our teachers have dedicated two of their days off to professional development. The Tree House sponsored a two-day seminar on the implementation of ‘The Creative Curriculum’ taught by a trained Creative Curriculum staff developer. It was a chance for the teachers to come together, share ideas and learn how to take what they already know and apply it to our new curriculum. The teachers not only learned about the curriculum, but they also learned more about current research on brain development and its implications on early childhood education. It was a great educational experience for all!
“It’s so important for each and every child to develop a love of learning from the very beginning. That’s our job – to make sure each child loves school.”
Jen has served as Director of The Tree House since 2011. With a background in early childhood education, she previously taught Kindergarten and first grade and worked as a professional developer with the Children’s Literacy Initiative in Philadelphia. Her connection to The Tree House began in 2008 when her son enrolled, leading her from Board member to Director just a few years later.
Under Jen’s leadership, The Tree House has embraced The Creative Curriculum, reinforcing the importance of play-based learning and inspiring children to explore, question, and engage with the world around them. She is especially proud that The Tree House has achieved accreditation through Grow NJ Kids, a reflection of the school’s commitment to quality and excellence.
Jen is thankful for the dedication and hard work of all of her staff. She knows that it is the teachers who interact with the children each and every day and is grateful for the differences that they make in each child’s life. It is the work of the staff, the participation of the parents and the children who make The Tree House the special place that it is today.
Donna is delighted to be back at Tree House, teaching in the 4’s classroom alongside Stephanie Cutting. Before starting her family, she taught 1st and 2nd grade for nearly a decade in the Caldwell/West Caldwell School District. Each summer, Donna shares her passion for literacy by teaching reading and writing to K–2 students, bringing her fun-loving, caring, and encouraging personality to every lesson and inspiring a lifelong love of learning.
She earned her B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Kean University and holds certification to teach Pre-K through 8th grade. She also loves expanding her knowledge and regularly participates in professional development opportunities in early literacy to keep her teaching fresh and effective.
Donna and her husband, Steve, have been married for 28 years and live in Berkeley Heights. They are proud parents of two children: Kate, a graduate of the University of Connecticut who is currently pursuing her master’s in Speech-Language Pathology at Montclair State University, and Chris, a sophomore at Penn State studying Data Science.
In her free time, Donna enjoys relaxing with family, friends (and her lovable cockapoo, Maggie), watching funny animal videos, listening to music, and spending time at the beach.
“I strive to make school a place where children have fun, feel excited to learn and can’t wait to come back each day.
Lesley Borup has been teaching at The Tree House for nearly 29 years, mainly with the four year olds. She currently shares a classroom with Carol Pietro. Lesley believes that school should be a place where children feel safe, loved and free to express themselves as part of a caring community. In her classroom, she creates a warm, supportive environment where learning is both fun and structured, helping children build the skills they need for success. She also values strong partnerships with families and encourages parent participation, knowing that when we work together, our children thrive.
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!
“I believe that children learn best in a nurturing, caring environment where they feel safe, happy, and secure.”
Phoebe Crane has been part of The Tree House family since 2013, and has served as a Lead 3-year-old teacher since 2014. She feels that the most important characteristic of The Tree House is its openly structured, well-organized atmosphere, always partnered with kindness and caring. Phoebe works hard to bring that same balance of structure and warmth into her own classroom, creating a space where children can thrive, explore, and feel valued.
Phoebe is a mother of 2, and lives in Basking Ridge with her family. She currently also has two dogs and a cat, which keep her busy in her spare time! She enjoys cooking, hiking and reading.
“Every day is a new adventure and a new opportunity to see these little ones learn.”
Stephanie has been with The Tree House as a teacher for 12 years. Prior to that, Stephanie was a Tree House parent as both of her children attended The Tree House. Stephanie works with Donna Bond-Nelson in a 4 year old classroom. She holds a BA in Art Education for grades K-12 and enjoys bringing her art experience to the classroom. Stephanie is dedicated to her students and is grateful that she can share in the joy of laughing and learning together.
Stephanie lives in Basking Ridge with her husband, Tim,and two children, Sally and Charlie. In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys taking sports photos, gardening, cooking and volunteering at her church.
“Every student can learn. Just not on the same day or in the same way.” – George Evans
Carol Hipsher has been a 4s teacher with The Tree House since 2012. Carol believes in creating a heart-centered classroom where children learn through play, creativity and kindness. She takes the time to learn each child’s method of learning and incorporates that into their everyday classroom experience.
Carol received her BA in Sociology/Social Work from Albright College. She is also a certified children’s yoga instructor. Carol is passionate about bringing movement and mindfulness to kids and created an enrichment program, Peaceful Bee Yoga, with her Tree House teaching partner, Jennine McCue.
Basking Ridge is the hometown for Carol and her husband Jake and they have loved raising their son Tate and spit fire pup, Mazy here. Tate is currently a graduate student at Georgetown University.
In her spare time, Carol enjoys anything outdoors with family and friends, sports, gardening, and cooking.
“There needs to be a lot more emphasis on what a child can do instead of what he cannot do.” ~ Dr. Temple Grandin
Laura Kelly enjoys working with the 2s with Christina Rutz. Prior to The Tree House, Laura taught preschool students with and without special needs in the public schools. She is a certified teacher who holds a BA from Rutgers University and a Master’s in Early Childhood Special Education from Montclair State University.
Laura believes it is our responsibility as teachers to provide a positive and caring learning environment that teaches every student and addresses all learning styles.
Laura Kelly lives in Basking Ridge with her husband Dale, children Evan and Maddy and fluffy Himalayan cat Stanley. In her spare time, Laura enjoys spending time with her family, going to the beach, and cooking.
“The most important quality a teacher should possess is patience. We need to be sensitive and listen to each child’s needs.”
Ellen Kolomatis joined the Tree House in 2001 as an assistant teacher in the 4-year old class with Lesley Borup. After earning her CDA and obtaining countless hours of professional development, Ellen is currently a lead teacher in the 4 Plus classroom with Shayne Parker. Her classroom is a fun environment where learning is a positive experience. As a teacher, Ellen prides herself on her positive attitude, patience and her dedication to ensure that each child is learning to his/her best ability.
Ellen lives in Basking Ridge with her husband, Greg. They have two married children David and Daniel. She enjoys spending time with all of her family, especially her grandson James. In her spare time, Ellen enjoys researching new and exciting activities for her classroom.
“I love that Tree House allows children to truly be children—learning through play in a loving, supportive environment.”
Alisa Larner became part of the Tree House family in 2009 as a parent with her three young children and returned in 2018 as a teacher. She was first drawn to Tree House for its creative environment and caring teachers, and she treasures the friendships and growth it gave her own children.
As a teacher, Alisa is passionate about creating a safe, nurturing classroom where children can explore, play, and learn with confidence.
Alisa lives in Basking Ridge with her husband, Kevin, their three children—Ben, Abby, and Caleb—and the family’s dog and cat. In her free time, she enjoys cheering on her kids at sporting events, volunteering with the Ridge Booster Club, cooking, reading, and spending summer days at the beach.
Shari Loria joined Tree House in 2018 as a substitute teacher and assistant in one of our enrichment classes, and is currently working in one of our 3-year-old classes. Before she worked at Tree House, both of Shari’s daughters attended our preschool as students. Her children had wonderful experiences at Tree House, and Shari is excited to share this joy of learning through play with new families and children that join the Tree House family.
Shari lives in Basking Ridge with her husband and their two daughters. In her free time, Shari enjoys spending time with her family, exercising and being outdoors.
Jennine will be returning for her ninth year as a teacher with The Tree House. Prior to that, Jennine was a Tree House parent for her 3 children! She holds a BA in English and an MA in English Literature from Seton Hall University. Jennine also has an MA in Education pending from Georgian Court College. She taught 1st grade in Metuchen prior to having kids. In her spare time, Jennine teaches Pilates and Barre classes. The Tree House children have the opportunity to enjoy Mrs. McCue’s knowledge of exercise and movement as she incorporates them in the classroom each day.
Jennine and her husband, Brian, have 3 children, Connor, Matt and Kate, and a spunky pup aptly named Scruffy. They live in Basking Ridge and love to vacation at the beach.
“I am committed to creating a caring, supportive classroom community that values the unique contributions of each child.”
Shayne Parker has been working at The Tree House as an assistant teacher since 2019. Shayne is excited to join Ellen Kolomatis for her 7th year in the Four Plus classroom. She shares Ellen’s commitment to bringing a positive attitude, patience and dedication to the growth and development of each member of the Four Plus class.
Shayne earned both her undergraduate and Master’s Degree from Rutgers University. Shayne worked for over 25 years with Fortune 500 companies developing child care programs, including on-site child care centers, child care consortiums and back-up child care centers throughout the United States.
Shayne lives in Basking Ridge. Outside the classroom she enjoys spending time with her husband, four daughters and extended family. She also enjoys travelling, watching college football, gardening, skiing, swimming and walking her dogs.
Carol teaches 4-year-olds with Lesley Borup in the Fireside classroom. She first joined the Tree House community as a parent from 2006 through 2011, and her experience raising her own three children shaped the way she views teaching and life. She holds an undergraduate degree in accounting and an MBA in finance and started her career in the corporate world. After taking an extended break to raise her children, Carol sought a meaningful second career in early childhood education. She says that raising kids of her own taught her what she wanted to do with her time. She is grateful for the opportunity to help children learn, grow and discover every day.
Carol lives in Basking Ridge with her husband, Brian, their three children, and their lovable, exuberant pitbull mix, Auggie. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, being outdoors, walking her dog and reading.
Heidi joined The Tree House in 2025 and is working in one of our 3-year-old classrooms. Heidi holds an undergraduate degree in Animal Science and spent almost ten years in laboratory research before moving to Washington D.C. After taking a break to raise her two children, Heidi decided she wanted to explore rewarding opportunities in her local community which led her to teaching in a four-year-old preschool classroom for three years prior to joining Tree House. As a teacher, Heidi brings a warm and nurturing presence to the classroom and enjoys seeing her students learn and grow.
Heidi lives in Basking Ridge with her husband, Greg, their two children Bryan and Sydney, and their dog, Kane. When she is not at a softball field with their daughter, she enjoys crafting, cooking, and baking.
“I believe teaching is more than just academics, it’s also about creating a nurturing and supportive environment where the child can explore, grow and reach their full potential.”
Sera began teaching at Tree House in 2023. Prior to that, Sera was a proud Tree House Mom to her daughter. She loved the Tree House experience so much that she happily joined as a teacher. Sera is passionate about fostering a love of learning and play with the children she teaches.
Sera holds a BA in Psychology and is a Certified Montessori teacher. Before the birth of her daughter, she worked at a Montessori Academy in Miami Beach. She has spent many years using her degree, working with children in a variety of roles. She and husband, Rich, live in Bernardsville with their daughter and dog Bear Bear. They enjoy spending their summers on LBI.
“It’s a joy for me to encourage children and to help set a positive foundation that they can build upon in the years to come.”
Christina has been a teacher at Tree House for 9 years and has taught the 2’s class in Little Acorns for the past 4 years. Before joining Tree House as a teacher, Christina was a Tree House parent as her two sons attended The Tree House. Prior to having children, Christina was an elementary school teacher in New Jersey for 10 years.
Christina and her husband Doug have two children, Jack and Alex, and live in Bernardsville. In her free time Christina enjoys spending time with her family, volunteering, walking her dog, watching her kids play sports and going to the beach.
“I LOVE coming to work each day! It’s such a fun and happy place to be! The children’s energy is contagious!”
Jayne van der Valk joined the Tree House in the fall of 2017 and now oversees the day-to-day operations of the office. She is dedicated to creating a warm, welcoming environment where every family feels supported and appreciated when they walk through our doors.
Both of Jayne’s sons attended Tree House, where she came to appreciate the warm, nurturing environment created by the staff and teachers. “My boys looked forward to coming to school each day—to seeing their friends and discovering what new adventures the teachers had in store for them!”
Jayne lives in Basking Ridge with her wonderful husband, Eric, two sons, and Harry Potter the wonder dog!
“The time spent at The Tree House is a basis for the rest of a child’s 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 more than 24 years, most of that time spent teaching the two and a half and three year olds. 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 is so in tune with the children in her classroom, lovingly adapting to their needs to make every day the best day ever!
Lynn has three children, all Tree House alumni, and two grandchildren. She resides in Bernardsville with her husband Darin, and cat Charlie. Lynn spends most of her free time with her adopted retired Standardbred racehorse, Ronan, and his two equine friends in Basking Ridge.
Katie is a recent addition to the Tree House staff, and she’s so excited to be assistant teaching in the 2/3s Little Acorns with Kate Miller. Both of Katie’s daughters previously attended Tree House, and Katie loved the school so much that she was inspired to teach here. Katie loves art and nature and strives to infuse that into the classroom, hoping to instill in each child a sense of wonder about the world around them. Her favorite thing about teaching is watching the children’s joy as they discover the world around them.
Katie lives in Basking Ridge with her husband, two daughters, and two crazy dogs, Peggy and Fellow. In her spare time, she likes to play piano and read.
