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Meet The Teachers

Director & Teacher: Jennifer Grasso

For Jen Grasso, Tabor Christian Community Preschool is a special place where children can feel at home, discover the joy of learning, and grow in confidence, curiosity, and friendship. With more than 20 years of experience in education, Jen brings a deep understanding of children and a genuine love for the wonder and discovery of the early childhood years.

Jen is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University, where she earned degrees in Elementary Education and Communication Disorders. She has over 15 years of teaching experience in the New Haven Public School system, working with children across a variety of grade levels, with a particular focus on Pre-K through second grade.

During her time in public education, Jen received extensive training in social-emotional learning, early literacy, and numeracy and enjoys
continuing her education in these areas. Jen first joined the Tabor Preschool community as a Pre-K and Enrichment teacher, a role she enjoyed for five years. After time away from Tabor, she was delighted for the opportunity to return and now serves as Director while also teaching in the 3s, 4s, and Enrichment programs.

Jen believes that the preschool years provide an incredible opportunity to help children develop a lifelong love of learning. She is passionate about creating an environment where children feel safe, happy, confident, and excited to come to school. Social-emotional development is especially important to her, and she believes that learning how to build friendships, express feelings, solve problems, develop independence, and become part of a classroom community is just as important as developing early academic skills.

Building strong relationships with families is also at the heart of Jen’s approach. She values working together with parents and caregivers to understand and support each child as an individual. Her experience teaching children from preschool through the elementary years gives her a unique perspective on the “big picture” —helping young children build the social, emotional, and academic foundations they will need not only for kindergarten, but to become happy, curious, confident lifelong learners.

Jen lives in Branford with her husband and son, who attended Tabor Preschool. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, discovering new places, spending time with friends and family, and appreciating life’s quieter moments—especially sitting outside with a good cup of coffee.

Leah Pre-K & Enrichment

Leah grew up in Branford where she met her husband while attending Branford High School. She received an AS degree from Quinnipiac University. She has been a part of Tabor Preschool since her son entered as a 4 year old in 1989. Three years later, her daughter followed.

During that time, she joined the school board and served as secretary. In 1994, when her daughter entered kindergarten, she was asked to join the staff. She teaches Pre-K and the afternoon Enrichment Class.

Leah feels extremely blessed to be a part of the Tabor family.

Tracy Pre-K and Afternoon 4s

Tracy’s educational experience includes Southern Connecticut State University, Neighborhood Music School, Creative Arts Workshop and Parsons School of Design, in New York. She has attended classes, workshops, and conferences in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Virginia.

Her 30 plus years of teaching experience includes working in public and private school systems, adult education classes, and after school programs. Before coming to Tabor, Tracy worked as a classroom aide in the Branford Public School system. She has taught Pre-K and Four Year Old classes, Monday class session, and Summer Camp at Tabor for the past twenty years.

Her interests include calligraphy, lettering, and the arts, listening to a wide variety of music, seeing live music performed, enjoying outdoor activities, particularly at the beach, also reading individually and with the book group she’s been part of for many years. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family.

Julie 3 Year Old's & Enrichment

Graduating with a BS from Southern Connecticut State University, Julie has been working at Tabor for ten years in our 3 yr old classroom.

She enjoys books and music and leads our three year old music circle. Julie lives in Branford with her husband, Tom, and her two children. Both her son and daughter went to Tabor Preschool and the Branford school System.

An avid sports fan, Julie enjoys watching the NY Yankees and her daughter’s BHS softball team. She also enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and two cats.

Hillary Pre-K

Hillary is a teacher in the pre-k classroom. Hillary went to Fairfield University and graduated with a degree in psychology.

Before getting married to her husband and starting a family, Hillary was a teacher at Litchfield Montessori school. In 2013 her son entered Tabor and in 2015 her daughter joined as well.

Once her children entered the Branford school system, Hillary expressed an interest to substitute at Tabor. In 2019 she was hired as a pre-K teacher.

Hillary enjoys spending time with her family and taking her dog for hikes at the supply pond. Hillary feels extremely blessed to be a part of the Tabor Family.