Administration

Heather Tosten, Director

Heather has a degree in Early Childhood Education and holds two Montessori Teaching Diplomas, one for children birth to three years and the other for ages three to six. She joined the HCS teaching team in 1997 as the Extended Care Teacher. She went on to develop and implement the now very successful Pre-Primary classroom. Heather now shares her passion for teaching young children by leading our dedicated team of teachers as the Director. Heather is married and has three children, all of whom are HCS alumni. She enjoys going to the beach and spending time with her family.

Bianca McKenzie, Office Manager

Bianca is our newest staff member to join HCS. Bianca has been an HCS Parent for the past 5 years and has served as President of the Board of Directors for more than 3 years. Prior to joining our team, she has worked in numerous supervisory and technological roles. Bianca has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Albright College. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her 3 children, checking out local eateries and Penn State football. 

Teaching Staff

Kaelin Popp, Lead Primary Teacher

Kaelin joined our team in 2008. She has a Montessori Teaching Diploma and is currently a lead teacher in our Primary Classroom. Kaelin is married and has two children, both who are HCS alumni. She enjoys spending time at the beach with her family and reading. She has a passion for sharing her love of learning with the children that attend HCS.

Angela Robinson, Lead Primary Teacher

Angela received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Kutztown University and has received her Montessori Teaching Diploma. She joined our teaching team after her 3 daughters had incredibly positive first school experiences in our Primary classrooms. She and her husband, Jesse, grew up in Philadelphia and enjoys visiting family there often.  Angela is enthusiastic about working with children and brings her zest for life into the classroom.

Katie Sellers, Kindergarten Teacher

Katie has her Bachelor's in Psychology from Virginia Tech, her Masters in Elementary Education from Frostburg State University and a Montessori Teaching Diploma.  She has over 10 years of experience working with children in different settings including child care and education. She is married and has 2 daughters. Her hobbies include hiking and traveling with her family. Katie has always had a love for the Montessori philosophy and incorporates her experiences and knowledge to create an engaging classroom environment.

Alieta Dodson, Lead Pre-Primary Teacher

Alieta holds a Montessori Teaching Diploma and Montessori Assistance Certificate. She joined our team in 2002 after attending Washington County Technical High School for Early Childhood Education. Her gentle approach to teaching helps her connect with the students in her classroom. She enjoys outdoor activities and traveling with her husband.

Kristen DiCicco, Lead Pre-Primary Teacher

Kristen has been a dedicated member of our teaching team since 2017. She loves the Montessori teaching methods, as a parent of 2 children that attended HCS, she has seen the benefits firsthand. She is originally from Long Island, NY but now resides in Hagerstown. Kristen recieved her Bachelor's Degree in Human Services from Mount St. Mary College. She enjoys sharing years of experience in childcare and her love of learning with our youngest children in our Pre-Primary class. 

Angela Beard, Kindergarten Teacher

Ms. Angela's love and enthusiasm for learning shows in her teaching style and captivates the children's attention. She has over 20 years of experience, graduate of the University of Maryland with a degree in Teaching and a Montessori Teaching Diploma. In her spare time, Angela enjoys traveling and exploring new places with her 3 children.

Allie Snodderly,  Primary Teacher

Allie has studied Early Childhood Education and her enthusiasm for life is infectious. She loves teaching children of all ages, from the pre-schoolers here at HCS to the high schoolers on the volleyball team she coaches. Allie and her husband enjoy outdoor activities and staying active. 

Shirley Klotz, Teacher Support Aide

Shirley joins our HCS staff with over 20 years experience in the corporate field. Shirley has always enjoyed spending time with children which lead her to a "retirement" career with HCS. She has become a indispensable member of our team as she supports all the classrooms on a daily basis. 

Stephanie Hummel, Assistant Primary Teacher