Justine Willey

With a genuine love for children and a passion for heart-centered teaching, Justine has over 20 years of experience in the field of early childhood education. Nothing brings her greater joy than to be fully present with children and the infinite potential that exists as one evolves as both teacher and student throughout life.

From the Berkshires, Justine grew up playing and exploring in the woods which instilled a deep love of nature from an early age. She’s recently moved back to the area after living in Brooklyn, NY, and working at a preschool in lower Manhattan for the last 19 years. During her time in NYC, she was deeply inspired by the Reggio approach. Over the years, she built many relationships with families and children across age groups and held numerous roles from teacher to administrator. Most recently, she was a school experience coordinator, supporting and partnering with families as they embarked on their first school journeys.

With over a decade of classroom experience (primarily with toddlers and two-year-olds), she especially enjoys supporting children’s growth and creative expression through art, movement, nature experiences, and incorporating and cultivating mindfulness throughout the rhythm of the day as the children form deep and lasting connections to the world around them.

Justine attended Union College in Schenectady, NY where she studied cultural anthropology and dance. After college, she taught English in rural Japan at nursery through junior high school as part of the JET (Japanese Exchange and Teaching) Program. She is thrilled to join the Hampshire community and to be a part of a group so dedicated to respecting the work of young children, the power of play, and to expanding awareness. She’s inspired to share in the wonders of learning together and to create environments where children thrive through the transformative power of love and connection to each other and our world.