Penny Smith
Director

Penny is the Co-Owner/Director of Knotty Pine.  She has a B.A. in Elementary Education and has been with Knotty Pine for more than 40 years.  She manages all of the administrative functions of the school.

Alicia M. Ciarla
Co-Director

Alicia has a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Coastal Carolina University. She is the Co-Owner and acting Director of Knotty Pine, and responsible for all classroom programs. She is the daughter of Penny Smith and the third generation to work at Knotty Pine.

Amy Fontaine
Teacher

Amy received her degree in Early Childhood Education from the Community College of Rhode Island.  She also studied Human Development and graduated in 2000 with a Bachelor’s degree from Wheelock College in Boston.  She worked for 6 years as an educator in the Early Intervention program at Meeting Street Center.  She then became a stay at home mom to her three boys.  Her middle son is also a graduate of Knotty Pine.  She is looking forward to getting back into the classroom and is very excited to be back at Knotty Pine.

Katie Sousa
Teacher

Katie McKenna Sousa is the teacher in the Pre-K classroom. Born and raised in Seekonk, Katie grew up with her parents and younger brother, Tim. She graduated from Seekonk High School in 2004 and moved on to attend Bristol Community College, receiving her Associates in General Studies. She is EEC certified in Massachusetts and formerly worked at The Green Crayon Preschool for 6 years. She still plans to further her education in the near future with a main goal of continuing to grow as a professional and to give the children the best possible learning experiences that will help them develop and get ready for not only kindergarten but for life. One of her favorite aspects of working with younger children is how every experience and activity is so full of new discovery. Still residing in Seekonk, Katie lives with her loving husband, Danny. 

Anne-Marie Sirois
Teacher

Anne-Marie is a teacher in the Pre-K Classroom.  Born in Rhode Island she is now a resident of Massachusetts.  After graduating from Tolman High School, Anne Marie served in the United States Army.  She then went on the continue her education at the Community College of Rhode Island.  She is EEC certified in Massachusetts.  Prior to coming aboard at Knotty Pine she taught in the toddler room at the Green Crayon and within the Pawtucket School System. 

Nancy Silva
Teacher

Nancy Silva has been working in the childcare field and leading a classroom for over 25 years. She is very passionate about working with children and loves to get creative in the classroom to make learning fun for all of her students.  Building relationships with the children and families are important to her and Nancy finds it rewarding to watch children grow and learn through play. She attended Tri-County Vocational Regional Technical High School where she received her first certification in Early Childhood Education. Nancy also has an Early Childhood Education certification diploma from Community College of Rhode Island and an Associates degree in Elementary Education from Bristol Community College.