Team
Leadership
Melissa Barissi
Program Director (Ridgefield)
Melissa joins TCS after serving as Director at York Avenue Day School in New York City. With more than eighteen years of experience in early childhood education, Melissa has spent her career working alongside children, teachers, and families in a range of thoughtful New York City schools, including The Dwight School, Avenues the World School, and Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School.
Melissa earned her Master of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, after completing her Bachelor of Arts in Childhood Education with a concentration in Art Education at Pace University. She also holds a Certificate in School Management and Leadership from Harvard Business School.
With a background that blends years in the classroom with thoughtful program leadership, Melissa brings a reflective and collaborative approach to her work. She is deeply committed to supporting teachers as learners, creating space for dialogue, growth, and shared inquiry. Melissa believes that when educators feel seen, supported, and inspired, children thrive, and she works in close partnership with teachers and families to build environments where curiosity, connection, and a strong sense of belonging are at the heart of the learning experience.
Kristen Pallonetti
Program Director (NYC)
Kristen joined TCS in 2009 as a Pre-K teacher, becoming the director in 2010. Kristen attended Cornell University where she earned a B.S. degree in Human Development with concentrations in Developmental Psychology and Early Childhood Education. At Cornell, Kristen was involved in research with infants and young children studying language development, spatial awareness, and the relationship between them. She then completed the Harris Fellowship in Child Development and Early Childhood Education at Yale University where she was a preschool teacher at Calvin Hill Day Care Center, a model progressive early childhood center, and also participated in seminars with the clinical child psychiatry team at the Yale Child Study Center. Kristen then went on to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, earning a Master of Education degree in Human Development and Psychology. Her background in child development, developmental psychology, and early childhood education guides her work at TriBeCa Community School, implementing social constructivism and Reggio Emilia-inspired work with children, teachers, and parents.
Kristen works in close partnership and collaboration with Melissa and the Ridgefield team to thoughtfully extend and deepen the Reggio-inspired work that has evolved over the past 20 years at TCS in New York City.
Paige LaZebnik
Program Design Lead
Paige brings more than ten years of experience at TCS, where she has worked in both classroom and leadership roles and developed a deep understanding of the school’s philosophy, community, and day-to-day operations. She began as a Collaborative Classroom Teacher, developing inquiry-based curriculum alongside children, families, and teaching teams, and later served as Director of Admissions, supporting many of the systems that help a school run smoothly, including enrollment, staffing, communications, scheduling, and program development.
As Program Design Lead, Paige works closely with the TCS Ridgefield leadership team to help shape learning environments, support educators, and build programs that reflect the values of the school. She is especially passionate about creating thoughtful, child-centered experiences while also developing the structures and systems that support a strong and connected school community.
Paige holds bachelor’s degrees in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, and History, as well as a master’s degree in Literacy Education, from New York University.
Advisors
Betsy McKenna
Betsy is an educational leader, consultant, and coach with more than 25 years of experience building progressive, child-centered learning communities. She is the founder of Exponential Returns, where she partners with schools and organizations around the country on early childhood program design, professional development, leadership coaching, and Reggio Emilia–inspired practice.
Previously, Elizabeth served as Head of the Early Childhood Division at New Canaan Country School, where she helped develop a Reggio-inspired program and learning environment while mentoring educators and deepening family engagement. She later served as Head of the Lower School at The Town School and continues to teach as an adjunct professor at Bank Street College of Education. Elizabeth is also the co-author of the book Art Workshop for Children, which reflects her belief in creativity, inquiry, and the importance of environments that honor children’s thinking.
As an advisor to TCS Ridgefield, Elizabeth brings deep expertise in progressive education, teacher development, and the creation of thoughtful learning communities grounded in curiosity, collaboration, and care.
Jeannie Bean
Jeannie is the Director of Early Childhood at New Canaan Country School, where she has been a dedicated member of the faculty since 2007. With nearly two decades at NCCS and over 30 years in education, Jeannie brings deep experience as both a classroom teacher and school leader.
She began her career at Putnam Indian Field School, where she spent nearly a decade teaching before continuing her work at NCCS. Jeannie holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from University of Vermont and a Master’s degree as a Reading Specialist from The College of New Rochelle.
Jeannie is known for her thoughtful, steady leadership and her deep understanding of how young children develop as learners. She is committed to supporting teachers, partnering with families, and creating environments where children feel seen, challenged, and inspired.
As an advisor to TCS Ridgefield, Jeannie brings both practical wisdom and a deep alignment with our belief in child-centered, relationship-driven education.
Adam Anstey
Adam is a widely regarded British educationalist with over twenty years of experience across K–12 education. Known for combining academic ambition with warmth, innovation and a deeply child-centred approach, he has led schools recognised amongst the Top 100 Schools in the World, noted for their strong academic communities, educational quality and forward-thinking culture.
Alongside school leadership, Adam advises on educational innovation, organisational growth and leadership development, with particular expertise in helping schools scale thoughtfully whilst protecting the culture and values that make them distinctive.
Adam is passionate about education as a force for positive change and believes deeply in building learning communities that develop confidence, character, curiosity and purpose in young people.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and holds an MBA from Warwick Business School, where his research focused on innovation and long-term value creation within international education.