Linx Leaders

Joe Kahn

MBA
Owner and Founder

Joe Kahn is the Founder and Owner of The LINX Enrichment Club for Kids. Joe is a graduate of Harvard Business School and has his undergraduate degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, N.Y. Joe believes that he has found a way to bring together his passion for teaching and desire to help children expand their interests. Through LINX, Joe has created an innovative enrichment environment in which children explore and experience new things and learn along the way. Joe has proven that children learn and retain experiences most notably in a fun based environment, which is the hallmark of LINX.

Josh Schiering

BS in Economics and Business
Vice President

Josh Schiering serves as the LINX Summer Camp Executive Director and the Vice President of the LINX Enrichment Club. Josh has over 15 years of experience managing and directing programs designed to help children thrive. As the former Assistant Director of Camp Sewataro in Sudbury, he was responsible for the day to day operations of a varied program that served over 1000 kids and close to 700 families. Josh is also a former Health and Fitness Director and he brings his proven track record of successful program design and development, staff recruiting and training and marketing concepts to LINX. 

Josh prides himself on his ability to assemble a team that puts children first.  His staff training and character development programs have received national recognition.  Josh's bullying prevention programs have been featured in the American Camp Association's national publication and been used in college courses throughout the country.  His unique Same Team approach to staff management fosters an environment in which staff put children first as they work together to help children excel, while pursuing their passions and becoming a part of the larger community. 

Melissa Habersaat

BS in Business and Marketing
Program Director

Melissa Habersaat is the Program Director for LINX and skillfully handles many of the day to day operations. Melissa has her BS from Babson College in Business and Marketing. She has spent the past 4 years developing programs and systems to help staff and children succeed. Along with her unmatched attention to detail, Melissa leads the G.I.R.L. Power and Entrepreneurs Club, two classes that teach children how to become more confident leaders.

Heather Emley

BFA in Dance and BS in Exercise Science
LINX Leader: Dance

Heather Emley has a BFA in dance from Adelphi University in New York, a BS in exercise science and professional training in Ballet, Modern, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballroom, Salsa, Yoga and Pilates. Miss Heather started her dance career at a very early age where she received numerous regional and national awards. While at Adelphi, Heather worked with and performed for many choreographers such as, Aylene Leda Meredith, Trebien Pollard, David Parsons, Frank Augustyn, Nicholas Seligson-Ross, Aylene Liberona, and Aszure Barton. In addition, Heather annually attended the American College Dance Festival, where she would perform and study under choreographers from around the world. Currently residing in the greater Boston area, Heather is a company member of Danny Swain's Dance Company and Boston Dance Alliance.

Michelle Kim

BA in Education and Music
Special Event Coordinator

Michelle Kim is the Event Coordinator at LINX and works with the community to provide fun birthday parties and other special events for LINX members. Michelle earned her BA in Women Studies and Education from Wellesley College and has a degree in Music from the Manhattan School Music with a concentration in Cello.

Steve Lechner

Masters in Education
LINX Leader: Science Center

Steve Lechner, known by most as “The Science Guy from The Science Works”, has joined the full time LINX staff team as the Science Center Director and LINX Leader of Science classes. Steve has been educating and entertaining children and teachers throughout New England for over twenty five years. Steve has his degree in Early Childhood Education (Wheelock College, 1986), a Master of Education Degree (Lesley College, 1996; specializing in developing Science Learning Centers), and five years of experience in Museum Education (former Education Director of the Science Discovery Museums for Children in Acton, MA). Having grown up in Needham, MA, Steve was heavily influenced by the Needham Science Center. A few of the schools where you may have seen Steve include: Wellesley Nursery School on the Hills (Wellesley), Wellesley Hills Childrens’ Center, (Wellesley), Needham Childrens’ Center (Needham), Regis College Childrens’ Center (Weston) and Beginnings Child Development Center (Weston).

Todd Morse

BA in Literature
LINX Leader: Performing Arts

Todd is an accomplished program leader and has his Bachelor of Arts from Boston College. Todd has over 10 years of experience running his own theatrical production company and has instructed students all across the Boston area, including those at the Concord Youth Theater, Kidstock, Beaver Country Day and the Theater in Winchester. Todd is an expert at making children a part of the acting process. While he has mastered green screening and film editing, Todd has also written and directed several original shows and movies that have all helped develop the acting skills of the children in his program.

Josef Vargas

BA in Education
LINX Leader: Sports and Art

Josef Vargas is the LINX Sports and Art Coordinator. His lifelong passion for sports and fitness development led him to serving as the team captain of the Lasell College Lacrosse Team. Josef has also served as a leader in baseball, football, soccer and basketball. With over 5 years of experience leading youth sports programs for ages pre-K through 9th grade, Josef has a proven track record of success in developing the athletic skills and interests in children. Josef is also an accomplished painter, sculptor and cartoonist. With unparalleled attention to skill development, Josef has a unique style that inspires creativity while he teaches technique. Josef received his Bachelor of Arts Degree with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from Lasell College.  Josef also continues his education while not in the program room and recently passed his IYCA certification becoming a Certified Youth Fitness Specialist - Level 1.

Cassi Belmarsh

LINX Leader

Early Childhood/Mommy and Me

Cassi Belmarsh received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development with a dual professional concentration in Early Childhood Education and Child Life, along with her Master of Science degree in Child Development and Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College.  Cassi has over ten years of experience teaching children and working with families in both public and private school settings here in the Boston area.  She also has eight years of "Mommy-hood" to three little boys under her belt.  Miss Cassi is an Early Childhood Leader at LINX and leads our Mom and Me classes, as well as math and early literacy art classes.

Sarah Caissie Provost

Sarah Caissie Provost is a Ph.D. candidate in musicology at Brandeis University, studying swing-era jazz. She has a B.M. from the University of Hartford in flute performance. She is the second flutist in the New England Philharmonic and also teaches and performs popular dances from the Jazz Age throughout the New England area.

Maureen Cayer

Pottery LINX Leader

Maureen Cayer is a graduate from the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. She is currently working on her Master's Degree in art education at Lesley University. Maureen has studied ceramics for over 15 years including college, art retreat programs, and two years of studying in Florence, Italy to further her skills and techniques. She has experience teaching workshops focusing on pottery, mosaics, and tile design to children of all ages as well as adults.

Lynn Conover

Madame Lynn Conover received her BA in French Language and Literature from the American University in Paris, and her MBA from Boston University. She has lived overseas in French speaking countries for over 12 years, most recently in Aix-en-Provence, France. Madame Lynn has taught French, Spanish and ESL to all ages for seven years using music, games and art in her classes.

Julie DAlessandro

Julie D’Alessandro received her Bachelor of Arts education from Emmanuel College in Boston in 2008, double majoring in both English Communications and Musical Theater: Emphasis in Vocal Performance.  Under the direction of Scott Gagnon, Julie was nominated by the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (KCACTF) for the Irene Ryan Award for outstanding lead performance in a college musical and excellence in academic theater for her role as April in Stephen Sondheim’s Company.  Her musical career began in 2004 when she was accepted into the Massachusetts Central District Choir.  Since then, Julie has performed in numerous musical roles such as Ado Annie Carnes in Oklahoma!  In the fall of 2009 she was featured on New England’s local talent show Community Auditions (UPN 38).  More importantly, Julie believes that through music and theater, children are able to build strong character.  Also, through performance arts children develop a sense of self confidence and comfort in their own skin, which they might not otherwise achieve.  She is drawn to teach because, as music and art programs continue to fade at a rapid speed all across the country, there is an eminent need to instill it in as many institutions and organizations as possible.  Her love for children goes far beyond the musical theater realm as she donates most of her free time to being a “Big Sister” for Boston’s Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Laura DeGiacomo

Laura D. DeGiacomo began teaching for FMM in September 2003. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre from Emerson College with a secondary concentration in Dance. Laura is a member of Actors Equity Association and is a proud founding company member of the Village Theatre Project.

Melissa DeGroot

Melissa DeGroot graduated from Plymouth State University with a double major in Dance and Psychology, and she received the prestigious Dance Achievement Award from PSU in 2007. Miss Melissa trained for two years in New York while majoring in Dance at Adelphi University. Melissa has worked with numerous choreographers including Frank Augustyne, Robert Battle, Lorainne Chapman, Leda Merideth, Amada Whitworth, Priscilla Wagner, Joan Wiegers. She has performed with the PSU Contemporary Dance Ensemble, Dance Adelphi, ACDFA, Built on Stilts, Souled Out Dance Company, and is currently a member of the Danny Swain Dance Company.

Miss Melissa has been teaching dance for the past seven years and has received numerous competition titles for her work and her dancers. Melissa competed in the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Program as Miss Lakes Region in 2007 and Miss Winnipesaukee in 2008. She placed in the top ten and is now the lead choreographer for local pageants. Melissa also placed in the top 10 in the New Hampshire Idol Singing Competition in 2008.  

Anna Garcia-Miller

Anna Miller is starting her 12th year as a preschool teacher at the Wellesley Nursery School in the Hills and is making her return to the Language Immersion Center at LINX this September.  Miss Anna is a native Spanish speaker who grew up in a bilingual home in Mexico City. Anna received her Bachelors in Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder and loves working with young children.  Miss Anna also has her lead teacher certification in Early Childhood Education from the state of Massachusetts.

Dave Gleason

Dave received his Bachelor's of Science in Physical Education/Health and Fitness with concentrated classes in sports medicine from Keene State College in 1993. His athletic career peaked as a division 2 All-New England and All-Conference soccer captain from Keene State. Dave is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (National Strength and Conditioning Association) and a Level 2 Youth Conditioning Specialist (International Youth Conditioning Association) as well as a Certified Youth Speed and Agility Specialist (IYCA).

In 1998 he put his knowledge to the ultimate test - on himself. Dave found himself the winner of the national contest "Body-for-Life" in the experienced fitness category. Sponsored by supplement giant EAS, winning the 4 week sprint contest earned Dave a trip to Maui with his new Bride Andrea where they were filmed for a promotional video.

Dave's training history spans from New Hampshire to New York, Arizona and back home again to Massachusetts, logging thousands of hours over the past 17 years helping people of all abilities reach their full physical potential. He has successfully worked as a strength coach for state, regional, national and world ranked athletes in a variety of different sports. Having trained clients in ages ranging from 6-90 yrs., Dave has created programming for individuals, small groups and teams maximizing performance in work, play...and life!

Dave has presented locally, regionally and nationally on a variety of topic to fitness professionals including training methodologies and how to be profitable in the fitness industry through personal training. Dave has lectured on topics including but not limited to:

• Reducing back injuries in the workplace
• Stress management
• Supplementation
• Working out less with more results

Dave has also conducted teleseminars on topics such as:

• "10 ways to burn more calories without exercise"
• "The couch potatoe workout"
• "Vacation workouts"
• "Your 'why' - the link between fitness success and failure"
• "Exercise Intensity"

Dave is co-author of The Fitness, Nutrition and Weight Loss Guide.

Dave lives in Pembroke, Massachusetts with his wife Andrea and their two boys Trevor and Andrew.

Vicky Griffiths

Masters in Education
LINX Leader: Spanish Immersion

Native Spansih speaker from Argentina, Vicky Griffiths has been an outstanding educator in Wellesley since 2001. Vicky is a licensed teacher with her Masters Degree in Education and over 20 years of teaching experience. Vicky has helped refine the Wellesley Spanish program and has long been considered a favorite teacher by many of the students at the Hunnewell and Sprague Elemantary Schools. Prior to her experience in Wellesley, Vicky taught in Newton and Westwood Massachusetts. High energy and creativity set Vicky apart from other immersion educators. Her students typically receive advanced placement in the public schools.

Carrie Klimeczko

Carrie has been with Family Music Makers since the Fall of 2000. She was originally hired as a teacher, but eventually moved into other roles including administration, curriculum development, and managing operations. Carrie holds a Masters Degree in Musical Theatre Performance from the Boston Conservatory, and is thrilled to have found a job where she can utilize her music, dance and creative skills on a daily basis. Carrie can also add mom to her list of important roles, her daughter Kayleigh is now a master of the FMM repertoire!

Holly LaFave

LINX Leader

Art

Holly Lafave is a licensed Art Educator specializing in the pre-school through 8^th grade levels. With a B.A. in Visual Arts and concentration in Design from Pine Manor College, Holly has geared her lessons toward both the classical and popular aspects of art. The world of 2D art is the focus of most of Holly's personal pieces of artwork, centering around unique techniques and influenced by the popular classics. Her experience working with children is varied and ranges from multiple teaching roles in the Wellesley Public Schools and teaching in Natick Public Schools to facilitating pre-school playgroups and a parent support group in Western Massachusetts. Her energy and enthusiasm for the fine arts combined with her dedication to children make her a natural teacher and locally involved mother.

Todd Livingstone

LINX Leader: Martial Arts

Mr. T has an extensive martial arts background, with black belts in Kempo Karate and Jiu-Jitsu. He has also studied for 17 years under Master Nelson Chan in Wahlum Kung Fu.

Mr. T has an amazing ability to make martial arts fun for all kids. At the same time, Mr. T works with kids who have developed a deep interest in martial arts to advance as far as they would like to go - up to and including black belts.

Maggie Lu

Mandarin Immersion LINX Leader

Maggie Lu received her B.A. in Chinese Language and Literature Education and was a Chinese Language Instructor in China for over 15 years.  Miss Maggie earned her M.S. in Computer Applications from The Industrial University of Jilin, with an emphasis on teaching Chinese language aided by computer technology. She has taught Mandarin to children of all ages in both Public and Private School while using a fun-based teaching method and music into every lesson!

Peter Murphey

Movie Making and Animation LINX Leader

Peter Murphey has worked for over five years doing designs, storyboards and animation at the Boston based animation studio, Olive Jar. His illustration work has appeared in Star Magazine, Soap Opera Weekly, True News, Marvel Comics and the Boston Herald. In 2001 King Features syndicated his daily comic strip, Hippy and Pop. Most recently he designed characters that appear in a permanent, multimedia animation exhibition at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. He has also worked for The Cartoon Network doing designs for the Harvey Birdman Show and Stroker and Hoop. He is currently an Adjunct Faculty member of the Animation Department, at The Art Institute of Boston, where has been teaching since 2003.

Nicole Padden

Nico loves teaching and is working on a Masters Degree in Theater Education at Emerson College.  Nico earned her degree in Music, Voice and Drama in May 2007 from Ithaca College. Nico has taught many different classes in various settings including: vocals, acting, playwriting, song, dance, puppetry and puppet making

Besides appearing in many musicals, Nico has directed quite a few performances including "Annie", "Into the Woods" and others.

Nico is a singer with classical training, as well as a songwriter and instrumentalist; Nico plays guitar and piano and has enjoyed bringing live music to the FMM classes she teaches.  Nico loves art in all its forms, specifically for the way it brings people together.  She believe that music, literature, art, dance and theater are the ultimate vehicles for the healing of the spirit.

Katie Preisig

Katie has been teaching for Family Music Makers for two sessions now. She assisted with the direction of Peter Pan and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Katie has participated in musical theater since the age of 6. She graduated from Walnut Hill High School in Natick, MA, a private school for the arts where she majored in theater. Katie has been working with children for many years now in other venues and enjoys combining her love for theatre with her experience working with children.