Linx Leaders

Our LINX Leaders are proudly committed to each child's intellectual, social, physical and emotional development. LINX Leaders are carefully selected among the best candidates based on their teaching ability, creativity, energy and ability to create and facilitate programs designed to help kids thrive! Kids and safety always come first for all of our LINX Leaders as they all have extensive backgrounds and training in their respective fields of expertise. Within each class, our LINX Leaders are also able to incorporate a focus on inclusion, cooperation, respect and a sense of community.

All LINX Leaders are personally interviewed by the owner, reference checks are completed, CORI and SORI background checks are done and each member of our team also takes part in the LINX Leadership Training Seminar (an extensive training program for all LINX Leaders).

If you are interested in learning how you can become a LINX Leader, please send an email to information@linx-usa.com or call us at (781) 235-3210.

Peter Alexopoulos

Peter Alexopoulos is the LINX Technology instructor. Peter began taking an interest in art and technology at a young age and has grown with the technology as it has been developed. He proudly attended Minuteman Science and Technology High School in Lexington, MA, where he majored in Graphic Design and Digital Media Technology. After becoming certified in the field Peter attended UMASS Lowell and majored in Graphic Design, but was not satisfied with their curriculum. This led him to The New England Institute of Art where he was able to take courses that were more specific to his needs. While at the New England Institute of Art, Peter developed more skills for Graphic Design as well new skills and techniques for web development, and Animation.

Peter worked for Pan Am Clipper Connection Airlines and was in charge of all of their in-house design and website management. He stayed with the company for two years until he realized that he was happier running his youth group than he was about graphic design. This led him to persue a career in education. Peter accepted an offer to work at Fiske elementary school in Lexington, MA and took a radical departure from design in order to work with autistic children for Fiske schools special needs program. It was during this time where Peter discovered LINX and realized that if he could join the LINX team, he could combine his two loves. Since then it has been the best of both worlds. Peter brings a great atmosphere to his classes with his ability to relate to each child individually.

Peter graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Graphic Design, and currently lives with his wife in Arlington, MA. His hobbies include: Writing, Drawing, Animation, Making short films, Special Effects, Playing and Composing Music.

Heather Emley

The NEW LINX Dance Studio is led by Heather Emley. Miss Heather 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. She was also featured on the local television series Inside Dance. 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.

We look forward to having her prepare the LINX dancers for shows and recitals. We’re also proud to introduce the LINX Dance Company - an opportunity for dancers who will perform in shows throughout the year.

Jen Ferguson

Children and parents have experienced Miss Jen’s programs throughout Connecticut, New York, and most recently here in Wellesley, MA. She is excited about all of the fun-filled programs here at LINX and is looking forward to meeting your children and sharing her enthusiasm with everyone. Stop by LINX today and learn more about Miss Jen and some of the high energy programs she will be running.

She has taught a variety of programs for children from infants through young adults. She coached youth and high school soccer teams, taught youth gymnastics programs, toddler movement classes, dance classes, youth fitness programs, sports readiness programs, and more. She also worked at Sunrise Resort in Moodus, CT as the Assistant Activities Director planning out and running resort activities, competitions, and games for families and guests of the resort.

Jen received her BS degree from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. As a double major in Exercise Science and Leisure Services she gained extensive knowledge and experience in the recreation and fitness industries.

Maria Grassi

Maria has been an outstanding educator in Wellesley since 1999. Maria was a co-founder of the Wellesley Spanish program and has outstanding teaching skills. A selection of her past students were recently selected to be reviewed by the Center for Applied Linguistics and her pupils scored significantly higher on tests than students who had had twice as much time in class in other communities.

Prior to her experience in Wellesley, Maria taught in Framingham Massachusetts, Guaynabo Puerto Rico and Omaha Nebraska. Maria is originally from Cuba and received her B.A. in Spanish with a minor in Education and History from Duchesne College of the Sacred Heart in Omaha. She also has completed graduate course work at New York University and Lesley College.

Vicky Griffiths

Vicky has been an outstanding educator in Wellesley since 2001. Vicky helped refine the Wellesley Spanish program. Vicky has been considered a favorite teacher for many of the students at Hunnewell and Sprague Schools. Prior to her experience in Wellesley, Vicky taught in Newton and Westwood Massachusetts.

Vicky is originally from Argentina and received her certification in elementary education from Manuel Belgrano School in Buenos Aires. She has also completed additional courses at Lesley University.

Melissa Habersaat

Melissa is the Program Director for LINX and handles many of the day to day operations.  Melissa is a graduate Babson College with a degree in Business.  Originally from Connecticut, Melissa is now a resident of Massachusetts.  An accomplished dancer and softball player, Melissa now enjoys outhitting all of her friends and family on the golf course.

Joe Kahn

Joe Kahn has worked in various small and large firms, contributing to launching new startup companies, evaluating and restructuring existing ones, while serving as a consultant on a wide range of issues.  Joe always wanted to start his own company and to work with children in some capacity.  Joe believes that he has found a way to bring together his passion for teaching and desire to help children expand their interests through the creation of LINX, a multi-dimensional enrichment program. Through LINX, he has realized the opportunity to create a unique program to supplement and enrich the learning experience for children.

By developing the LINX concept, Joe has created an innovative enrichment environment in which children explore and experience new things and learn along the way. Rather than produce another typical after school program that extends the academic experience, Joe has created a fun-based environment for learning where a child’s interests, and desire to have fun leads them to try new things, to learn new skills, but in a different way.  Joe believes that children learn and retain experiences most notably in a fun based environment, which is the hallmark of LINX.

Joe is a graduate of Harvard Business School and previously, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in Troy, N.Y. A resident of Wellesley, MA, Joe is originally from Lido Beach, NY, and is married to his wife Wendy, together parents to daughters Brianna and Alexa. He enjoys time with his family, traveling and all sports. While Joe is a transplanted New Yorker and lifelong Yankee fan, he now calls New England his home and base of operations for LINX.

Stephen Key

Grandmaster Stephen Key is a martial arts instructor with over ten years experience teaching children. Stephen has had the honor of being a three time martial arts Hall of Fame Inductee and received various awards from the Boston and New Bedford City Councils. In addition, Stephen was appointed to the 1999 coaching staff of the World Organization of Martial Arts Athletes that represented the United States in the World Martial Arts Games in Sydney, Australia. Additionally, Stephen has held the position of Chairman for the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) for martial arts throughout New England.

Michelle Kim

Heather LaBranche

Heather joins our LINX team after recently completing her Masters degree in Early Childhood Education (PreK-2). She has spent the last several years working with children and families throughout Massachusetts. After graduating with a BA from Norwich University in VT, she took a Preschool Teaching position in Lincoln, MA and then spent summers working as a Young Head for Camp Sewataro in Sudbury. Here she spent lots of time creating and designing programs for three and four year olds. Soon after she decided to go back to get her Masters and Teaching License at Springfield College, where she was a full-time Assistant Softball Coach for the past two years. Her background in coaching covers children as young as PreK and up to and through the college level. Heather brings her enthusiasm and love for children, learning, and sports to LINX every day! Having been a basketball and softball player in College, Heather continues to play on teams in the area in her free time as well as spending time with her family and nephew. Heather really looks forward to meeting the children and parents this summer and fall.

Steve Lechner

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 Children's and Science Discovery Museums 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

Todd is an accomplished program leader.  Since graduating from Boston College, Todd has instructed students all across the Boston area including those at St. John's Preparatory in Danvers, the Concord Youth Theater and Kidstock! Theater in Winchester, teaching theater, music, video, and improvisation. At Beaver Country Day in Chestnut Hill he has captained two specialty camps for stage and video (among the most popular programs) and co-developed A.S.A.P! (Atrium Summer Acting Program) in Watertown.

When not writing or directing, Todd is a voracious reader. Among his favorite authors are Twain, Dumas, and Dickens.

Josh Schiering

Josh Schiering has been a part of LINX for over a year, but recently joined the full time staff team as the Vice President and a LINX Leader. 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 brings his proven track record of successful program design and development, staff recruiting and training and marketing concepts to LINX. His goal is to help bring the fantastic LINX programs to more and more families within surrounding communities. Josh resides in Stow, MA with his wife and four children who all love the outdoors, camping, hiking, sports and dance.

Josef Vargas

Josef Vargas is the LINX Athletic and Art Coordinator. Josef's 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's classes have a greater focus and concentration on the mechanics, fundamentals and skills needed to excel within each sport. Josef helps every LINX member become an All-star as they train using the creative fun-based curriculum at LINX!

Josef is also an accomplished painter, sculptor and cartoonist. The LINX Members in his art classes continually look forward to the 'challenge of the week' and the larger art projects that he directs. With unparelled attention to each individual's skill development, Josef has a unique style that inspires creativity while he teaches technique.

Josef received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Lasell College in Newton, MA with a concentration in Early Childhood Education.