Our Staff 
Our teachers are educated professionals that comprehend developmentally appropriate curriculum. The teachers implement monthly lesson plans that go home to each family to foster parent/school communication. All teachers also continue their educational learning each year through a diversity of workshops, seminars and courses through local, state and international conferences. This further safeguards excellence and cultivates information on the latest child-care theories and practices.
Our teachers are:
• Trained in Infant and Child CPR and First Aid
• Certified in Administration of Medication
• College degreed with a background in early childhood education
• Experienced with many years of hands on experience, including children of their own
Many of our educators are also bilingual or multilingual which helps enrich the child's cultural experience, and helps provide the best care for our children of various ethnic backgrounds.
Mr. Michael Slimak
Title: CEO, CFO
Bio: A self made man and a true entrepreneur, Michael started in the child care business with Kimberly when he was 21 years old! They were both substitutes at the Westport Weston Child Care Council and the parents and children just adored Michael! Along with Kim, Michael started his first State licensed daycare in Westport. In 1987, Michael and Kim married and he expanded the business by designing, renovating and building the first Pumpkin Preschool Early Learning Center, personally ensuring that all children's needs were met, while Kim ran the small daycare. Michael masterminded this feat and exceeded all the State guidelines, working at the center diligently for 14 plus hours a day for many years. In 1997, Michael expanded the business to Westport, to our largest facility, and in 2001 he designed and personally oversaw the building of the Shelton location. He has a keen business sense and has a natural instinct for finance, accounting and diplomacy for business, which lead Pumpkin Preschool from a small 6 child at home daycare to serving over 500 families throughout Fairfield County. Michael ensured that each center would be unique, bright and beautiful.
Mrs. Kimberly Slimak
Title: CEO
Bio: In 1985, Kimberly helped create Pumpkin Preschool with her husband Michael. She has an extensive educational background including a BFA, a CDA (Child Development Associate Credential from Washington), and a post graduate Masters degree (MA) in Clinical and Child Psychology. Kimberly has a love of children and has devoted her professional life to providing a safe, creative and nurturing environment for the students. She is a child advocate and designed the original curriculum and continuously updates it with the State and Mrs. Donnajean Pond.
Mrs. Donnajean Pond
Title: Executive Director of Schools, Headquartered in Fairfield
Bio: Donnajean has been an integral part of the Pumpkin Preschool family for more than 20 years. With multiple college degrees in child development and education, she joined Pumpkin Preschool 1989, bringing a wealth of knowledge, innovation and creativity to our curriculums. Donna is a true childcare expert and works overseeing the curriculum and all aspects of the three centers. Donna is also very well known and very involved with the Town of Fairfield and has always served the community on various Boards.
Children of her own: Three; all graduates of Pumpkin Preschool of Fairfield.
Mrs. Maria Osakowicz
Title: Executive Administrator of Schools
Bio: Internationally educated with a BA, and an Associates Degree in Business Administration, Maria joined Pumpkin Preschool in 2002. Maria is a great addition to all three centers. Along with CFO Michael, Maria keeps our schools fiscally sound. She is very talented.
Languages: Proficient in three languages: English, Greek and Italian
Children of her own: Two grown children and four grandchildren.
Above: Donnajean Pond, Executive Director of Schools
Title: CEO, CFO
Bio: A self made man and a true entrepreneur, Michael started in the child care business with Kimberly when he was 21 years old! They were both substitutes at the Westport Weston Child Care Council and the parents and children just adored Michael! Along with Kim, Michael started his first State licensed daycare in Westport. In 1987, Michael and Kim married and he expanded the business by designing, renovating and building the first Pumpkin Preschool Early Learning Center, personally ensuring that all children's needs were met, while Kim ran the small daycare. Michael masterminded this feat and exceeded all the State guidelines, working at the center diligently for 14 plus hours a day for many years. In 1997, Michael expanded the business to Westport, to our largest facility, and in 2001 he designed and personally oversaw the building of the Shelton location. He has a keen business sense and has a natural instinct for finance, accounting and diplomacy for business, which lead Pumpkin Preschool from a small 6 child at home daycare to serving over 500 families throughout Fairfield County. Michael ensured that each center would be unique, bright and beautiful.
Mrs. Kimberly Slimak
Title: CEO
Bio: In 1985, Kimberly helped create Pumpkin Preschool with her husband Michael. She has an extensive educational background including a BFA, a CDA (Child Development Associate Credential from Washington), and a post graduate Masters degree (MA) in Clinical and Child Psychology. Kimberly has a love of children and has devoted her professional life to providing a safe, creative and nurturing environment for the students. She is a child advocate and designed the original curriculum and continuously updates it with the State and Mrs. Donnajean Pond.
Mrs. Donnajean Pond
Title: Executive Director of Schools, Headquartered in Fairfield
Bio: Donnajean has been an integral part of the Pumpkin Preschool family for more than 20 years. With multiple college degrees in child development and education, she joined Pumpkin Preschool 1989, bringing a wealth of knowledge, innovation and creativity to our curriculums. Donna is a true childcare expert and works overseeing the curriculum and all aspects of the three centers. Donna is also very well known and very involved with the Town of Fairfield and has always served the community on various Boards.
Children of her own: Three; all graduates of Pumpkin Preschool of Fairfield.
Mrs. Maria Osakowicz
Title: Executive Administrator of Schools
Bio: Internationally educated with a BA, and an Associates Degree in Business Administration, Maria joined Pumpkin Preschool in 2002. Maria is a great addition to all three centers. Along with CFO Michael, Maria keeps our schools fiscally sound. She is very talented.
Languages: Proficient in three languages: English, Greek and Italian
Children of her own: Two grown children and four grandchildren.
Above: Donnajean Pond, Executive Director of Schools
Mrs. Joan Carr
Title: Director of Shelton
Bio: With an impressive college background in early childhood and developmental education, Joan joined Pumpkin Preschool in 1989 and has been directing our Shelton School since 2001. She is passionate about fostering a caring, nurturing environment for our students and takes pride in their development. Joan is also a wealth of early childhood information, skilled, knowledgeable and is well known and active in the Shelton community.
Children of her own: Three; all graduates of Pumpkin Preschool of Shelton.
Mrs. Melissa Zaccagnini
Title: Director of Shelton
Bio: Pumpkin Preschool welcomed Melissa to our Fairfield location in 1998. In addition to being a college graduate, she has a CDA and was promoted from Head Teacher to Co-Director in 2001. Melissa is an accomplished and exceptional Early Childhood Educator, whose hospitable presence greets the parents daily.
Children of her own: Three; one currently attending and two having graduated from Pumpkin Preschool of Shelton
Mrs. Christina Waehler
Title: Director of Westport
Bio: Pumpkin Preschool welcomed Christina into the Fairfield location in 1990 where she later became the Director of Westport in 1997. She has a Bachelor of Arts and is well educated in early childhood education. With more than 20 years of experience, Christina is a phenomenal Director and caregiver.
Children of her own: Three; all graduates of Pumpkin Preschool of Westport.
Languages: Fluent in Portuguese
Mrs. Miriam Rodriguez
Title: Co-Director of Westport
Bio: Miriam started with Pumpkin Preschool as a teacher in 1997 in Westport, and worked her way up to Co-Director. She has a college degree and continues to pursue her knowledge in education by regularly attending seminars.
Children of her own: Three; two graduated from Pumpkin Preschool of Westport.
Languages: Fluent in Spanish
Mrs. Tracey Torello, RN
Title: School Nurse
Bio: Tracey began her career in the medical field with Yale New Haven Hospital where she spent nearly 10 years before becoming a private duty nurse, servicing Pumpkin Preschool. For the past 14 years she visits each of our three schools weekly as required by state law, and more often if needed. In addition, she is available daily for phone consultations to address any questions and concerns.
Above: Maria Osakowicz, Executive Administrator of Schools
Title: Director of Shelton
Bio: With an impressive college background in early childhood and developmental education, Joan joined Pumpkin Preschool in 1989 and has been directing our Shelton School since 2001. She is passionate about fostering a caring, nurturing environment for our students and takes pride in their development. Joan is also a wealth of early childhood information, skilled, knowledgeable and is well known and active in the Shelton community.
Children of her own: Three; all graduates of Pumpkin Preschool of Shelton.
Mrs. Melissa Zaccagnini
Title: Director of Shelton
Bio: Pumpkin Preschool welcomed Melissa to our Fairfield location in 1998. In addition to being a college graduate, she has a CDA and was promoted from Head Teacher to Co-Director in 2001. Melissa is an accomplished and exceptional Early Childhood Educator, whose hospitable presence greets the parents daily.
Children of her own: Three; one currently attending and two having graduated from Pumpkin Preschool of Shelton
Mrs. Christina Waehler
Title: Director of Westport
Bio: Pumpkin Preschool welcomed Christina into the Fairfield location in 1990 where she later became the Director of Westport in 1997. She has a Bachelor of Arts and is well educated in early childhood education. With more than 20 years of experience, Christina is a phenomenal Director and caregiver.
Children of her own: Three; all graduates of Pumpkin Preschool of Westport.
Languages: Fluent in Portuguese
Mrs. Miriam Rodriguez
Title: Co-Director of Westport
Bio: Miriam started with Pumpkin Preschool as a teacher in 1997 in Westport, and worked her way up to Co-Director. She has a college degree and continues to pursue her knowledge in education by regularly attending seminars.
Children of her own: Three; two graduated from Pumpkin Preschool of Westport.
Languages: Fluent in Spanish
Mrs. Tracey Torello, RN
Title: School Nurse
Bio: Tracey began her career in the medical field with Yale New Haven Hospital where she spent nearly 10 years before becoming a private duty nurse, servicing Pumpkin Preschool. For the past 14 years she visits each of our three schools weekly as required by state law, and more often if needed. In addition, she is available daily for phone consultations to address any questions and concerns.
Above: Maria Osakowicz, Executive Administrator of Schools