Administrative Staff
Meg McNulty, Executive Director
What a journey so far! I joined Hilltop in July 2008, after relocating from the other Washington. Children and their families have been my career, passion, and commitment for over 15 years earning a BA in Elementary Education from Loyola University and then eventually, after some years bartending and snowboarding and teaching, I headed to the University of Colorado for a Masters in Psychology, with a focus on children, youth, and families.  If there’s a gig working directly with kids, I’ve likely done it…..Kindergarten and Preschool teacher, family therapist, case manager, camp counselor, career advisor, nanny, after school facilitator, grants supervisor, and school counselor. I feel fortunate to have loved all of my jobs.
Immediately before arriving at Hilltop, I served as the founding Executive Director of a community-based, social service agency in DC for nearly 5 years. It was then when I also became an absolute believer and student in the power and importance of the first five years of life and attachment theory. The work of John Dewey, Carl Rogers, Jonathan Kozol, Virginia Axline, Salvador Minuchin, John Gottman, Howard Gardener, and Louise Gurney as well as my own folks, Bill and Maureen, have provided much inspiration.
A staunch advocate for supporting families, I will likely repeat myself on the subject: “family is the first and most important circle for children”. This notion translates to my personal life. Since becoming a mom in 2006, I understand that idea firsthand. Sam and Finn, my two little boys, are the reason I can be found laughing. I get to bump along on this journey my fantastic husband, Jeff.
Things that get me out of bed - yoga, adventures with family & friends, writing, hiking, refinishing furniture, politics, the New Yorker, cheese, deep conversations, actually seeing stars in Seattle, bonfires, music, travelling, wine, reading, laughing, legos, baking, and yes, musical theatre. The beach, some sunshine, a kayak, and people I love is my version of home.
“Little boy, so much depends on…your starship pajamas, that story about llamas, the way you don’t worry, the way you won’t hurry, and… your big cardboard box.” From Little Boy by Peter Reynolds and Alison McGhee
Sarah Felstiner, Curriculum Specialist
I taught four-and five-year-olds in the Sunlight Room at Hilltop from 1995 to 2004. Now I work part-time as the Curriculum Specialist! I love my office job because it calls on my natural disposition to create organizational systems and attend to details. Also, I get to visit in the classrooms all the time, and interact with children, teachers, and families in all of Hilltop’s classrooms.
I’ve been teaching young children since I was 16, and I’ve never had a job outside the field of early childhood education. As an undergraduate at Yale University, I studied child psychology and played the flute in two bands and three orchestras. I went on to get a master’s degree in human development from Pacific Oaks College, where I specialized in educational administration. I’ve published several articles about child-centered teaching practices, and led workshops for other educators at conferences and through the Hilltop Training Institute.
My work with kids and families has been profoundly influenced by my visit to and study of the schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The educators in Reggio Emilia have built a city-wide program of schools for young children which truly honors the competence and creativity of each child. As a teacher, I strive to include song and laughter in every day with children. I love designing and caring for beautiful, functional classroom environments, and facilitating and documenting children’s exploration of their own questions and pursuits. I’ve tried to bring some of this same playfulness, thoughtfulness, and aesthetic care to my work in Hilltop’s office.
When I’m not at Hilltop, you can probably find me swimming, doing Pilates, playing the flute, or relaxing with my husband, Scobie, and my cat, Shadow. I perform with an amateur woodwind quintet called the Ballard Breeze, and spend a piece of each summer at intensive chamber music workshops. I love baking cookies and pies, reading mystery novels, watching TV, and island-hopping in Scobie’s cute yellow airplane. My absolute favorite food (except for ice cream) is bagels with cream cheese and hot sauce. Try it, you’ll like it!
Michele McLean, Program Supervisor
My name is Michele McLean. I was born and raised in Tunis, Tunisia. My native language is French and I have lived in the U.S.A. for the past 35 years. I have been working with kids, families, and staff for over 28 years. My love and passion for children began as a teenager when I started babysitting for my neighbors. From this experience, I decided to study everything I could to know and understand how to nurture and care for children. I received a degree in Early Childhood Education and a Certificate in Teaching. I am a proud member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (N.A.E.Y.C.) as I strongly believe in their philosophy, mission and practices. I am also a Child Development Associate Advisor and a C.P.R./First-Aid Instructor. I continually aspire to learn more about children; I like to attend workshops and seminars and read everything I can to increase my knowledge and understanding of early childhood practices. I also enjoy tremendously working with staff and families.
Over the years, I managed and operated my own early childcare center where I successfully prepared children for elementary school. I developed preschool curriculums and trained teachers and caregivers. I assisted parents with many of the challenges they encountered while raising their children at home. I went through the accreditation process with N.A.E.Y.C. both, for homecare based and preschool centers.
In 2000, I was employed by a large preschool organization where I dedicated myself to the quality of care we provided. My focus was on instructing leaders, implementing developmentally appropriate curriculums and managing the daily operations. I gained wealth of knowledge through being a teacher, a mentor, a center director, a program supervisor, a C.D.A. advisor and a district manager.
After having the wonderful opportunity to observe Hilltop Children Center in the late fall of 2010, I am very excited and honored to be a part of the team. Every day is an opportunity to deepen my relationships with children, families and staff. Learning is constant here and provides enough challenge to keep my interest high. I am dedicated to our community and hope to be growing professionally with all of you for years to come.
Kathryn Heller, Human Resources/Registrar
Aloha! I’m Kathryn Heller, SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources). I joined Hilltop in November of 2010 as Human Resources Coordinator/Registrar, having returned to Seattle after living for four years in my childhood home of Kailua, Hawaii. While I miss being able to snorkel and body surf in Hawaiian waters in my time off, I learned that my heart is in Seattle and now, it is also with Hilltop Children’s Center.
I originally was educated to be a Secondary Education teacher in English/Speech (Arizona State).  I soon chose to work with troubled youth in an alternative school and in group home settings as a special education teacher and co-director. In contrast to those children’s lives, I am inspired here at Hilltop by the mission of our Reggio-inspired, emergent curriculum with these creative and dedicated Hilltop teachers.
Eventually I moved my professional focus into the business arena and used my specialized communication skills as a human resources manager and as a mediator/team builder of work groups for over 20 years for many kinds of businesses…from a cheese plant in Tempe Arizona to a cremation society (Neptune Society) in San Francisco…to an international effectiveness training organization (Context Trainings) in San Francisco and here in Seattle. In Hawaii I worked with a chain of sushi restaurants (Genki Sushi) and with aio Group which published many of Hawaii’s magazines and books and owned, among other businesses, the ESPN sports radio in Honolulu. My desire for life-long learning shows in my varied professional experiences.
In my personal life, I have had a 30+ year enthusiasm for meditation and personal growth along with the study and teaching of metaphysics and energetic healing systems.  I have a 39 year old son named Brent, who lives in the Bay Area and works as an air traffic controller. Most of my family is in the Phoenix area and in southern California. My claim to fame is the time in high school that I worked as Stage Manager with Steven Spielberg as the Student Director in producing two plays. I currently enjoy flying two-line kites, gardening, movies and sharing with friends and the Hilltop community.
Brad, Operations Coordinator