Administrative Staff
Meg McNulty, Executive Director
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. After a BA in Elementary Education from Loyola University, I taught Kindergarten and Preschool for several years. I found myself wanting to explore the psychological well being of kids and the families who care for them. This study took me to the University of Colorado where I earned my Masters in Psychology, with a focus on children, youth, and families. By providing mental health services to kids and families and initiating advocacy projects for public schools and private non-profits, I’ve been a family therapist, case manager, grants supervisor, and school counselor. Immediately before arriving at Hilltop, I served as the founding executive director of a community-based, social service agency 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 have provided much inspiration.
A staunch advocate for supporting families, I will likely repeat myself on the subject, by waxing poetic about the “family as 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, albeit with a hasty ponytail. I am thrilled to be bumping along on this journey with my endlessly interesting and funny husband, Jeff.
When not waxing poetic or bumping along, I enjoy yoga, writing, hiking, refinishing furniture, Sudoku, reading, beachcombing, and baking. The beach is my 2nd home. Subjects that are always up for discussion are the US political machine, wine, municipal government, Irish immigration, photography, travel stories, reducing our carbon footprint, New York, and any tales of childhood. Topics less welcomed/known about are hang nails, folding fitted sheets, something called a Wii, and a world without cheese.
From Little Boy by Peter Reynolds and Alison McGhee: “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.”
Thank you so much for learning more about me and for your interest in Hilltop.
Julie Hankes, Program Coordinator
Peter Bonoff, Operations Director
I have been working in the Hilltop office since Spring of 2008. Here at the Center I am responsible for making maintaining the facilities and physical environment so the teachers can focus on provide the best care and education. I handle the in house accounting duties and manage most all of the money issues at the school. The best part of my job is getting to help out in classrooms and see the amazing work with the teachers and kids.
I have an array of experience as an educator but this is my first opportunity working with pre-school age! One of my first jobs was working as a outdoor education leader for 4th graders. I taught P.E. classes at Western Washington University while completing my degree in Environmental Policy. I also facilitated workshops in Northern Thailand on forest restoration and common resource management. Prior to moving to Seattle, I lived on San Juan Island where I coached high school lacrosse and managed a kayak-tour guiding company. Stop by the office if you are planning a trip to the Islands I LOVE to chat about my favorite places or the reproductive cycle of kelp!
When I am not at work you can usually find me playing outside somewhere near my home in Ballard. Year round I play soccer, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee and tennis. If you see me limping around the office or icing a wrist you’ll know why. I have always been a outdoors addict and feel most comfortable out hiking, kayaking or skiing. My latest gardening project is trying to convert our tiny townhouse yard into a vegetable producing oasis.
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 in the Hilltop office, doing important tasks like paying the bills and accompanying children to the bathroom! 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!