Kent Children’s Center
Gloria Hill has been working at the Children's Center since 1991. She is also the Secretary of the First Congregational Church in the same building.
Gloria has lived in Kent Hollow since 1981. Her son, Kevin lives in Sharon and her daughter, Kristy, lives in Boulder, Colorado.
Between jobs Gloria enjoys walking, hiking, music, reading and shopping.
Toni Hanny-Pahlck has been the Director of KCC since October of 1982, coming with a wide range of child-oriented education and experiences.
Toni graduated from CUNY Summa Cum Laude with a specialized degree in Psychology, Sociology and Political Science, with minors in Elementary Education and Pre-Law. She is a 1980 inductee of the Psi Chi National Honor Society.
She taught Special Education in N.Y.C. for 3 years and Art at the St. Barnabus Mission Society in N.Y.C. for summers while attending the School of Visual Arts.
Toni has also worked at the Legal Aid Society in New York in the Child/Family Division. Upon moving to Connecticut in 1981, she became the first Program Director of New Milford’s Latchkey Program and worked as an Outreach Worker for the Commission on Aging in New Milford before coming to KCC.
In addition to her work at the Children's Center, Toni has been actively involved in the Northwest Directors Forum, serving as co-chairperson and treasurer.
Her passions include children and gardening.
Diane Simmons lives in Gaylordsville with her husband and a very spoiled dog and cat. Her two children are grown and married, Christopher and his wife live in Sandy Hook and Barbara and her husband live in Kent. In a few weeks, Diane will be a grandmother.
Diane has a BA in Retaining and a Masters in Business Administration. She had worked at the Village Preschool for 11 years along with Dawn Kraft, in addition to subbing at the Center for the past several years. Dianne is looking forward to her time with the children and the opportunity to be an instructional teacher at KCC.
Dawn Kraft lives on Candlewood Lake with her husband Bill. Dawn and Bill have 2 daughters, Kim and Jennifer. Kim is a Preschool teacher in New Hampshire and Jennifer is a Vet in N.Y. They have 5 grandchildren.
Dawn graduated from Tarkio College with a B.S. degree in Elementary Education and has been teaching for 39 years. She has taught 1st grade, Directed Sherman’s Nursery School and recently retired after 23 years from her business, The Village Preschool. Dawn has also taught swimming for the past 25 years.
Dawn loves to swim, kayak, sail, and practice yoga.
Barbara Egenes is a Registered Art Therapist having received a M.A. in Art Therapy from NYU. Her experiences have been with the New York City Bd. of Education providing service to Special Ed students in 2 elementary schools. While in this capacity Barbara nominated a student to the National Art Magazine, Arts & Activities. The student and his work were chosen to be published in the January 2003 edition under the title of “Young Artist”. She also organized art therapy services for the preschool, The Guild for Exceptional Children. Barbara has 16 years experience in the Mental Health field as a Psychiatric Nurse and holds an Associate’s degree in childcare.
As an active member of the Kent Art Association, Barbara’s work has been exhibited and sold at the Kent Gallery. Barbara is the proud mother of 4 children, a grandmother to 10 and a great grandmother to 2.
Ann Marie Anderson lives in Candlewood Point with her husband Chris and 2 cats, Persia and Sasha. Ann Marie graduated with a M.S. degree in Special Education from Fordham University.
Since 1979 to 2000 she taught for the Archdiocese of Brooklyn and was a Special Education teacher for the NYC Board of Education.
Ann Marie loves music, reading, sports and doing all types of crafts.
meet the faculty....
Kent Children’s Center © 2009
PO Box 204
Kent, Connecticut 06757