Edie (left) and Cecilia (right) Each week at Ellis’s South End locations, two remarkable women bring joy, care, and extra hands to our youngest learners. Cecilia and Edie have very different roles, but both share one thing: They are cherished volunteers whose warmth touches every child, family, and teacher at Ellis. For 13 years, Cecilia has been a beloved “abuela” at Ellis, bringing love, care, and joy to every child she meets. Cecilia came to Ellis through the ABCD Foster

Sarah Bukhari joined Ellis in November 2022, and it didn’t take long for her to feel at home. Already part of the Jamaica Plain community, she was thrilled to be placed close to her family, and the match turned out to be “perfect,” she says. Sarah and her son Mohamed at the Ellis JP Back to School Party last month! Originally an elementary school teacher in Pakistan, Sarah moved to the U.S. in 2012 and faced the challenge many immigrant educators know well: her teaching cred

At Ellis, learning and discovery don’t take a break over the summer. Our little learners enjoyed a season full of curiosity, connection, and joy. From splashing at the Boston Common Frog Pond to gliding across the Public Garden on the iconic Swan Boats, our explorers experienced the best of Boston’s summer traditions. Back on campus at Ellis, water play days kept the energy high and the children cool. But the warmest months at Ellis are more than fun in the sun. Seasonal ex

At Ellis, we know that passionate, supported educators are the heart of every child’s success. That’s why we invest deeply in professional development (PD), giving our teachers the tools, guidance, and coaching they need to inspire curiosity, confidence, and growth in every child. Ellis has steadily been increasing PD since 2022, after the height of Covid-19 saw children needing extra support to recover from social-emotional setbacks. Targeted teacher trainings helped meet t