Faculty & Staff

Dr. Erin Murphy

Dr. Erin Murphy is a lifelong educator and learner with K-12 administrative experience. She started her career outside of Cleveland, Ohio as a high school social studies teacher. Throughout her eleven years of teaching, she learned to build relationships with students, develop engaging lessons and analyze student work in a professional learning community.

Erin began as an administrator with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District in 2010. Working as a high school assistant principal and K-8 principal, she found her passion for systems-building, community engagement and school reimagining. As a building-based administrator, Erin served as a certified teacher coach, collaborated to design a new school model, authored and executed school improvement grants and facilitated measurable gains in reading proficiency and school climate. In 2018, she was recognized as a Cleveland Central Promise Community Agent of change for her work as a principal.

She joins us from the Manchester School District where she served as a district leader, coaching and supporting school principals, managing teacher evaluations and certification, and building systems of school goal setting.

Erin holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Urban Education Administration from Cleveland State University, a Master of Arts in Political Science from The University of Akron and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Cleveland State. In her spare time, she is a potter, an aspiring author and a fan of tropical islands. 

Alainna Hertel

Alainna grew up in Massachusetts and moved up to New Hampshire in 2018 with her family. She holds a dual BA in Early Childhood Education and Psychology from Salem State University. She began working with children between the ages of 6 weeks to twelve years in both public and private schools, as well as after school programs and as a counselor at various summer camps. Alainna also has extensive experience working in management as a program manager where she oversaw preschool and Pre-K classrooms. In this role, she supported classroom teachers with curriculum development, behavioral management as well as parent outreach. She is passionate about providing a learning environment where children can develop a sense of self, engage in a natural curiosity about the world around them and encourage lifelong learning. When not in the classroom, Alainna enjoys reading, spending time at the beach, going on adventures with her daughters and husband or taking her dog, Toby, on a hike! 

Molly Verville

With a background in wildlife conservation and a deep love for the natural world, Molly brings curiosity, care, and hands-on experience to her role as the grades 3–5 teacher. She holds a B.S. in Wildlife Conservation and has led environmental education programs that connect children to a wide range of topics, including marine ecosystems and freshwater macroinvertebrates.

Molly believes learning is most meaningful when it’s rooted in real experiences, student questions, and a sense of wonder. Her classroom is a space where inquiry is welcomed, ideas are explored together, and every child’s voice matters. She’s especially passionate about outdoor education and loves weaving sustainability, science, and creativity into everyday learning.

Outside of school, you’ll likely find Molly hiking with her family, camping, gardening, or caring for her backyard chickens. She’s excited to grow alongside her students and build a learning community that’s thoughtful, joyful, and deeply connected to the world around us.

John Vigneau

I'm so glad to extend the warmest of greetings to the Wellheart-School community here in Merrimack! I am so glad to be joining the Program as a 6-8th Teacher. My education consists of an Undergraduate Degree from City College of New York in Western Liberal Arts/Literature, along with a Master's Degree in Ecology/Natural Sciences from Unity College of Maine. Along with a being a Teacher of Math, Science and Ecology, I am a Massachusetts State Ranger and Mountaineer, living in Milford New Hampshire with my wonderful family. I am also a practicing painter, musician, and published photographer. I am so excited to share all of these practices and experiences with the WellHeart community.

Nicole McIntyre

Nicole grew up in Massachusetts in a family-owned costume & event rental business. She coordinated and entertained at various children’s events for many years and has many fond memories playing her favorite characters: Winnie the Pooh, Elmo, & Snow White.
While loving her roles here, teaching was an unstoppable drive that she pursued while still working in the children’s entertainment field. She earned a B.S. in Education with concentration in Language Arts in 1998.
Through the years, Nicole has taught in various capacities: assistant director at Huntington Learning Center, responsible in assessing & creating individualized learning programs, mainstream teacher of kindergarten, 3rd, 4th, & 6th grades. In 2004, she discovered and trained in professional face painting and has done this as a side job since!
She paused to have three beautiful children, a girl & 2 boys who she is so proud of today!
When her oldest was 1 year old in 2006, she started a tutoring business. She is passionate to work with children 1:1 & in pods and deliver the learning they need through visual, auditory, and hands-on exploratory learning.
When her youngest was 4, she went back to work full time and was her son‘s preschool teacher. She has also taught fellow teachers at a tutoring academy in the foundations of reading licensure test course.
In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, walking trails, crafting, and thrifting.

Kristin Lockheed

Kristin is a passionate educator and proud mother of three girls. With a background in early childhood education, including Waldorf and Montessori philosophies, she is deeply committed to nurturing the whole child through creativity, connection, and meaningful experiences.

In addition to her work in education, Kristin is a makeup artist and lifelong lover of art in all its forms. She spent six years as a homeschooling mom before enrolling her 11-year-old at Wellheart full-time — a transition that felt like a natural extension of her family’s values around holistic, well-rounded learning and plenty of fresh air.

Kristin believes children thrive in environments that honor imagination, movement, nature, and rhythm. She is dedicated to supporting students in a setting that fosters curiosity, balance, and joy.

In her spare time, Kristin enjoys cooking, hiking, spending time by the sea, and gathering with friends and family. She loves organizing and creating a smooth, joyful flow to each day — typically with coffee in hand. If she’s not with children, you can likely find her in a library, in her kitchen, on a trail, or relaxing on her front porch in the warmer months.

Jessica Salois

Jess spent her senior year of high school and her first three years of college working in a learning center based on Reggio Emilia pedagogy, and perused a bachelors degree from Plymouth State University in psychology focusing on mental health. As a recent graduate, she is excited to work with WellHeart Chartered School to create a safe learning environment where creativity and curiosity create a passion for learning. Jess grew up in southern New Hampshire, and has always found nature to be the best teacher! In her free time, Jess enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and crocheting! 

Peggy Hafenberg

Peggy Hafenberg is a dedicated educator with a lifelong passion for guiding young people in discovering their unique gifts. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies and completed her Elementary Credentialing Program at California State University, Northridge in 2007. Peggy began her career supporting children in elementary classrooms, leading play-based science programs, and working in Reggio-inspired summer camps. Her educational philosophy was deeply shaped during her decade at The Growing Place in Santa Monica, where she embraced the Reggio Emilia approach, one rooted in dialogue, reflection, and child-centered learning that honors intellectual, emotional, and developmental growth. Now a parent herself, Peggy is more inspired than ever to help reimagine education for future generations. In 2023, she became a founding board member of Wellheart Charter Public School, where she is committed to helping cultivate a vibrant Reggio culture and bring meaningful, reflective learning experiences to children and families in southern New Hampshire.