About Us

Sarah Houghton is the Director of Family Connections, an organization dedicated to supporting families through education, community building, and empowering parents. With a background in early childhood education Sarah has built a career focused on providing families with the resources and support they need to thrive.

As a mother of two boys, Sarah deeply understands the joys and challenges of parenting, which fuels her commitment to helping other parents navigate their own journeys. Her work emphasizes the importance of community and the power of connection, ensuring that families feel supported, informed, and connected to the resources they need.

Outside of her professional life, Sarah enjoys cooking and practicing yoga, activities that provide her with balance and peace. With a blend of professional expertise and personal experience, Sarah remains dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of families.

Jesenia Tejada-Perez is a passionate and dedicated Assistant to the CFCE Family Connections Director, as well as the Community Resource Liaison for Triton Regional School District. With a Master’s in Social Work, Jesenia is deeply committed to supporting students, families, and schools.

Whether it's marketing playgroups, providing administrative support, creating or implementing programming to engage students and families, or fostering strong relationships across the district, Jesenia brings a wealth of knowledge and a compassionate approach to every project.

When not working to make a positive impact in the community, Jesenia loves spending time with family and exploring new places through travel. Combining a love for people with a dedication to service, Jesenia is always seeking new ways to make a difference and grow both personally and professionally.

Miss Cindy has been part of the Salisbury School community for 15 years, serving first as an Instructional Aide and then as a Playgroup Facilitator. Cindy loves working with children and building relationships with families over time. She is a mom of 4 and has 3 grandchildren. Cindy is a Salisbury resident who grew up in Newburyport. One of her favorite activities is boating at the lake.

Miss Kaytlyn has always had a passion for children and education, majoring in Elementary Education in college and getting her Master’s in Special Education shortly after. She worked as a fifth grade teacher for seven years and a Family Engagement Coordinator in Worcester, MA before leaving the classroom to focus on motherhood. She has three kids under six who she loves creating learning opportunities for at home. She’s excited to bring her expertise and love of learning to the community in order to build meaningful connections with caregivers and provide a safe space for their children to explore, grow, and engage with others.

Miss Melissa graduated from college with a BA in English Literature. She spent over a decade in Corporate Sales on both the east and west coast before her daughter was born, at which point Melissa left the hustle and bustle and spent her days being a mom. Motherhood also led her to a Montessori preschool where she fell in love with the children, families and Montessori method of teaching. Melissa went on to complete her Montessori head teaching certification and further pursued her schooling with a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education. She spent many years in the classroom building beautiful bonds with children and their families. She is very eager to share her love of learning in a fun, creative and engaging environment for children and their caregivers.

Miss Moira was born and raised in Mexico, and is a mother of three with a background in business and accounting. She moved to the U.S. 15 years ago as an Au Pair and student. After gaining experience in the accounting field throughout work and schooling, she shifted her focus to raising her family in the Newburyport area. Moira and her children are active participants in CFCE playgroups. Moira is excited to now lead a bilingual (Spanish-English) playgroup, combining her cultural background, and  caregiving experience.

Miss Nicole has been coming to groups with her boys for the last 5 years and is very familiar with our program. Nicole lives in Amesbury and is a mom of 2 boys ages 3 & 5. Playgroups have been a huge part of her parenting journey and she is excited to lead one for you all!

Miss Tracey earned her Master’s in Education and worked as an elementary school teacher for 10 years. She always knew she wanted a career that would be focused around children, and loved babysitting when she was younger. Once she and her husband were due with their third child, she decided to take a break from teaching to be a stay at home mom. She has all boys aged 7, 5, and 2 years old. As a mom who attended Busy Learners (one of our CFCE playgroups) with her own children, she is excited to take on the role as a teacher again. Tracey enjoys spending time with family, going to the beach, and scuba diving!