With over 30 years of experience in Early Childhood Education, Kathy Barnes has dedicated her life to nurturing young minds. In 2010, her dream became a reality when she opened Hill Farm Preschool in Fairfield, Connecticut. Starting out with just 6 children and 1 teacher today, the preschool has grown to over 60 children and 10 dedicated educators and over 800 alumni. In 2025, Kathy will celebrate 15 years as the proud founder and CEO of Hill Farm Preschool.

Kathy’s passion for working with children began in 1987 when, at just 11 years old, she volunteered at a local daycare center. This early experience ignited a lifelong commitment to creating environments where children feel valued and heard.

Known for her compassionate approach, Kathy has always strived to be the teacher who gives children the freedom to explore, express themselves, and find their voices. She’s affectionately known as the “messy” teacher—where creativity flourishes, and memorable learning experiences are guaranteed.

Owning her preschool has allowed Kathy to extend this care and love to every child who walks through the doors. Her philosophy, “when we enroll a child, we enroll the whole family,” reflects her holistic approach to early education.

As a director, Kathy’s methods have fostered a supportive and respectful environment for her staff, resulting in low turnover and a team that feels truly valued.

In addition to running the day to day operations at Hill Farm Preschool, Kathy is the founder of The Magic of Preschool where she shares her knowledge and passion about best practices in early childhood, and is a sought after speaker and workshop host on a variety of topics such as building empathy in the preschool classroom, the importance of process art, positive ways to support your staff, and building relationships with your families.