Meet the Director

Our Director
Libby Brunette
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Joined Applewood: 1996
Education: BS in Child/Family Studies from UNH and MS in Care & Education in Early Childhood Settings from Wheelock College (BU). Credential(s): NH Early Childhood Professional Educator III w/ Infant and Toddler Endorsement; NH Prof. Dev. Specialist: Mentor, Trainer, Coach, Consultant and Faculty, NH Early Childhood Administrator II, Afterschool Admin 4
Favorite Quote: “Well behaved women seldom make history” – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
Favorite Part of Teaching Young Children: Observing their play to learn about what they’re thinking and then creating curriculum that extends and deepens that thinking.
Favorite Hobby: Reading, room design, and playing games and puzzles with my family.
Professional Background
Libby Brunette is the Educational Director of The Applewood Learning Center. She began her career in Early Care and Education in 1990. Beginning as a caregiver in an afterschool program, she realized early on that her calling was working with young children. While studying for her bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies at UNH, Libby worked with at-risk youth in a grant-funded, after school program in Manchester.
Upon graduation, she began at Applewood in the Schoolage program. During her time at Applewood, Libby has served as a Schoolage, Kindergarten, and Toddler Teacher. In 2000, she took on the role of Director at Applewood where she was provided the opportunity to have a greater impact on children and families. During this time, she earned her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Wheelock College (now part of BU).
Children’s over-exposure to media and marketing, social-emotional learning, and emergent curriculum are just some of the passions that keep Libby enthused about the field of early care and education. As a native of New Hampshire, Libby understands the culture of the area while respecting and valuing the diversity of our ever-changing community.
In addition to her role at Applewood, Libby has served as a mediator for families in crisis, has written for an Early Childhood publication, presents trainings for other Early Childhood professionals, has served as Adjunct Faculty for Nashua Community College’s Early Childhood Education department, and has testified on behalf of the Early Childhood Workforce. Libby’s NH Credentials include Early Childhood Professional Educator III w/ Infant and Toddler Endorsement; NH Prof. Dev. Specialist: Mentor, Trainer, Coach, Consultant and Faculty; NH Early Childhood Administrator II, Out of School Time – I.