Meet Our Team
Martha Parkins
Co-Founder & Executive Director Martha is a Shelton resident, mom of two teenagers, and the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Sensory Play Center.
She spent 20 years in elementary education as a first grade teacher and Math Specialist, and earned her master’s degree in Education from Sacred Heart University. She also holds a graduate certificate in Autism Studies from the University of Massachusetts and an Intermediate Administration and Supervision (092) certification.
Throughout her career, Martha advocated for children and families in a variety of roles. Some of the experiences that stayed with her most were the relationships she built with students in her school’s Alternative Learning Center. Those connections helped spark her passion for creating a place outside of school where children and their families could feel comfortable and included.
For Martha, creating a place where families can play, connect, and truly feel like they belong is what this space is all about.
One of her favorite parts of being here is watching parents watch their children. She loves seeing a parent sit back and smile while their child is happily playing — without worrying about behaviors, judgment, or what someone else might be thinking. Seeing families relax and simply enjoy being together is one of the most meaningful parts of what she does.
The center has truly become a family project. Her husband, Jeremy, helps with construction projects around the center, and Martha loves watching her teenagers volunteer and seeing how much they have grown through the experience. They have learned so much about the different ways people communicate and how to connect with both children and adults.
She can’t wait to welcome you and your family to Sensory Play Center!
Marketing Coordinator Colleen Morrissey-Colon
Colleen is a Stratford native and Sensory Play Center’s Marketing Coordinator. She still lives in the town she grew up in, with her husband, Juan, and their three boys.
She brings over 15 years in education to the center. Colleen earned her master’s in teaching from Sacred Heart University and worked as a Pre-K teacher and a reading and math interventionist before spending eleven years teaching kindergarten in Shelton.
Working with young children has always been her passion, and teaching kindergarten was the job she loved most. When she stepped away from the classroom in 2023 to be home with her youngest, she quickly realized how much she missed it. This turned out to be the perfect way to get back to the work she loves without returning to a classroom full time.
One of her favorite parts of teaching was reading aloud to her students, so she feels lucky that she still gets to do it every week during our Story & Play Studio. She also spearheaded our new Preschool Play & Learn program, built around hands-on learning where children grow their skills through play.
Her favorite thing about being here is watching a child play, learn something new, and make a friend, all in the same visit. There is no lesson to finish and no right way to do any of it, so children can take their time, come back to what they love, or try something different when they’re ready.
She looks forward to seeing you and your family at the center — and maybe at story time!
Play Facilitator Samantha
Samantha is a Play Facilitator at Sensory Play Center. She has moved seven times, which means she knows what it feels like to walk into a room where she doesn’t know anyone yet, and maybe that’s why her favorite part of the job is being recognized. She loves the moment when a child spots her from across the room and comes running over!
Her favorite color is orange, and she’s looking ahead to college, with hopes of going somewhere far from home.
She can’t wait to meet you and your family!
Michele Lovallo
Co-Founder & Program DirectorMichele is the Co-Founder and Program Director of Sensory Play Center, and a Certified Autism Coach. She brings 19 years of teaching experience in both general and special education, with a teaching degree from Mount Saint Mary College and a master’s degree from Western Connecticut State University.
Michele lives in Oxford, Connecticut, with her husband, Chris, and their two children. As a mother to a daughter with profound autism, she brings a deeply personal perspective to her work and remains actively connected to the autism community.
Through her own journey as a parent, Michele understands how important it is for families to have a place where they feel welcomed, accepted, and never judged — somewhere their children can simply be themselves and parents can connect with others who truly understand their experiences. She has always dreamed of a space where families could belong, build friendships, share resources, and know that they are not alone. That dream became the heart of this place.
Michele is especially passionate about helping parents become strong advocates for their children. She believes that parents know their children best and should feel confident speaking up for their needs and accessing the supports available to them. As both an educator and a parent, she is continually learning new strategies, resources, and approaches to better support children and families, while navigating the complexities of the school and state systems alongside them.
Michele is grateful to see her vision come to life every day — in the families who find connection and support here, and in the children who have a place to play, explore, grow, and feel celebrated.
She looks forward to welcoming you and your family to Sensory Play Center!
Birthday Party Coordinator Julianna Nunez
Through her education and her experiences working with children, Julianna discovered her passion for supporting kids with special needs. A Stratford native, she graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with her bachelor’s degree and teaching certification in Early Childhood Education.
Julianna has over five years of experience working in ABA across both public and private settings. Throughout her career, she has learned that the most important part of her work is building genuine relationships with each child — taking the time to truly see, understand, and meet them where they are.
One of the things Julianna values most about being part of Sensory Play Center is the sense of community. Getting to know families and helping children grow in confidence has truly been a blessing. Watching familiar faces return, seeing children settle in, and celebrating their progress each visit is one of the most rewarding parts of her week.
Julianna also leads Baby Play & Connect Time, where she creates new sensory opportunities for little ones to explore, engage, and learn through play. And as our Birthday Party Coordinator, she helps make each celebration extra special — fun, inclusive, and sensory-friendly, so everyone can feel comfortable, celebrated, and excited to be themselves. Whether it’s a first birthday or a party for one of the older kiddos, she loves helping families create memories they’ll look back on and smile about.
She can’t wait to meet you and your family and celebrate with you!
VolunteerKelsey
Kelsey is a volunteer at Sensory Play Center. When she isn’t here you’ll probably find her on a ski slope, and the thing she likes most about being at the center is seeing how happy the kids are.
She can’t wait to meet you and your family!