About Us

Mrs. Riley-Owner | Director

Mrs. Riley began her career at Mrs. Murray’s Nursery School in 1996, where she embraced the school’s long-standing philosophy of nurturing young children through play, exploration, and guided learning. In 2014, she proudly became the Owner and Director of MMNS. With 30 years of experience at the school, she holds a Director II certification through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

One of Mrs. Riley’s favorite parts of being Director is greeting the children and their families each morning. She enjoys working alongside her wonderful team of teachers and getting to know each child as they learn and develop throughout the school year. Nothing is more rewarding to her than seeing a child’s face light up with pride after accomplishing something new!

Mrs. Riley and her husband made Newburyport their home in 1988, where they raised their three children. They are now proud grandparents of three grandchildren, all of whom attended Mrs. Murray’s Nursery School.

Outside of school, Mrs. Riley enjoys spending time with family and friends, especially at their home in New Hampshire.

Mrs. Gray-PreK Teacher

Mrs. Gray has been a valued member of the Mrs. Murray’s Nursery School family since 2001! Before beginning her career in early childhood education, she worked as an Assistant Manager at a local bank. After having her two sons and volunteering in their classrooms, she discovered how rewarding working with young children could be. Inspired by those experiences, she became a certified teacher through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

Throughout her years of teaching, Mrs. Gray has developed a strong understanding of the skills children need as they prepare for kindergarten. She enjoys seeing her Pre-K students become more independent, tackle new challenges, and take pride in their accomplishments throughout the school year. Helping children build a strong foundation for their next chapter is one of the most rewarding parts of her work. She cannot imagine doing anything else!

Born and raised in Newburyport, Mrs. Gray now lives in Salisbury with her husband. They have two grown sons, both MMNS alumni, and two grandsons. Her family’s special connection to MMNS continues into the next generation, with one of her grandsons also attending the school.

Mrs. Mirra-Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Mirra’s connection to Mrs. Murray’s Nursery School began in 1990, when her three sons attended the school. When they moved on to full-day school, she knew she wasn't ready to leave the MMNS community! In 2006, she joined the teaching staff and has been sharing her love of working with young children ever since. She is a certified teacher through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

Having worked with young children for so many years, Mrs. Mirra has developed a wonderful understanding of their individual needs. She has a special ability to help children adjust to their first preschool experience, especially those separating from their parents for the first time. Her experience, confidence, and genuine care have earned her the trust and appreciation of MMNS families. Helping children feel comfortable and settle into their new routines is one of the many ways she makes a difference in the classroom.

Outside of school, Mrs. Mirra lives in West Newbury with her husband. They have three grown sons and a grandson, and she loves the idea of another generation of her family someday becoming part of the MMNS community!

Mrs. Smith-PreK Teacher

Mrs. Smith has been teaching at Mrs. Murray’s Nursery School for 16 years and brings over 30 years of experience in early childhood education! She holds an Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science. She continues to participate in professional development to stay current with early childhood education practices and maintain her certifications.

Mrs. Smith enjoys helping her Pre-K students build friendships, become more independent, and discover all they are capable of achieving. She believes in creating a welcoming classroom where children feel comfortable being themselves, learn to care for others, and develop important social and emotional skills. She values a consistent daily routine that gives children a sense of security while allowing plenty of opportunities to learn, explore, and have fun!

One of her favorite moments of the day is morning meeting, when the children excitedly share their stories, thoughts, and experiences. She enjoys starting each day together and seeing the children's unique personalities shine.

Outside of school, Mrs. Smith lives in Salisbury with her husband, a local police officer, and their daughter, an oncology nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. As the oldest of four siblings and the only girl, she grew up surrounded by boys! She once dreamed of working in the beauty industry and still enjoys keeping up with the latest beauty trends. She also loves swimming and listening to rap and hip-hop music!

Mrs. Forrest-Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Forrest is in her seventh year at Mrs. Murray’s Nursery School and brings approximately 10 years of experience in early childhood education. She holds a Master’s degree in School Counseling and is a certified Lead Teacher through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC). She also has training in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and experience working with children with special needs.

Mrs. Forrest enjoys seeing how much her preschoolers learn and accomplish between September and June. She believes preschool should be a time for children to have fun while developing new skills, learning to work together, and discovering the excitement of learning. She especially enjoys celebrating holidays and special events with her class and incorporating cooking and food-related activities into hands-on learning experiences.

Outside of school, Mrs. Forrest is a busy mom of four girls, all MMNS alumni, and has two Bernedoodles. She loves sports, especially basketball, and has completed five marathons!

Mrs. Ritter-Preschool Teacher

Mrs. Ritter has been teaching at Mrs. Murray’s Nursery School for five years and brings experience teaching kindergarten, first, and second grade. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a double major in Early Childhood Education and Sociology and a minor in Criminology. After taking time away from teaching to raise her three children, she returned to the classroom and has loved being part of MMNS ever since!

What Mrs. Ritter enjoys most about teaching preschool is getting down on the children’s level and having conversations with them. She loves hearing about their lives outside of school, discovering their unique personalities, and sharing in their excitement when they create something they're proud of or accomplish something for the first time. For her, being part of so many new experiences and discoveries is what makes teaching young children so special.

Morning meeting is one of her favorite parts of the school day, especially reading stories aloud and bringing the class together. She also loves music time and seeing how much the children enjoy participating! Above all, Mrs. Ritter believes preschool should be a place where every child feels safe, loved, and comfortable being themselves. She values the friendships children form and the social and emotional skills they develop along the way.

Outside of school, Mrs. Ritter lives in Newburyport with her husband and their three children, Brock, Isla, and Elle, all MMNS alumni! As a family, they enjoy spending time at the beach, skiing, and cheering on their favorite sports teams.

Mrs. Landry-PreK Teacher

Mrs. Landry’s journey into early childhood education began after her two children attended Mrs. Murray’s Nursery School. Her family had such a wonderful experience that she knew she wanted to become part of the MMNS community and help create those same positive experiences for other children.

Now in her third year at MMNS, Mrs. Landry enjoys being part of the Pre-K classroom. She earned her degree in Business from the University of New Hampshire and later became a certified teacher through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC).

One of Mrs. Landry’s favorite parts of teaching is seeing the world through the children’s eyes and sharing in their curiosity and excitement as they discover something new. She especially enjoys snack time, when their conversations, ideas, and personalities truly shine! She believes preschool is an important time for children to form friendships, learn to work through challenges, and develop the social skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.

Outside of school, Mrs. Landry lives in Newburyport with her husband, their two children, and their dog. Her family stays busy with sports and dance activities, and she can often be found cheering from the sidelines!