Our Team

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Maureen Burford, M.Ed.

Executive Director and Framework Facilitator

Maureen Burford, M.Ed., is the Executive Director of Creative Lives, a veteran educator, musician, and leader in whole-child education. In 2012, she partnered with author and educator Ellen Tadd, her longtime teacher, to bring Tadd’s insights on the chakra system and human development into the field of education.

Through Creative Lives, Maureen has shared this approach with thousands of children, teens, educators, and parents in classrooms and community settings across the country. She founded the Creative Lives Afterschool Program (2012–2021), which served as a learning laboratory for developing the organization’s work with children and teachers. She has led the design of Creative Lives curriculum and educator certification programs, including the Foundations 1 and 2 trainings developed in collaboration with Laura Tadd and offered for graduate credit through Southern New Hampshire University.

Maureen has presented nationally on education, creativity, and contemplative practice, including at the Creative Problem Solving Institute and Teachers College Columbia University’s Spirituality in Education conference. Her work has been recognized with the Lynn von Trapp Award for excellence in preventative programming for youth in Vermont.

Before founding Creative Lives, Maureen served for twelve years as Artistic Director of Revels North, where she created award-winning performances and developed the acclaimed Revels Kids program. She has also managed the MIT Symphony Orchestra, composed music performed nationally, and performed professionally as a pianist and violinist.

Maureen holds an M.Ed. in Creative Education from University of Massachusetts Amherst and a B.A. in Music from Cornell University. She is co-author, with Ellen and Laura Tadd, of Helping Children Thrive, the Creative Lives coursebook.

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DR. LAURA TADD

Consultant to Creative Lives

Laura Tadd works as a spiritually-oriented psychological astrologer- writing, teaching, and lecturing in person and remotely with people worldwide. She has served on numerous international astrology boards and assisted in running astrological and graduate-level academic conferences. In addition to her counseling work, Laura has served as an academic administrator and college professor.

 Since 2021, Laura has aided Creative Lives Inc. as a consultant and course developer, helping to restructure our training program and support our team as we expand our reach to learners throughout the country. She holds a PhD in Human Science.

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Anne Kroeger

Programs Administrator

Anne Kroeger graduated from UC Santa Cruz with a degree in Environmental Science and continued in Fine Arts at San Francisco State University. In addition to working as the Programs Administrator for Creative Lives, she writes fiction for middle-grade kids.

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Caitlin Gagner

Facilitator Intern

Caitlin has worked in the early childhood field for over 16 years.  She has experience with a wide variety of educational settings, including public school in Vermont and running a nature school in Montana. Caitlin has a passion for outdoor and nature-based learning, meeting children where they are, and helping them build their social-emotional capacity.  Caitlin currently helps operate The Plymouth Schoolhouse—a licensed childcare center serving children birth to age 6.  Caitlin lives in Bridgewater with her husband, 1.5 year old son, and their family rescue dog Henny.  She enjoys yoga, hiking in the mountains, writing poetry, and making memories with her family and friends.  Caitlin believes in the transformative power of Creative Lives to help all students be successful regardless of their background.  Caitlin has co-taught certification trainings with Director Maureen Burford as part of her internship work.

Alex Jaccaci

Strategic Advisor

Alex was a long-time student of Ellen Tadd and has trained in the Framework approach. He brings his decades of experience in the business sector to bear in supporting the growth of Creative Lives.

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Our Collaborators

Creative Lives collaborates with learning communities and organizations to advance the Framework approach. Since 2012, we have worked to engage youth and adults in Framework programming or training through relationships with: Stoneledge Stables Preschool; Bridgewater Early Care Center, The VT Afterschool Alliance, The Marion Institute, Dartmouth College (work-study interns), The Hartford Rec. Department, Marion Cross School, Lesley University, Tuck Business School, White River Budokan, Artistree, The Family Place, Thetford Afterschool Program, BALE (Building a local economy), The Springfield Early Educators Alliance, Southern New Hampshire University, Castleton University, and more.