The Hilltop Team
Emily Mitchell - A/OGA, M.Ed., MA
Founder and Literacy Teacher
Emily Mitchell is the founder of Hilltop Learning and a dedicated literacy teacher with over 15 years of experience. After graduating from Georgetown University with a BA in Spanish, she joined Teach for America in Phoenix, Arizona, where she began her career as a first-grade teacher. Witnessing the joy and impact of explicit multisensory phonics instruction ignited her passion for early literacy. After earning her MEd in Elementary Education from Arizona State University, she pursued an MA in Literacy from Columbia Teachers College. Emily then moved to Philadelphia, where she served as a founding reading specialist and Spanish teacher at KIPP Philadelphia Elementary Academy. A subsequent move to Boston led her to roles as a literacy coach and reading specialist and later a special education teacher at KIPP schools in Mattapan and Lynn.
In the summer of 2020, during the early months of the pandemic, Emily launched Hilltop Learning. She has held reading specialist, elementary education, and special education teaching licenses in Massachusetts. She is certified in the Orton-Gillingham approach through The Orton-Gillingham Academy (A/OGA) and is experienced with various research-based reading programs, including Wilson Fundations, Wilson Reading System, and UFLI Foundations.
Emily is grateful for the families who have entrusted her with their children and always looks forward to welcoming new faces to Hilltop. She lives in Marblehead with her husband and three young kids.
Sonia Durrani
Spanish Teacher
Sonia Durrani is the elementary Spanish teacher at Hilltop Learning. She is originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, where she lived and studied throughout her childhood and early adult life. She received her bachelor’s degree in accounting in the Autonomous University of Chihuahua.
In 1999, Sonia moved to Boston and earned her Montessori Teacher Certificate at New England Montessori Teacher Education Center (NEMTEC). Sonia has been a dedicated Montessori teacher for more than 20 years.
Currently, Sonia is a lead teacher at The Children’s Workshop Montessori School in Marblehead, where she has been teaching for the past eleven years
She has also lived in London, UK and Melbourne, Australia, where she taught Spanish to preschool and elementary school students. The opportunity to teach in different countries has given her the skills to provide dynamic lessons that make learning Spanish engaging and fun.
Sonia believes that foreign languages give us a unique and awesome perspective into the world. The value of learning Spanish extends beyond the ability to verbally communicate with others, and provides countless neurological benefits and social advantages.
Sonia is truly passionate about teaching Spanish and she is thrilled to be part of Hilltop!
Jessica Murphy
Literacy Teacher
Jessica Murphy is a local mother to four children who has dedicated most of her career to educating young children. After graduating from Holy Cross in 2007 with a BA in Spanish and Philosophy, Jessica volunteered her time bringing public school curriculum and genuine love & care to hospital-bound children — this is where her true love and appreciation for education began.
Jessica went on to receive her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University. She was a classroom teacher and tutor at The Brookwood School in Manchester, MA and Lawrence Public Schools until she stepped out of the classroom in 2014 to pursue adult education and small group/ individual tutoring.
Through her work as a private tutor, Jessica witnessed the incredible impact that personalized attention and carefully tailored learning experiences can have on a child’s development. Her students grew leaps and bounds and it was incredible to be part of their successful journey. Jessica tutored some of her students from grades K through 6, mostly in literacy and Spanish.
Because Jessica is so passionate about bringing the best educational foundation to young learners, she felt a call to enrich the education of educators! In 2015 Jessica became an adjunct professor. She teaches college courses in Child, Growth & Development and Early Childhood Literacy.
Jessica’s dedication to education has remained unwavering, and her passion for inspiring young minds continues to drive her forward.