Meet the Team
Meet the Team Behind Naugatuck Early Start
At Naugatuck Early Start, our team is committed to helping families with children ages 0–5 feel connected, supported, and empowered. Through community partnerships, local outreach, and trusted resources, we work together to make Naugatuck a welcoming place for every family to grow and thrive.
Jill Mahoney
Community Liaison
Jill serves as the liaison between parents and community organizations. She is the primary person families speak with when reaching out for support. Supportive, knowledgeable, and deeply connected to Naugatuck, Jill is dedicated to helping every family find the resources they need.
Melissa Acosta
Melissa spent much of her childhood in Naugatuck before relocating to Arizona. After several years away, the sense of connection and community in her hometown drew her back. She now lives in Naugatuck with her husband, Daniel, and their three children who keep her busy with town sports and extra curricular activities. As a teacher in Naugatuck, Melissa sees firsthand the resources and support local families need. Driven by a deep commitment to the town’s young learners, she joined Naugatuck Early Start to extend her impact beyond the classroom. Her goal is simple: to ensure every family in Naugatuck feels heard, valued, and supported.
Natalie Douglass
Naugatuck has always been home, and now Natalie is raising her two busy boys here alongside her husband Nick. A working mom and proud first-generation American, Natalie speaks Portuguese and is passionate about making sure every family in Naugatuck feels seen, heard, and supported; no matter where you come from or what language you speak. She knows this community deeply, which means she's also seen its gaps firsthand. When she became a first-time mom and was discharged from the hospital, she felt what so many parents feel: on your own, figuring it out. That experience is exactly what drew her to Naugatuck Early Start. Her goal is simple — make sure every family has support from day one, with all the amazing resources this community has to offer in one centralized place.
April Vaughn
April is a devoted wife and proud mother of five children, ranging in age from toddlers to teenagers. Family has always been at the heart of her life and continues to inspire the work she does every day. Through her previous work in the school district’s special services department and within the local emergency department, she has helped connect families with essential resources, compassionate care, and meaningful support. April has successfully completed Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI), recognized on a local and state level. Further strengthening her ability to advocate for children, empower parents, and help build stronger communities.
She joined Naugatuck Early Start because she believes every child deserves the opportunity to thrive. As both a mother and dedicated community advocate, and Youth Advisor, April understands the lasting impression that encouragement, guidance, and early support can have on children and families.
Dee Williams
DeWygee “Dee” Williams is a mom of seven, wife, business owner, mentor, and community advocate who has been deeply connected to the Naugatuck community for many years. As a Parent Ambassador representing Future Scholars with Naugatuck Early Start, she is passionate about helping families feel supported, informed, and connected from the very beginning.
Through both personal experience and community work, Dee understands how overwhelming parenting can feel, especially during the early years when families are trying to navigate resources, childcare, education, and everyday life. That experience inspired her to become involved in advocacy and parent leadership, helping ensure families feel seen, heard, and welcomed.

Dee is a graduate of the 2018 Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) cohort and serves on the board of Naugatuck Youth Services. She is also the owner of Uniquely Cleaned LLP, where she incorporates youth mentorship, employment opportunities, and community service into her work. She believes advocacy is not always loud, and that kindness, connection, and consistency can make a lasting impact on families and communities.
