Squires graduated from the University of North Carolina with a degree in English in 1962, and soon after moved to New York City where she worked as a secretary at CBS. Squires joined Sesame Street as a production assistant for the first season in 1969; she later became the series' first female director. Over her 25 years as a director for Sesame Street, starting in 1982, Squires received 18 Emmy nominations, and won six Emmys for Outstanding Directing In A Children's Series.