Applications Now Open for the 2027-2028 School Year! Drop-in Tours every Friday at 8:45 am beginning October 2nd.
Open Houses: Sunday, October 25, 3:30-5 and Thursday, November 5, 5:30-7,
Each educator at CNS has outstanding experience, advanced training or degrees, and a commitment to ongoing professional development. Above all, every one of them loves to guide children through the process and joys of real discovery.
Leadership Team
From our cooperative roots, our model is administratively lean, so that our resources can center around recruting and retaining the top teachers. In our co-directing structure with a non-profit board of experts, we integrate all the development, marketing, admissions, facilities, and instructional leadership thoughtfully so that we can invest in teachers. In our model, teachers and administrators are compensated on the same salary scale.
Co-Head of School
CADY AUDETTE
Cady has decades of experience working as a teacher and administrator in independent schools. She has a B.S. from Boston University and an M. Ed. from Lesley University, with a focus on Creative Arts in Learning. She was part of the first cohort of early childhood leaders at Harvard's Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative. Recently, she completed the Harvard Business School Management and Leadership program. She started as a Lead Teacher in an independent primary school, teaching grades 4, 5, and 6 with an emergent curriculum. Inspired by the Reggio Approach, Cady then went on to develop a fine art curriculum while teaching studio art and art history classes to preschool-5th grade students. She was the Director of a large summer day camp on Cape Cod for ten years. As a former Gallery Instructor at the MFA, she is trained in VTS and continues to practice and study the methodology. In addition to her fifteen years at CNS, she consults, advises, and supports teachers and school leaders and advocates for the field of early childhood.
KELLY PELLAGRINI
Co-Founder & Co-Head of School
Kelly has decades of experience in early childhood education. In addition to a B.A. from Bates College, Kelly holds master’s degrees from Smith College and Lesley University in Curriculum and Teaching and Bilingual Early Childhood Education, respectively. Recently, she was part of the first cohort of early childhood leaders at Harvard's Saul Zaentz Early Education Initiative. She recently completed the Harvard Business School School Management and Leadership program. She has worked as a teacher, administrator, and curriculum coordinator at the Saint Francis School in Moravia, Costa Rica; public schools in Amherst and Boston, Massachusetts; and the Smith College Lab School. She has served on the Mayor Advisory Committee for 0-5 School Readiness and has been active in creating early childhood programs throughout the area. She received an Unsung Heroine Award for her extensive civic involvement. In addition to her work at CNS, she serves as an advisor to many schools as well as a mentor, instructor, and advocate in early childhood. She writes, speaks, and consults on early childhood research. She was the lead organizer for the Wonder of Learning Boston.
CFO/Chief Finance Officer
TARA VUONO
Prior to joining the team at CNS, Tara worked for over 8 years in public accounting for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Boston, New York City, and London. She has a B.S. in Accounting from Alfred University and is a former CPA. Tara joined CNS in 2012, first as a room parent when her oldest son started in the toddler program, then as a member of the board in the Assistant Treasurer position, and now as part of the administrative team, helping with bookkeeping and finances for the school.
FOUNDERS & SENIOR ADVISORS
JENNIPHER RAY
Co-Founder & Senior Advisor
Jennipher is a founding member of CNS and has been involved in CNS since the beginning as a parent, board president, and director. Her professional background was at PwC; however, she has volunteered and worked in schools for more than three decades. She serves in a support role at the administrative and classroom levels.
KRISTIN VALDMANIS
Co-Founder & Senior Advisor
Kristin is now living with her four children and husband in Maine. She continues to connect CNS to a global context for our work.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Kelly Pellagrini
Cady Audette
Tara Vuono
Amy Hanson
Samantha Bain Enright
Alexa Nicholls Costa
Callie Fitzgerald
Karen Kerr
Steve Goettle
Drew Harker
Greg Costa
Anastasia Catrickes
Kristen Brooks
EMERITUS
Karen Tompros
Josh Bresler
Melanie Wachtell Stinnett
Warren Valdmanis
Kristin Valdmanis​
Isabelle Greene
Julia Richardson
Shakera Ford Walker
Ali Kavanaugh
Amanda Mitchell
Samantha Bolotin
Claire Brown
Will Richardson
Ian MacVane
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CONSULTING
Alison Isaacson
EXPERT EDUCATORS
CNS is recognized for our investment and commitment to educational teams. Rather than having lead and assistants, we employ a co-teaching model, utilizing specialists and fellows, to provide the highest ratios of expert educators and support. In addition to their academic background, teachers spend an hour on research and development for every hour that they teach. Our teams have been featured in several books, documentaries, and research articles. Many teach university classes, host workshops, and mentor in other programs. As leaders in the field and experts in early childhood, we have prioritized a top compensation model that matches elementary, high school, and college salaries.
Arboretum Team
Arboretum has 19 children, with four teachers each day.
PEARL DELALI ABITI
Co-Teacher
Pearl has worked in early education for nearly a decade, first at the Reggio Emilia-inspired school at the University of Vermont, where she taught Pre-K for two years, and now at CNS for the last 7. Pearl studied education and earned her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education at the University of Vermont, where she was also a student-athlete on the UVM Track Team. She was the team captain, a heptathlete, a gold-medal pentathlete, and an all-around indoor MVP. In addition to teaching, Pearl is working towards an ECE Pedagogy Certificate through the Boulder Journey School in partnership with the University of Colorado.
HILARY ODOY
Co-Teacher
Hilary has over three decades of experience in early childhood education. Hilary has served in nearly every position in the field, from classroom teacher to pedagogista, and a variety of administrative roles, including serving as the director of Radcliffe Child Care Center at Harvard University (2022-23) and the Director of Newtowne School (2014-19). She holds an MA in Innovative Early Childhood Education from the University of Colorado’s Boulder Journey School. In addition to teaching at CNS, Hilary is a consultant for local early childhood programs. She is now the Coordinator of the Boston Area Reggio-Inspired Network board after 10 years of service as a Board Member.
PRIASA DELEIGH
Co-Teacher
Priasa has been teaching for a decade and is excited to be starting her second year at Charlestown Nursery School. She comes from a family of educators and has always been passionate about working with children. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology and her Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education through the University of Colorado Denver. While working at the Radcliffe Child Care Center, she discovered a strong connection to the Reggio Emilia philosophy—a discovery that ultimately led her to Colorado, where she worked with the world-renowned Boulder Journey School. Originally from Vermont, Priasa has considered Boston her second home for over a decade.
JULIA SOYER
Co-Teacher Specialist
Julia has been teaching and learning alongside children for over two decades, most of those years as an early childhood teacher. She earned her master’s in elementary education from the University of Massachusetts, a master’s in theater history from Tufts University, and a bachelor’s in theater studies from Wellesley College. In 2022, Julia attended a study tour at the Centro Internazionale Loris Malaguzzi in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Her ongoing research involves how to combine movement, drama, and visual art generally into work with children and, more specifically, into storytelling. Julia has co-designed curriculum and co-taught drama and movement at Le Meraviglie, a creative arts program for children in Brooklyn. In New York and Boston, Julia studies a variety of improvisation and performance techniques. In addition to teaching, Julia serves as a coordinating member of the Hawkins Centers of Learning/New England. Julia has also served on the Board of KidsArts, an arts program in Jamaica Plain.
Esplanade Team
Esplanade has 17 children with five teachers each day.
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JESSICA TRIPP
Co-Teacher
Jessica has worked in education for over a decade across a variety of formal and informal settings, including public, charter, and private schools, as well as museums. She studied Arts in Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, English at Boston College, art at the New York Studio School, and participated in a study tour of the municipal preschools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. In addition to teaching at CNS, Jessica works as a consultant specializing in arts-based learning, classroom environments, and documentation, and has presented on place-based education to educators from all over the world. Recently, she has been co-teaching the course “Contemporary Art in Early Childhood” at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
ERIKA MILES
Co-Teacher
Erika has taught young children in the Boston area and in NYC for more than 20 years. A graduate of Lesley University, she has an M.A. in Early Childhood Education as well as extensive professional development – including advanced training in assessment and documentation, and in programs such as Handwriting Without Tears, Lively Letters, and Orton Gillingham. Most recently, Erika has helped start and run a nature-immersive preschool and has taught at an outdoor, farm-based early childhood education program. Returning to CNS for her 14th year, she deeply believes that forging meaningful relationships with children and their families is the most important factor in creating a successful classroom environment.
KATE CARTER
Co-Teacher Specialist
Kate is a graduate of the University of Vermont, home to one of the most respected lab schools. Kate refined her practice at the Campus Children’s Center, Radcliffe Child Care, and in Reggio Emilia, where she was fortunate to have visited for a study group. Now at CNS for almost a decade, she continually finds joy and inspiration in the Reggio philosophy and is particularly captivated by the possibilities that arise when the child is viewed as a capable, active participant in their learning journey. She enjoys forming relationships with the children, the families, and colleagues.
HANNAH SHERIDAN
Co-Teacher
Hannah brings over a decade of experience to her teaching. In addition to her undergraduate degree in Child Development and Creative Therapies, she recently completed her master's degree in Innovative Early Childhood Education, in collaboration with the Boulder Journey School. She recently attended the Reggio Children International Study Tour in Reggio Emilia. She has worked in a variety of settings, including Montessori and Reggio Emilia-inspired schools. She shares a particular interest in designing process-based art experiences, fostering opportunities for children to connect with nature, and partnering with children in scientific inquiry.
MICHELLE NOCERA
Co-Teacher
Michelle has worked with young children for over five years in a variety of settings. Recently, after a career switch, she earned her Master's in Education degree in Early Childhood Education, pre-K to grade 2. She has worked in public and private schools with a particular interest in studying the inquiry-based Reggio Emilia approach. During her graduate work, she focused on early literacy and science education.
Greenway Team
Greenway has 9 children with three teachers each day.
STEPHANIE 0'HARA
Co-Teacher
Stephanie has been in the field of education for over two decades. A graduate of Emerson College, she has a master's degree in communication disorders. As a speech and language pathologist, she has experience working with children and adults in rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and early intervention programs. She brings a particular interest and expertise in language and literacy development. In addition to teaching, she has participated in the study tour to Reggio Emilia, served as a guide at The Wonder of Learning, and worked at the Boston Children's Museum.
VALERIE SHULMAN
Co-Teacher
Valerie has been in education for almost a decade, both at Shady Hill School and Charlestown Nursery School. In addition to her teaching experience and education, she has a degree in architecture from the College of Environmental Design at the University of California. In her study, she especially enjoys collaborating on STEAM projects as part of the emergent curriculum. Valerie had the chance to highlight one such collaboration as she and Julia Soyer shared at the 2019 BARIN conference, "What ALL children Deserve: Dialogue on the Rights of Children," sharing the story of Esplanade’s year-long food truck inquiry as a lens to view the rights of children to be active agents in learning. In Autumn 2022, Valerie traveled to Reggio Emilia, Italy, to continue learning alongside international educators as part of a study tour, and she continues to engage in dialogue with educators through BARIN's Pedagogical Leadership Cohort.
MARLENE CALIXTO
Co-Teacher Fellow
Marlene Calixto has been an early childhood educator for almost two decades. After years of work with young children in our community, she joined CNS to complement her early childhood studies at Bunker Hill Community College and her teacher certification courses. In addition to teaching, Marlene has been active in professional development in our community and is joining our Center for Teacher Research as a fellow. She works closely with the preschool and toddler teams and has offered some of our programs in Spanish.
Riverway Team
Riverway has 9 children with three teachers each day.
LISE WHITE
Co-Teacher
Lise White has been in early childhood education for over two decades. She has her master’s in child development and early childhood education from Wheelock College and her bachelor’s in English from the University of Colorado in Boulder. Lise’s teaching practice has long been inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, and she has participated in a study tour of the municipal preschools and infant-toddler centers. In addition to teaching at CNS, she teaches educators at the university level and facilitates workshops and teacher training seminars. In her recent studies, Lise has been inspired by research on the benefits of access to green spaces and is focusing on fostering a relationship with nature among young children in urban environments.
DANIELLE JOHNSON
Co-Teacher
Danielle has been working in the field of early education for over two decades. She earned her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and child psychology from the University of Vermont, where she also worked in the lab school. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, she moved to Boston and collaborated with others to design a Reggio-inspired curriculum at a Harvard-affiliated children's center. Danielle then earned her master’s degree in child development, with a focus on birth-to-three and early intervention, from Wheelock College, and worked in early intervention, supporting children with developmental delays and autism. Currently, Danielle is completing coursework to become a board-certified behavior analyst.
SARAH BAUER
Co-Teacher
Sarah has many years of studying early childhood education and is entering as a third-year teacher at Charlestown Nursery School. She has worked as a caregiver and volunteered for Boston youth programs such as Cradles to Crayons and the YMCA. She has a B.S. in communications with a minor in psychology. After college, Sarah worked in public relations in the Boston area before pursuing her love of children and education.
Specialists & Consultants
In addition to regular screenings and services, our literacy specialists meet with small groups for differentiated instruction twice a week.
JODI SMALL
Jodi is a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist and the owner of MetroWest Speech, Language and Literacy, which provides comprehensive speech, language, and literacy services for families and children in Boston and surrounding areas. She has collaborated with the educators at Charlestown Nursery School for over 10 years, providing intervention services and consultation. With over two decades of experience working with children in early intervention, school, hospital, and private practice settings. Jodi is passionate about supporting the development of critical foundational skills in speech, language, and literacy during the preschool years so each child can reach their fullest potential. Jodi earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication Disorders from the University of Colorado-Boulder and a Master's in Speech Pathology from Emerson College in Boston. She holds a certificate in clinical competence from the American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA) and a Massachusetts state license. Jodi has specialized training in motor speech disorders (Prompt, DTTC), literacy (Orton-Gillingham, Lively Letters, Heggerty), language intervention (Visualizing + Verbalizing, Brain Frames, Empower, Story Grammar Marker), and social communication (Social Thinking, Collaborative Problem Solving).
MEGAN POPP
Bio coming soon!
ADDITIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
In addition to our in-house specialists, we also work with
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consulting psychologist, Dr. Rachel Kramer
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consulting OT, OTA Koomar, and Play2Learn
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consulting learning specialist, Learning Seeds
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as well as many other developmental experts,
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for a full list and contacts, feel free to reach out
Support Team
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LAUREN DONAHUE
Lauren has been focused on teaching preschool for over a decade. She moved to Boston after completing her master's degree in early childhood education from The University of Hartford with a concentration in Early Literacy. In Boston, she taught at a Harvard-affiliated school where she received extensive professional development in social-emotional and literacy development. She has enjoyed expanding her experience around the Reggio Emilia approach at CNS, creating a safe and inspiring community for students to learn and grow.
NANCY CULLISON
Nancy has been teaching for over 25 years and is now serving as a consultant and coach at Charlestown Nursery School. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts, she has worked at many early childhood centers, including the Harvard Radcliffe Center, and managed her own. She worked closely with the Child Development Department while at Harvard, both in the practice and training of new educators. She has extensive training in the Reggio Emilia approach, including a study tour to Reggio Emilia. She also recently attended a study tour in New Zealand. She brings a particular interest in nature and environmental education to the classroom.
CAROLINE RAMSEY
Caroline has many years of experience in education. She has extensive experience working with neurodiverse children of varying needs. She has served as a caregiver, an after-school and summer aide at the Charles River Center ARC in Needham, and as an intern at Love Lane, an organization that offers therapeutic horseback riding. Caroline is a graduate of Boston College with a degree in History, where she also volunteered as a tutor for elementary students at the Commonwealth Tenants Association of Brighton. After college, she pursued a career in technology sales, spending 4 years at Salesforce in New York, where she coached and managed a team of 9 salespeople. Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, Caroline returned to early childhood education and completed a two-year teaching fellowship at CNS, working closely with both the Arboretum and Esplanade preschool teams.
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BRIDGET NYHAN
Bridget has worked with young children for over two decades in both teaching and administration, including experience in her own home-based program. She earned a master's in education from Suffolk University and spent several years working as a school counselor with both elementary and middle school students. This year, she had the opportunity to continue her education by participating in a study tour of the municipal preschools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. In addition to teaching, her professional development focuses on nature and early literacy. Outside of school, she spends a lot of time volunteering in local organizations, sharing her love of the city with her own three children, reading, gardening, walking, and bike riding.