Our Teachers & Staff

Karen Kearns
3 year old Teacher
Mom to: Sean, Danielle and James
Pet: a cat named Lucky
Favorite Children’s Book
Runaway Bunny
Favorite Childhood Nature Memory
Horseback Riding
Favorite Plant or Flower
Lilacs
Favorite Outdoor Activity
Nightly walks around the neighborhood

Christina Barnard
3 year old Assistant
Mom to: Alana and Rylee
Pet: a dog named Lily
Favorite Children’s Book
Mercer Mayer’s Monster Nursery Rhymes
Favorite Childhood Nature Memory
Camping
Favorite Plant or Flower
Tulips and Lavender
Favorite Outdoor Activity
Jumping waves and playing in the sand at the beach

Dana Carney
3 year old and 2.5 year old Teacher
Mom to: Sal, Nicholas, Makayla and Derek
Pets: two dogs named Sadie and Max
Favorite Children’s Book
All Shel Silverstein
Favorite Childhood Nature Memory
Vacationing in the Catskills
Favorite Plant or Flower
Peonies
Favorite Outdoor Activity
Gardening

Michelle Desch
3 year old and 2.5 year old Assistant
Mom to: Harper
Pets: three dogs: Milly, Molly, and Portisha
two cats: Elsa and Coal
four chickens: Azreal, Zinnia, Sunflower and Lavender
Favorite Children’s Book
The Carrot Seed
Favorite Childhood Nature Memory
Camping
Favorite Plant or Flower
Carnation
Favorite Outdoor Activity
Gardening

Jennifer Spiro
4 year old Teacher
Mom to: Joshua, Lucy, and Violet
Favorite Children’s Book
Are You My Mother
Favorite Childhood Nature Memory
Full day freedom around the neighborhood and watching the sea turtles in Florida
Favorite Plant or Flower
Bamboo
Favorite Outdoor Activity
Anything with beach and ocean

Tanja DeCandia
4 year old Assistant
Mom to: Lance
Pets: two dogs: Cookie and Sandy
Favorite Children’s Book
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Favorite Childhood Nature Memory
Collecting olives in Croatia
Favorite Plant or Flower
Chamomile
Favorite Outdoor Activity
Walking the dogs

Marguerite granite

4 Year old assistant

mom to: Brandon and Jack

Pets: one dog: Shelby

favorite children's book

harry the dirty dog

favorite childhood nature memory

camping

Favorite plant or flower

sunflower

favorite outdoor activity

walking on the beach

Janie Dunham
Kindergarten Co-teacher
Mom to: Kaleigh
Pets:two cats: Maggie and Lacey
Favorite Children’s Book
Harry the Dirty Dog
Favorite Childhood Nature Memory
Catching lightning bugs
Favorite Plant or Flower
Hydrangea
Favorite Outdoor Activity
The first walk after a snow

Brandi Vuksanovich
Kindergarten Assistant
Mom to: Carly and Paige
Pet: dog: Winnie
Favorite Children’s Book
Mercer Mayer Books
Favorite Childhood Nature Memory
Playing house under the big pine tree
Favorite Plant or Flower
Weeping Willow
Favorite Outdoor Activity
Walking the dog

Anne Plunkett
Kindergarten Co-teacher and Co-director
Mom to: Elle and Sam
Pets: two dogs: Rosie Kate and Everest Mae
Favorite Children’s Book
Where the Wild Things Are
Favorite Childhood Nature Memory
Eating honeysuckle on the way to the beach
Favorite Plant or Flower
Tiger lilies and Monstera
Favorite Outdoor Activity
Swimming in the ocean

Stacy McGann
Director
Mom to: Alex, Nick, Chase, and Caroline
Pets: two dogs: Isla and Beau
Favorite Children’s Book
Just the Thing for Geraldine
Favorite Childhood Nature Memory
Riding my blue banana bike and having card table adventures
Favorite Plant or Flower
Hosta
Favorite Outdoor Activity
Beach walks

Laura Coluccio
4 year old Teacher