Our Talented Team
Janet Kovner is the Director at CNS. She directed the Palfrey Community Children's School, a small, parent co-operative preschool program in Watertown from 1986-1997. Prior to coming to CNS, she directed a new backup child care center, affiliated with Brigham and Women's Hospital and managed by Partners Child Care Services. She has an M.Ed. in Early Childhood Special Education from Lesley University, and an M.S. in Environmental Studies from Antioch University New England. She enjoys observing birds, mammals, wildflowers and trees, and most other flora and fauna. On occasion, she leads natural history walks, and brings these passions to her work at CNS.
Nancy is the Lead Teacher in the Caterpillar class. She comes to the Caterpillars with over 25 years of experience teaching preschoolers in parent coops. Nancy enjoys the curiosity and quick laughter of preschoolers. During early childhood, she feels it is important for teachers and families to work in concert, because the heart of a young child’s identity is with their family. In the classroom, she shares her love of books, music, and the natural world. Nancy has a BA in Modern Languages from Northeastern. She and her husband Tom live in North Cambridge; their daughters are both in college.
Candice is a Massachusetts native who has several years of experience working with children in many settings, such as summer camp programs, teaching arts and sports, and professional work as a preschool teacher and nanny. As a professional artist, Candice is inspired by the wonderful imagination, energy and creativity that children emanate. She believes that supporting and nurturing a child’s creativity and imagination is crucial in how they learn and think about their world. Art exploration can be a way for a child to express their feelings and connect their ideas, which supports curiosity and problem solving skills. Candice enjoys sharing her love of art, projects, singing, dancing, books and nature with the Caterpillar Class and the full CNS community!
Julia is the Lead Teacher in the Butterfly classroom. She comes to the Butterfly group with over 10 years of experience working with children and families in a variety of settings. Julia brings her background in theater and art to her teaching of young children. She feels that imagination is an important foundation for learning. Understanding that the classroom is a community where we take care of each other and where each person’s ideas are respected is a guiding principle for the culture of the classroom. Julia holds a Masters in Theater History from Tufts University and a Masters in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.
Kerry, Teacher in the Butterfly classroom, comes to CNS after several years of teaching at the Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary (Massachusetts Audubon Society). She believes in a hands-on approach to teaching natural history, using the schoolyard and surrounding natural environment to learn about plants and animals. Kerry has an M.A. in English and American Literature from Washington University in St. Louis, and she has taught English to elementary, high school, and college students. In our classroom, she works with children to create their own stories through drawing, painting, dance, and drama. She is a former CNS board member, and both of her daughters attended our school.
