Marie Ockerbloom
Director
Marie is a dynamic, approachable leader with experience in education and business. A lifelong Winchester resident, Marie is the mother of three former NCNS students. She served on the NCNS Board of Directors and joined the staff as a Lead Teacher in the 1990s.

Prior to rejoining NCNS as our Director in 2010, Marie spent ten years working in health care as an account manager, fundraiser, relationship builder and educator. Marie earned a master’s degree in Elementary Education with high honors from Lesley College and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Boston College. Marie loves to cook, travel, read, and spend time with her family and friends.

Laura Connors
Office Manager
Laura was an NCNS parent, board member and teaching assistant before becoming our Office Manager in 2010. She is a 20-year resident of Winchester whose two children attended NCNS. Laura's previous administrative work includes 16 years in Human Resources at U.S. Trust Bank. Laura has volunteered with the Girl Scouts, her church, and her children's schools. She earned a bachelor's degree in Communications from Boston University.

Jackie Dee
Lead Teacher
4 & 5 year olds (4-day program)
Jackie Dee has taught at NCNS for 25 years, where she is renown for her ability to follow her students' interests and plan dynamic, ongoing activities that facilitate their learning. Both of Jackie's children attended NCNS.

Jackie earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Colby College. She has completed early childhood and elementary education courses at Tufts University and master's level courses that include the Reggio Emilia approach. In addition to her many years as an educator in Massachusetts, Jackie has taught young children in Maryland and New York.

Jan Koss
Lead Teacher
3 year olds (3-day class)
Jan is a long-time resident of Winchester whose two daughters attended NCNS. She joined our staff in 2007, having previously served on the board. Jan is a very active member of the Winchester community, where she volunteers with the En Ka Society, Meals on Wheels and in her church. In the past, she has volunteered with the Girl Scouts and her daughters' elementary school. Jan earned her bachelor's degree from Bucknell University. Jan loves the attitude, energy, and camaraderie of the NCNS staff and parents.

Susan Leathers
Teacher
4 year olds (3-day class)
Sue, a mother of three and a long-time Winchester resident, joined NCNS in 2005 after three years teaching at Winchester Cooperative Nursery School. She earned a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology from Springfield College, and previously worked as a college admissions officer and a childbirth educator. She is an active volunteer, currently serving on the board of Winchester ABC (a chapter of A Better Chance, Inc.), and fundraising for the Germaine Lawrence School in Arlington and the Huntington Theater Company in Boston. Sue enjoys gardening, golf, tennis, and walking in the Fells.

Janel Nagtegaal
Lead Teacher
4 year olds (3-day class)
Janel is a Winchester resident and the mother of three past and present NCNS students, as well as a former NCNS board member. Janel earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology from Boston College and her Masters in Early Childhood Education from Bank Street College in New York City. Previously, Janel taught preschool in New York City and worked as a Developmental Educator in Early Intervention in Massachusetts. She is an energetic, nurturing teacher who supports each child as an individual within the larger group. She loves children's literature and artwork and incorporates these into her curriculum.

Cherilyn Valentino
Lead Teacher
3 year olds (2 & 3 day-class)
Cherilyn is a Winchester resident whose two sons attended NCNS. She teaches our youngest students, many of whom start school before turning three. As an NCNS parent, Cherilyn served on our Board of Directors before joining the staff to teach our Toddler Program for two years and Lunch Bunch. Cherilyn has a bachelor's degree from the Lynch School of Education at Boston College and earned her Masters of Education in elementary education at Lesley University. Cherilyn, who grew up in Arlington, taught third grade for seven years in Arlington Public Schools.

Sara Ferguson
Teacher
Lunch Bunch and Snack Bunch (multi-age)
Sara teaches our Lunch Bunch and Snack Bunch sessions four days a week. She lives in Winchester, where she is an active leader in the Farmers' Market and Wright-Locke Farm. Sara earned her Bachelor's of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Georgia. She has worked in television production, including WGBH's This Old House, The New Yankee Workshop, and a series of teacher training videos. Sara has two children in elementary school in Winchester.