Faculty
One of St John's most valuable assets is our teaching staff. Each teacher holds a college degree, and is certified in CPR and First Aid. Additionally, each staff member brings to St John's a rich background of prior preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school experience. The school is guided by a Director and several teachers and governed by a volunteer parent board. We have an amazing student–teacher ratio of 5:1. Your child will be interacting with a nurturing team of Early Childhood Professionals. Day-to-day operations of the school are handled by the Director.
Director
Jeana Colangelo
Jeana joined St. John's Nursery School as the new Director in September 2024. Jeana holds a degree in Early Childhood Education. She has been in the field for over two decades. In addition to teaching, Jeana is also an ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapist for children on the autism spectrum.
Jeana's years of teaching, collaboration with parents, and leadership experience provide her with the foundation to develop a meaningful program that fosters growth among the learners in the SJNS community.
Jeana resides in Bedford with her husband, Adam, and two children. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her extended family, skiing, reading, traveling, and cheering on her kids at their various sporting events.
Teachers & Staff in the Three-year-old Classrooms
Becky Cuoco
My journey at St. John's Nursery School began in 2004 when I became a teacher in the 3 -year- old classroom. Arts and creativity are my passion and my greatest joy is to instill this passion for exploration in children with paint, glue, crayons, paper, and more! My experience includes a BFA in Art Education, Preschool Lead Teacher certification, and over 15 years as a program coordinator for wonderful child care afterschool programs in both New Bedford and Newton. In my free time I enjoy reading, traveling, exploring the great outdoors and spending quality time with my family and friends. Each year I learn something new from the children, staff and parents I work with, and I am honored to work in the wonderful community of Westwood!
Maureen Clancy
Maureen has lived in Westwood over 25 years and has raised her 4 children here. Her children all attended St John's Nursery School. She is a wonderful new addition to our staff. When she is not teaching she enjoys playing tennis and spending time at her Cape home.
Ali O'Neil
I am a lifelong Westwood resident and proud alumna of SJNS. My three sisters and I all attended the preschool in the 80's and some of our most treasured friendships were born from that nurturing environment.
I graduated from Westwood High and then received my B.A. in English from the College of the Holy Cross. I have worked in Higher Ed and medical sales before staying at home with my children. My two eldest are SJNS grads and my youngest is a current student in the 4's class.
I am happiest coaching youth sports and teaching CCD, as well as meeting new friends on the sidelines. I am an ardent supporter of our town and school system and I love sharing my experiences about our incredible community.
In my spare time I enjoy reading, my Peloton, and spending time with my large extended family.
Teachers & Staff in the Four-year-old Classrooms
Katie Gavin
I am so happy to be part of the teaching staff at St. John's Nursery School! I have worked for many years as Lead Teacher in our four- and five-year-old classroom. I hold a Bachelor's degree in Art and a Master's degree in Special Education. I taught Special Education for five years at an elementary school in Vermont, and this experience teaching at the elementary level helps me better support children in my preschool classroom with the transition to kindergarten. Additionally, I bring my background and passion in art into my lessons by supporting each child's individual creativity and linking it to their learning. In my time outside of school, I enjoy painting, running, traveling, and spending time with my very busy kids, my husband, and our two dogs. My three children are graduates of St. John's Nursery School and we all still look back very fondly on their experiences at the school! It is a great pleasure and privilege to continue helping young children find a love for learning and prepare them for the years of education ahead of them!
Carrie Connaughton
My husband and I have lived in Westwood for more than 25 years, and we raised our four children here. They all went to MMO preschool in Westwood. When I walked out of MMO with our youngest on her last day, they offered me a teacher's assistant position, and I ended up staying there for 10 wonderful years. When MMO closed, I was thrilled to join the team here at St John's preschool. I have such a passion for helping children learn and grow and want every child to be excited to go to school! The most heartwarming part of the job is being present for when a child experiences something new for the first time. That's priceless. When I'm not working or watching one of my kids play soccer or lacrosse, I love spending time with my extended family and friends and going to the beach. I also enjoy reading and walking with friends and my dog!
Tappen Noble
I have lived in Westwood with my husband and our three daughters since 1999. I currently have two daughters in college and my youngest is going to be a senior at Westwood High School. I spent a couple years working in the Westwood Public Schools system working with elementary aged children. I find so much joy in watching children learn and grow. My children all had such great experiences in nursery school and I hope to assist in providing your children with a similar experience. When I'm not working or spending time in the Westwood community you can find me on the beaches in Maine.
Kris Blue
Kris is a graduate of Wheelock College, where she received a BA in Early Childhood Education, and a MA in Reading. She also received an MA in Children's Literature from Simmons College. She taught kindergarten for 10 years in Westwood, and became the Literacy Specialist at Clapboardtree Nursery School in 1999. She continued in that role until the school merged with St. John's Nursery School in 2017. She has continued in her role as Literacy Specialist ever since, as well as being a former director of Clapboardtree and St. John's Nursery School.
When not at SJNS, she enjoys running, reading, walking, amd spending time with her husband, four adult children, and her two dogs at their home in the Cape or Westwood.
Nancy Isberg
Learning should be regarded as a lifelong process. I learn so much each day from the incredible staff, wonderful parents and inquisitive children at St. John's Nursery School. My favorite activities are reading an exciting story to a child, exploring with watercolors at the art table with a small group of children and to laugh and sing with the whole class. I started teaching kindergarten after receiving my degree in education. I continued learning by working at laboratory schools such as Wellesley College, Northeastern, and Connecticut College. I was so fortunate to move to Westwood where my two daughters grew up to be wonderful women while I worked at Clapboardtree Nursery School for 13 years. I joined St. John's Nursery School with the merge and continue to love, laugh and learn.
