Staff Bios & Parent Board

Joan floats continually between both sites daily. Joan was born and raised in Skaneateles, NY. She earned a Master of Education Degree from U Mass, Boston and taught elementary school, grades K-3 at St. Patrick's School, and Language Arts and Reading at Watertown Public Schools Middle School, and was Director of Evening School in Watertown, MA. Joan has served as Executive Director of CCC for "many years". One of 8 children, Joan was raised on a chicken farm in upstate NY., and is the proud mother of 2 grown children- Melissa, who is the Kindergarten Coordinator at CCC, and Joshua, who is a 2nd L, stationed at Fort Lee, Virginia in the U.S. Army. Also, Joan is a grandmother to 3- Bryan and Jack, and Allie Rose. Currently, she is writing a children's book series, "Mimi and Bryan go to...", as well as a novel, "Ginger". Favorite CCC Memory to date: Too many to fit into one bio! Growing up, Joan wanted to be a cowboy!

Glenn MacEachern, Site Coordinator. Glenn has worked at CCC for 12 years and has earned his education from Salem State College, where he played baseball. His work related experience includes K-Head Counselor at Concord Academy Summer Camp, Bluesox Baseball Camps in Lexington--player, coach and Director, and Older Kid Coordinator at CCC. His team won the championships this summer ('06)! He was married to Ashling in August '05, and the two newlyweds lived in Ireland for a year. Glenn grew up in Woburn, MA, one of 4 children. Favorite CCC memory to date: The first day of school every year, and the last day of school every year! Growing up, Glenn wanted to be a pro athlete or a teacher.

Melissa began teaching at CCC in 1990, and has worked at CCC for a total of 17 years-(including 5 years at Upper Falls afterschool, before the Countryside/Upper Falls merge in 1994). She earned a BS from Lesley University in Early Childhood Education, with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies, and is in process of working on a Master's Degree in Education. Work related experience includes Teacher at Upper Falls After School for 5 years, Older Kid Coordinator at CCC for 5 years, Teacher's Assistant in 1st and 2nd grade classrooms in Cambridge Public Schools, Art teacher at Belmont Day School Summer Program, math and reading Specialist for Title 1 Program in Cambridge. Melissa is married to Jim, her best friend of 20 years! Her hobbies include painting (see her website: www.stepupstools.com), web design, and hanging with family and friends. Favorite CCC memory to date: Teaching her whale unit while being observed by her Associate's Degree Supervising Practitioner, during the CCC K-program many years ago. Growing up, Melissa wanted to be an oceanographer or a teacher.

Kathleen grew up in a small town in Southern Maine. After graduation, she explored the other end of the spectrum, spending the next 10 years in Philadelphia, Washington DC and Boston. Along the way, she picked up a BA in Fine Arts from the University of Pennsylvania, an M Ed in Visual Art Education from Lesley University and a Massachusetts teaching license. In her travels, Kathleen has worked with kids of all ages in schools, afterschool programs, and at home (nannying for her adorable niece, Siana). Kathleen currently lives in Milton with her husband, Alex. Growing up, Kathleen wanted to be a zookeeper, an artist or a boxer.

Arlene has worked at CCC for 12 years. Her education includes a MS from NYU- Teacher of the Deaf. Arlene was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. At CCC, Arlene takes pride in her organizational skills, which she uses on a daily basis at CCC. She loves to travel to exotic places with her family, husband, Norman, and her two grown children, while enjoying hiking and camping trips. She reaches out for all opportunities to travel. Favorite CCC memory to date: CCC's 25th anniversary party. Growing up, Arlene wanted to be a teacher.

This is Frank's 6th year at CCC. Nellie received his BS in Marketing from SUNY Oswego in December, 1999. Nellie has a preliminary license in Physical Ed. He attended high school in Auburn, NY, graduating in 1995.His work related experience includes the CCC Older Kid Coordinator for 1 year, a substitute teacher at Countryside Elementary School ('02-'05), Youth Counselor/Teacher- Ellis Memorial House and Eldregde for 3 years, in Boston. He was a City Year Corps member for one year in South Carolina and 1 year in Boston, and has experience working in Boston city schools and afterschool programs. Frank plans on starting work toward his Masters Degree in Physical Ed soon, and becoming a gym teacher in the future. Favorite CCC memory to date: Crane's Beach trip '05, when the temperature dropped 30 degrees in 2 hours. Could have been a comedy movie! Growing up, Frank wanted to be a firefighter, policeman, astronaut, or a major league baseball player.

Eileen has worked at CCC for an amazing 25 years!! And she's still going strong! Eileen is a wonderful grandmother figure to all CCC children. She has 2 grown children, Tom and Susan. Eileen loves spending time with her 2 handsome grandchildren, Michael and Nicholas. Eileen and her husband, Tom, enjoy taking vacations together, especially cruises to warm places. Some 20 years ago, Eileen was instrumental in developing our famous Ski Program.

Gerard is a teacher of Religious Studies and History at St. John's Preparatory School for 16 years. In the summer months he has worked as a councilor at the Fessenden Day Camp in Newton for 5 years. Gerard lives in Framingham with his wife, Mary Ann, of 16 years, and his 3 children Rebecca, Chris and Alex. We welcome him to CCC this year. When growing up, Gerard wanted to be a goalie for the Boston Bruins.

Louisa Wimberger, Teacher. Louisa is happy to be back in New England! After earning her Master of Education degree at Harvard in 1997, she spent 12 years in amazing Charlottesville, Virginia. She taught high school for seven years, served as the Assistant Director of a Montessori preschool, and sang in two bands. Meanwhile, one of her hobbies became part of her career, and she is now the owner and designer of weehah! greeting cards and invitations. While she has her own studio here in Newton, she cannot resist the opportunity to continue her work in education in a small, sweet school like Countryside. What drew her back up here from the Blue Ridge mountains? In no particular order: More snow, real bagels, the ocean, good friends, and her family.

Lesley is a preschool teacher who is loving the change of working at CCC with elementary age kids. She and her husband Conor have a one and a half year old son named Brendan. Lesley hopes to be teaching any and all age children for a long long time to come.

Jesse has worked at CCC for 11 years. His education includes graduating from Greenbrier East High school in Lewisburg, WV, and receiving a Bachelor of Music Ed. from Boston University, graduating in 1990. Jesse taught as the Director of Music at Hinsdale Elementary and High School for 7 years. Jesse was born in South Kingston, RI in 1968. In 4th grade, Jesse, otherwise known as "Jet", lived in Narragandett, RI. After graduation, he lived in rural WV. In 1990, he moved to Boston in order to attend college. In 1998, Jesse was married to Nancy at the Boston Harbor Hotel, and they have been living in Milford, MA for 6 years. Jesse is an avid windsurfer. He loves to take big hiking trips with his parents- at least one national park a year. Jesse is a percussion enthusiast, and the proud founder of our infamous drumming group, "Kid Rhythms", as featured in the annual C-Side Show. His favorite CCC memory to date is his tumbling/drumming C-Side show act with little student, Emil. Growing up, Jesse wanted to be a veterinarian.

Frank has worked at CCC for 9 years. He graduated from NY State High School with a Regents diploma, and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree with a minor in sociology and political science. His work experience includes working at Rec Place Afterschool in Newton, as well as Croton Rec. Camp counselor. Frank was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in NY (Westchester County, Croton-On-Hudson). He came to Boston in 1998 to attend Northeastern University, and has been here ever since. His favorite CCC memory to date: wresting class, moose heads, nutrition (cooking). Growing up, Frank wanted to be a fisherman.

Michele LeFevre-Dweyer, Teacher. She became a grandmother in June, 2007 ( 2months early!). Michele's youngest son attends Newton South High School. Her daughter Shashana, and her step-son, Taylor, are taking classes at Mass Bay College, and her oldest child, Jami-Lee is a new mother of two.

Robyn has been working at CCC part-time for 8 years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Hartford and a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Wheelock College. She teaches in Weston in an integrated preschool. When she was growing up she wanted to be an artist or a teacher.

Laura joined our wonderful program in the summer of 2006. Laura graduated with a BS from UMass Boston and earned her MBA from Suffolk University. After 8 years of working full time in the healthcare industry, Laura decided to pursue smaller accounting and bookkeeping gigs so she could spend more time with her two small children, ages 4 and 2, and husband of 10 years. She also volunteers at her children’s schools.

2009-2010 Parent Board of Directors

We are proud of our Parent Board of Directors.

All members of our Board are parents of children either currently or formerly enrolled at CCC.

Julia Neuringer Cohen, Member
mother of Judy, Amy, and Drew Cohen

Lisa Howe, Member
mother of Tom, Cate, Hillary, Jenny and Kim

mother of Andrew and Alex

Stephanie Hessler, Finance Chair
mother of Paul and Tommy