Staff Bios & Parent Board

C C C Staff Bios & Board Members

CCC staff work together, often bouncing back and forth between sites.

All staff are CPR and First Aid certified!

Joan Tanner, Executive Director of Countryside Children's Center.

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. She is proud of her Native American ancestry- Seneca Indian. Her favorite way to spend the weekend is playing in her own backyard, hopefully with a few of her grandchildren running around. Joan is the mother of 2 grown children- Melissa, who has been teaching at CCC for more than 17 years, and Joshua, who is a 1st L, currently serving in Iraq, Kawait & Afghanistan, in the U.S. Army. Also, Joan is a grandmother to 3 beautiful children; Bryan, Jack, and Allie Rose. Joan is in the process of writing a children's book series, "Mimi and Bryan go to...", as well as a novel, dedicated to her late father, titled "Ginger".

C-Side Staff:

Glenn MacEachern, Site Coordinator.

Glenn has worked at CCC for 14 years and studied at 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, and Older Kid Coordinator at CCC. His team won the championships in the summer of '06. He was married to Ashling in August '05, and they have 2 sons- Fionnbhar and Tighe. 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.

Melissa Gavell, Teacher, and Website Creator.

Melissa began teaching at CCC in 1990, and has worked at CCC for 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 Human Development and Family Studies, with a minor in Education. Work related experience includes Teacher at Upper Falls After School for 5 years, CCC Older Kid Coordinator for 5 years, CCC Kindergarten Coordinator for 6 years, Teacher's Assistant in 1st and 2nd grade classrooms in Cambridge Public Schools, Math and Reading Specialist for Title 1 Program in Cambridge. Melissa is married to Jim, her best friend of 20 years! Her hobbies include: acrylic painting on canvas, sewing, web design, and hanging out with family and friends. Melissa has 2 side businesses: "Step-Up-Stools", and "Cotton Cozies". Favorite CCC memory to date: Teaching her whale unit while being observed by her Associate's Degree Supervising Practitioner, during the CCC K-program in 1999. Melissa made a big change this year by leaving her full time Kindergarten Coordinator position at CCC, to become a Preschool Lead Teacher at Parkside Preschool in Newton. She can still be seen floating around on Mondays at CCC. Melissa has 2 sons- Bryan and Jack.

Kathleen McDonough, 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 has a side business called "t and cate". She sells needlefelted creatures at craft shows, and she enjoys boxing. Her favorite way to spend a weekend includes making art and being outside. If she could change her name, it would be to "Rockstar"- because she can't think of any situation that it wouldn't make it way funnier. Kathleen currently lives in Milton with her husband, Alex. They are expecting their first child, a baby girl, this fall.

Arlene Meisner, Teacher.

Arlene has worked at CCC for 15 years. Her education includes MA Teacher of the Deaf from NYU, as well as a BS in Speech Pathology from CCNY. Arlene was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She loves to travel with her family- husband Norman, and her two grown children. She loves to cook and watch the Red Sox. Her favorite CCC memory is watching the kids blossom over the years. Favorite way to spend the weekend- relaxing. If she could change her name, it would be to Penelope.

Frank Nellenback (Nellie), Teacher.

This is Frank's 9th year at CCC. Nellie received his BS in Marketing from SUNY Oswego in December, 1999. Nellie has Master's degree in Education- physical education and coaching- from Boston University. He attended high school in Auburn, NY, graduating in 1995. 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! It was a wild day. A comedy of errors and comical situations. Children running on the beach with seagulls swooping down. His favorite way to spend a weekend: activities with his wife. If Nellie could legally change his name, he'd change it to: Nellie or Nellster (nicknamed by Joan on my 1st day of the job many years ago).

Gerard Wilson, Teacher. Gerard has been teaching at CCC for 6 years. Gerard is also a teacher of Religious Studies and History at St. John's Preparatory School for 17 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 20 years, and his 3 children Rebecca, Chris and Alex. Gerard has his Associate of Science degree from UMASS Amherst, his Bachelor of Liberal Arts from St. John's Seminary, as well as his Master's of Divinity Degree. His hobbies include watching sports (especially soccer & ice hockey), following the Bruins, Red Sox, Patriots, Paw Sox and Worcester Sharks. Gerard is an avid fan of J.R.R. Tolkein and The Lord of the Rings. Favorite CCC memory to date: Playing floor hockey on Fridays with Glenn, Nellie and Melissa, against the C-Side kids. Favorite way to spend a weekend: Sleep in until 8:00 am, have breakfast at Mel's, play wiffle ball with sons Alex & Chris in the backyard, go to church, go to a Paw Sox game, and then have supper on the beach in Narrongansett, RI.

Louisa Wimberger, Teacher. This is Louisa's 3rd year at CCC. Louisa is happy to be back in New England! After earning her M.Ed. 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. Louisa hates mosquitoes but loves mosquito bites, she is the youngest of 5 girls- spanning 20 years. Louisa also has zillions of nicknames. Her favorite CCC memory: The snow day when I was there with only 4 kids by the end of the day, and I let them eat donuts. Another favorite was watching everyone's response to Nellie's matching velour outfit (she may not be alone with that funny moment). Her favorite way to spend a weekend: Farmer's Markets, live music, naps, cooking, swimming. If she could change her name, it would be: Well, she really loves her name. But when she was in kindergarten, she wanted to be named Bernadette.

Johanna Crowley (JoJo for short), Teacher.

Johanna earned a Bachelors of Science in Biology, with a minor in Education. This is her first year at CCC. She comes from a family of five girls. Johanna grew up in South Portland, ME. She enjoys tennis, camping, music, reading & photography. Johanna is a classically trained violinist. She enjoys spending time with friends and family. If she could have any pet in the world, she would have a pet Koala.

Ben Wolfson, Teacher. Ben graduated from Quinnipiac University in 2011 with a Sociology major and a History minor. He loves sports, especially basketball, kayaking and skiing and is a big fan of the Boston sports teams. He enjoyed coaching NAA basketball for several years. He has family in North Carolina and he tries to visit them every year. His favorite way to spend a weekend is to go to the beach and then a Red Sox game. A fun fact about Ben is that he is related to Trot Nixon, a former Red Sox right fielder.

Laura Wilson, Teacher. Laura graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2007, and is currently pursuing a Master's degree at Suffolk University. This is will be Laura's third year as a teacher. In her spare time, Laura can be found doing crossword puzzles, yoga, and photography; she also ran her first 5k race in June. Laura is excited that her brother will be joining her in Boston this fall as a freshman at Harvard.

Upper Falls Staff:

Jesse Crandall, Site Coordinator.

Jesse has worked at CCC for 14 years. His education includes graduating from Greenbrier East High school in Lewisburg, WV, and receiving a Bachelor of Music Ed. from Boston University. 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 Narragansett, 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. Jesse is an avid windsurfer. He loves to take big hiking trips with his parents- at least one national park a year. Jesse's interests include piano, guitar, windsurfing and hiking. Hsi favorite weekend would be spending time outdoors with his wife and dog.

Frank Snyder, Teacher.

Frank has worked at CCC for 13 years. He graduated from NY State High School in 1988 with a Regents diploma, and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1993 from Northeastern University, with a minor in sociology and political science. Frank was born in Seoul, South Korea, and grew up in NY (Westchester County, Croton-On-Hudson). His favorite CCC memory to date: the many great talent shows over the years, especially the 1st drum act. Personal interests include athletics, travel, music, and cooking. Something unique to Frank: he's ambidextrous. Favorite way to spend a weekend: snowboarding on a mountain or swimming in a lake. If Frank could change his name, he's change it to "Hefty".

Julie Corwin, Kindergarten Teacher.

This is Julie's first year at CCC. Julie has earned her MEd from Umass Boston in Elementary Education. She has an ongoing joy of dance, travel and creative endeavors- music, art, improv. When she was in the 5th grade, she danced in the Nutcracker Suite. On the weekends, she enjoys good eats, good company, good rest, being creative and spending time in nature. If she could change her name, it would be to Chiquita Banana.

Michele LeFevre-Dweyer, Teacher.

Michele grew up in Newton. Michele has been teaching at CCC for 8 years. She is a mother of five, grandmother of two. She and her husband enjoy walking, boating, and nature. If she could change her name, she wouldn't, because it is a little unusual- being spelled with only one "L".

David Cohn, Teacher.

Dave is one of our few teachers who have their childhood roots in Newton. Dave says his passion is music, and he spends much of his free time exploring music trends. Dave is our newest addition to the Upper Falls staff, in his second year as an afterschool teacher.

Laura Davis, Bookkeeper.

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 children, and husband. She also volunteers at her children’s schools.