Cheshire Nursery School

 Janice Romo, Executive Director

Jan Romo’s educational career spans over 35 years. Her training background took place at both Southern Connecticut State University and Bank Street College of Education in NYC. She received her Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education and later her 6th Year Certification in Administration and Supervision. She has been mentored and inspired by some of our top educational leaders in the field.

Jan began her teaching career in 1970 as a first grade teacher. For nine years she enjoyed teaching both first grade and Kindergarten in the West Hills Magnet School, an experimental program bringing a diverse population of Hamden and New Haven children together for instruction.

With its gradual expansion to a K-8 program, Jan’s role shifted to Staff Developer where she became a “teacher of teachers” for 13 years. She was responsible for the development and assessment of the school’s core curriculum. Her active involvement with this "community of learners” brought yet another shift. She became the West Hills K-8 principal and was honored to work even more closely with all the components that affected its 700 children.

After 29 years at West Hills, she was appointed to Supervisor of Early Childhood Education, overseeing over 4,000 New Haven pre-k and kindergarten students. Her work broadened, yet brought her back to her Early Childhood roots. Involved with writing curriculum standards and a wide variety of School Readiness and
Head Start initiatives, Jan was able to lead the city for three years in truly appreciating how important
developmentally-appropriate early learning is, starting with its very youngest students--infants & toddlers.

For four years, Jan enjoyed her adjunct professorship at SCSU, teaching “Integrated Curriculum for Pre-K & Kindergarten" and working as an educational consultant in area nursery school programs. She is also past co-president of NHAEYC--the New Haven Chapter of the Association of the Education of Young Children, and past co-chair of programs, where she shared responsibility for developing and presenting professional workshops for the Early Childhood community.

It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that Cheshire Nursery School, with a fine reputation for over 50 years, has been rekindled under the guidance and leadership of Jan Romo!

Rebecca Murphy, B.S. M.S., Head Classroom Teacher

Becca is a graduate of Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Human Services and Psychology, and a Masters Degree in Elementary Education with a K-6 teaching certificate at Southern Connecticut State University. During her undergraduate years, Becca worked at a high-needs preschool in North Cambridge, coordinated services at a childcare resource center, and worked with media outreach at a prominent adoption agency in Boston. She also worked as a toddler teacher at Bright Horizons in West Haven before being hired as an Associate Teacher at the prestigious Cold Spring School in New Haven, where for three years she taught a combined kindergarten/first grade class. Rebecca's experience and dedication to early childhood education are strong assets to the Cheshire Nursery School community, where she shares her passion for teaching young children.

Shelley LeBree, B.S., Classroom Teacher

CT-Certified K-6 Teacher

Shelley is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology.  She continued her education a few years later, again at SCSU, where she earned her certification in Elementary Education.  Shelley anticipates receiving her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education with completion of 6 more credit hours.  She spent the year before starting at Cheshire Nursery School as a long term substitute in a Wallingford first grade classroom.  Being a Wallingford Youth Soccer League Coach is also very special to Shelley, particularly as she coaches her kindergarten-aged daughter’s team.  She also has an 18 month old son who keeps her very busy.  Shelley will again be staying on for the summer program here at CNS, and we look forward to her continuing to teach in the 2011-2012 academic year.

Starr O'Connor, B.S., M.S., Classroom Teacher

CT-Certified K-6 Teacher

Starr earned both her Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education at Southern Connecticut State University, as well as extensive training from Bank Street College and an internship at the prestigious Gesselle Institute for Early Childhood Education at Yale University. She began her teaching career along-side Jan Romo, as a full-day kindergarten teacher in the West Hills pilot magnet program in New Haven. Over the years Starr taught kindergarten as well as grades 1, 2 3, and 4. Moving into a position as Curriculum Staff Developer was a natural outgrowth of her varied and intensive experiences at West Hills. As a young retiree from the New Haven School District, Starr helped launch The Carrot Patch Early Learning Center in Hamden as one of the initial preschool teachers, and since has continued her work with children as a Literacy Support Coach for the Cheshire School District. We are excited about the energy, warmth and experience she brings to our summer program!

Administration

Suzanne M. Miller, B.A., J.D.
Administrative Director

Janice Romo, B.S., M.S., 6th Year Admin. & Supervision Certification
Executive Director

2010-2011 Academic Year Staff

Rebecca Murphy, B.S., M.S.

Head Classroom Teacher

Shelley LeBree, B.S., M.S. candidate

Classroom Teacher

Summer 2011 Staff

Rebecca Murphy, B.S., M.S.

Head Teacher

Shelley LeBree, B.S., M.S. candidate

Teacher

Starr O'Connor, B.S., M.S.
Teacher