Cheshire Nursery School

 Janice Romo, Executive Director

Jan Romo’s educational career spans over 35 years. Her training background took place at both SCSU in New Haven and Bank Street College of Education in NYC. She received her B.S. & M.S. in Early Childhood Education and later her 6th Year 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 both first grade and Kindergarten classrooms of children 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 &
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!


Erin Cerreta, B.A., Head Classroom Teacher

Erin is a graduate of Eastern Connecticut State University. She has a bachelor’s degree in Child Psychology and is state certified to teach at the Early Childhood level (preschool to grade 3). Erin worked throughout her high school years as a head counselor at the Naugatuck YMCA’s Camp Wehanamo. She went on to teach special education at the preschool level in Naugatuck at the Maple Hill School. Erin is excited to continue with us for yet another school year, and to weave her many experiences, and love for children into the lively curriculum at Cheshire Nursery School.


Nobuko Tahara, B.A., Assistant Classroom Teacher

Nobuko received her bachelor's degree in Psychology-Mental Health from Southern Connecticut State
University in 2004. A native of Japan, Nobuko worked with autistic children in her home country, and with special and regular kindergarten students at the Edgewood Magnet School in New Haven. She has worked in a Japanese nursery school, and has tutored children here at the Elm City College Preparatory School. In addition to her experience nurturing young children of many different abilities, she also brings a love for the arts. Skilled in music and the visual arts, Nobuko also brings a wealth of Eastern culture and customs to share with our CNS community.

Rachel Berson, B.S.,Assistant Classroom Teacher, Summer Program

Rachel earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at Susquehanna University, and is certified
to teach K-6 in both Pennsylvania and Minnesota. She has had several years of teaching experience both in the mixed-age Waldorf model, where she also created and implemented an original course of study, and in a standard public school kindergarten. In addition to classroom teaching, Rachel has also worked as school choir director, and was the editor of her college literary criticism journal.

Administration

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

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

2008-2009 Academic Year Staff

Erin Cerreta, B.A.
Head Classroom Teacher

Nobuko Tahara, B.A.
Assistant Classroom Teacher

Summer 2009 Staff

Erin Cerreta, B.A.
Head Teacher

Rachel Berson, B.S.
Teacher