Sara Garner
Director
Sara is a native Ithacan, and her family is still deeply connected to the community. She went to Cayuga Heights Elementary, Boynton Middle, and Ithaca High School, and later graduated from Cornell, where she studied Human Development and Early Childhood.
Before becoming the Director of CNS, she spent about 10 years teaching special education and math in middle and high schools—first in New York City, and then briefly in San Francisco. After having her first daughter, she became a stay-at-home mom (definitely the hardest job she’s ever had!).
Her oldest daughter graduated from the Roost after two great years at CNS in 2023, and her youngest is currently in the Roost for the 2025–2026 school year. She loves her friends and teachers at CNS—they really are like a second family to her.
When Sara gets a little free time (not often!), she loves spending it with her husband and daughters, getting up early, riding the Peloton or going for a run, cooking vegan food, hiking the Ithaca gorges, drinking iced coffee, decluttering her home, and having meaningful conversations with people.
Sara is so excited and grateful to be the Director of this wonderful community—there’s truly no place she’d rather be!
Emily Babin
Co-Lead Nest Teacher
Ms. Emily has continued to work in childcare throughout getting her bachelor’s degree in theatre, specifically working with children’s theatres! The lovely international community at CNS reminds her of her time in international schools when she was young. It feels just like home! When she’s not in the Nest, working with our youngest students, she’s working with students at Circus Culture! There you can usually find her in a handstand.
Eve Hadley
Co-Lead Nest Teacher
Ms. Eve is excited to be joining CNS as co-lead teacher in the nest this year! With a background in speech-language pathology, Eve has years of experience working in early intervention and loves working with young children. She is passionate about play-based learning; as Mr. Rogers said, "Play is the work of childhood." Outside of work, Eve enjoys anything that gets her outside - hiking, running, boating, gardening, you name it. She is a cat lover and will enthusiastically show you pictures of her two kitties, Doug and Nugget, if you ask.
Sue Downes
Nest and Substitute Teacher
Ms. Sue became a part of the CNS last year when her grandson started in the Nest and se started subbing in February 2024. She comes from the Homer community where she worked for 20 years as an administrative assistant to the Principal of a PK-2 building. Prior to that she owned and operated her own ice cream stand in Homer which featured homemade hard ice cream and all the fixings.
Ms. Sue has lived in the communities of Cortland, Dryden and now Lansing.
In her free time, she is learning to quilt. She also loves to spend time with her grandson and her family and is excited to be working with younger children again and meeting all their parents. She has missed the littles!
Tessa Masi-Perkins
Co-Lead Nook Teacher
Ms. Tessa has been a part of the CNS community for over 6 years, as a caregiver, substitute, and recently as a student teacher. She received her degree in Early Childhood Education and is excited to begin teaching in a formal setting. Tessa has over 12 years of childcare experience and loves to guide children as they grow and develop into their unique selves. She moved to the Fingerlakes from New Jersey 7 years ago, met her husband, and has settled down in Freeville. Tessa has a deep love and appreciation of nature, enjoys baking for everyone, and expressing her creativity through arts and crafts.
Kya Schadewald
Co-Lead Teacher in Nook
Ms. Kya is new to the world of Early Childhood Education. After moving to Ithaca when she was a teenager, she started as a substitute at CNS and has moved to a full time teaching position after 2 years of falling in love with the school. She is working towards her degree to become an early childhood educator during her time with us. Outside of the preschool, she can be found enjoying all forms of creativity, including painting and drawing, gardening, and sewing. She is very excited to learn and grow with the children in the 3-4 year old classroom, teaching and learning together.
Luciana
Nook Teacher
Ms. Luciana is originally from Brazil, where she majored in biology and education as an undergrad before getting her Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology studying dolphin sounds. As part of her studies in Brazil, she created and presented educational projects about dolphins and whales to school children in Rio de Janeiro. Luciana really enjoyed serving as a parent helper at her son’s nursery school this past year, with her enthusiasm for working with kids leading to a substitute teacher position there. She is eager to join the CNS team and continue learning on the Early Childhood Education path!
Luciana enjoys traveling and biking with her husband and son, gardening, watching the sunset, playing chess, and reading a good book.
Uniit Carruyo
Lead in Roost
Ms. Uniit is a mama, artist, author and Montessori educator. She develops unique and playful professional development tools for adults through FLAMiNG iMAGiNATiON to assist teachers in transforming into more conscious educators.
Uniit has taught at various preschools in the Ithaca area since 1997, including her own sweet home day care. She has an MS Ed in Leadership, a BS Psychology, and is AMS Infant Toddler credentialed. You can usually find her making encaustic art in her treehouse art studio, making music, tending to her honeybees, or gardening in her permaculture food forest.
Stephanie Sackett
Roost Teacher
Fernanda Medina
Extended Day Teacher
Ms. Fernanda is originally from Argentina. She studied Fine Arts and after graduating, moved to Ithaca with her husband in 2004. Her three children are former CNS students, and she loves this preschool so much that when her middle son was here, she worked as a teacher in the Nest and the Nook for a few years. And now she’s happy to be back as a teacher for the extended day program!
When she’s not at CNS, she spends lots of hours painting in her art studio, working on pet portrait commissions, doing yoga, walking her (extremely adorable) dog, and spending time with her family.
K.C. Roach
Substitute Teacher
Ms. K.C. is originally from Coronado, CA. She and her family moved to Ithaca four years ago for her husband's work at Cornell. K.C. is from a navy family and has lived in many different cities and states. She went back to teaching preschool after her youngest child went to kindergarten. K.C. has been teaching preschool for more than seven years now. She started teaching in San Diego, Virginia, then went back to San Diego, and now Ithaca. She has worked with children from 18 months to 5 year olds. K.C. spent 4 years teaching at CNS before becoming a substitute teacher. When not teaching, K.C. spends time with her two children and husband.
Christina Williams
Substitute Teacher
Having studied textile design in the UK, Ms. Christina moved to Ithaca with her husband and two daughters in 2005. After her youngest daughter started Kindergarten, Christina began working at St. Paul’s Nursery School in downtown Ithaca. She spent ten happy years at the school and gained experience teaching across a broad developmental spectrum. Christina worked fulltime at CNS for 7 years before becoming a substitute teacher. Christina proudly became an American citizen in 2016!
Walter Weiner
Bookkeeper
Walter is a dynamic professional with a passion for education, numbers, and the performing arts. His journey began at Hangar Theatre of Ithaca, propelling him into entertainment and to iconic Broadway productions like The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, where he honed precision and timing. These skills extended to venues like Radio City Music Hall, as well as TV and film productions. He brings a wealth of experience to the preschool education realm, ensuring smooth operations for our nurturing environment.
Rooted in Ithaca as a fourth-generation local, he is married with two children who attended and loved their time at CNS. Beyond spreadsheets, he thrives outdoors, exploring Ithaca's scenic trails. Eager to contribute, he looks forward to collaborating and helping to optimize processes in this unique preschool setting.