
Sara Garner
Director
Sara is a proud Ithaca native with deep roots in the local community. She attended Cayuga Heights Elementary, Boynton Middle School, and Ithaca High School before graduating from Cornell University, where she studied Human Development and Early Childhood. Prior to becoming Director of CNS in 2023, Sara spent over a decade teaching in New York City, followed by a brief time in San Francisco. When she manages to find a little free time (not often!), she enjoys being with her husband and two daughters—both proud CNS alumni—exercising, cooking vegan meals, hiking Ithaca’s beautiful gorges, sipping iced coffee, decluttering her home, and having meaningful conversations with others. Sara is deeply grateful to lead this incredible 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.
Luciana Andrade
Nest 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.
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 Nook Teacher
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.
Kaitlyn Smith
Teacher
Ms. Kaitlyn is a graduate of Lansing High School and Ithaca College, where she earned her Master's degree in Occupational Therapy. A lifelong gymnast and experienced coach, she brings a deep passion for working with young children. Kaitlyn especially enjoys reading, playing, and observing children’s interactions as they learn and grow. While she has been with CNS for one year, she has worked with CNS families—and many other children throughout the Ithaca community—for over a decade!
Uniit Carruyo
Lead Roost Teacher
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.

Christina Williams
Guest 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!
Sue Downes
Guest 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!
Chris L. Martin
Guest Teacher
Hello! My name is Chris and this is my second year at CNS as a Guest Teacher. I live in Lansing on a lovely farm with my intelligent, gorgeous wife and our five children (16F, 12M, 8M, 8F and 5F). I’m a FT Stay-at-Home Dad but our last baby, a CNS alumni, goes to Kindergarten this year which frees me up for more teaching, volunteering and projects! I believe deeply in two things: that all children benefit from having a male teacher and they are all actively growing into the best adult versions of themselves. I encourage this by engaging them in good conversations with a variety of sentence structures, asking their thoughts and opinions and encouraging independence. I look forward to getting to know you and your kids this year!
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.