Canterbury Children's Center: Preschool and childcare located in Wakefield MA

Our Staff

	Janas Mercer: Executive Director I am the Executive Director at Canterbury Children’s Center. I have been a part of the Canterbury Children’s Center family since 1986. Through the years I have worked in many different positions: afternoon aide, morning teacher and most recently, Assistant Director. I was born and raised in Wakefield and this is where I am raising my two daughters, Sandra and Lauren., along with my husband. I am Director II certified through the state of Massachusetts and am currently completing my degree in early Childhood Education. It has been a joy and pleasure working here over the years and watching so many children grow. Welcome, if you are a new family and welcome back to those returning! I look forward to a wonderful school year.
	Kristen McKenna My husband Michael and I grew up in Wilmington where we now raise our two beautiful children Kaitlynne and Jason. I became a stay at home mom 5 years ago. That is when I started college again, pursuing my Associates degree in Early Childhood Education. I am currently teacher qualified and have 5 classes remaining before I graduate. I have such a love for children and enjoy pre-school age so much. I want to encourage each child to discover who they are through play. I want to help foster their ability to become independent and confident learners in an environment that is rich in experience, play, teaching but is most importantly a place to call “their” own.
	Dawn Millstone I am an aide in Mrs. Hellmer’s 4 year old class. I have worked at Canterbury Children’s Center for three years. Prior to that I was a Canterbury parent, and a member of the Board of Directors for Canterbury. I am pursuing my Associates degree in Early Childhood Education at Middlesex Community College. My husband Jay and I have two children, Sam and Amelia. I love to dance and can be seen periodically tapping in the halls.
	Sandy Cersosimo I have been the secretary at Canterbury Children’s Center since September of 1998. I am also a long time Canterbury parent. My husband John and I have raised our three children, Tina, Joe and Andrea in Wakefield. They all attended pre-school at Canterbury Children’s Center. I enjoy being part of the Canterbury family.
	Alicia McKennon I am a Lead Teacher in the M-W-F 4 year old class and the T-TH 4 year old class. I started at Canterbury Children’s Center in 1996 as an aide in the afternoon. I graduated from Wakefield High in 1999 with my Teacher’s Certificate through Early Education Class offered there. I left Canterbury in 2002 to work at Mulberry in North reading as a morning teacher, but returned to Canterbury in 2005. I have been taking courses at North Shore Community College and Salem State to further my education. I enjoy working with children and watching them grow and learn every day as they help me grow and learn too.

	Erika Hellmer I have been with Canterbury Children’s Center since 1992, 17 years. I am a Lead Teacher for the 3 day 4 year olds and 2 day 3 year olds this year with Dawn Millstone. My husband and I have 2 great kids, Lorin is a nurse and Erik is a biology major at UMass Amherst. I am Director I qualified with the Department of Early Education and Care.
	Maureen McKennon I have been working at Canterbury Children’s Center as a Lead Teacher of the 5 day 4 year old class since 1995. I have two daughters, Regina and Alicia, who is also a teacher here. I love working with this age group.
	Lori Dettore I have been working at Canterbury Children’s Center for over 14 years teaching the 3 year old program. I have a B.A. from Suffolk University and am Teacher certified through the Department of Early Education and Care. My husband Gus and I have been working and teaching in Wakefield for many years. We have four sons, Michael, Derek, Nicholas and Christopher. Three of my children came to Canterbury Children’s Center and I have never left. It has been wonderful over the years to share in the lives of so many children and still be available for my own. Thanks Canterbury!
	Jeanne Karvelas I am Teacher certified by the Department of Early Education and Care. I am a single parent of three lovely girls, Jamie, who is in the Air Force, Jaclyn, who attends Northeastern University and my youngest, Jessica, attends Curry College. I have been working at Canterbury Children’s Center for over 14 years. I started as a Canterbury parent and volunteer and have been here ever since. I also take care of a child with global disabilities. I love both of my jobs.
	Patricia Hurley-Arsenault I work with Jen Polidoro on Tuesday and Thursday mornings with the 3 year old class. Wakefield has been home for my two children and me for 20 years. My son, Nicholas, and daughter, Rachel have been through the Wakefield school system already. I have worked in the Wakefield School Department throughout their schooling. I love working with children and find it to be very rewarding. I look forward to working at Canterbury Children’s Center with your children as I continue my education in Early Childhood.

	LeighAnn O’Neill I am the bookkeeper here at Canterbury Children’s Center. I have worked here for the last two years but have been part of the Canterbury Children’s Center family since 2002. My children, Sean and Megan, both attended pre-school and kindergarten here. My favorite part of the job is visiting with the children, especially during snack!
	Jennifer Polidoro My husband and I live in Reading and have two wonderful children, Sophie and Stephen. My previous work history has been primarily in marketing. I hold a degree in Sociology from Salem State and was last employed as a Marketing Coordinator for a software translation company before the birth of my first child. After volunteering at my daughter’s pre-school, something clicked for me. I realized that I really love working with children and decided to pursue this as a new career. To confirm that this was the right profession for me, I took four Early Education classes at Salem State College. I am now in the midst of taking MTEL tests and prepping for the Miller Analogies Test in order for me to pursue my Masters in Early Childhood Education.
	Jayna Cucurullo I graduated from Wakefield High School in 2006 where I took the Early Childhood Education course for three years. I began working here at Canterbury Children’s Center in March of 2003. I have my Lead Teacher’s Certificate through the Department of Early Education and Care. I recently graduated from Salem State College with a double major for my Bachelors in Early Childhood Education and Sociology. After graduation, I plan on pursuing my Masters Degree in Special Education. Throughout my placements for high school and college, I have worked at many familiar schools in Wakefield, including the Dolbeare Elementary School in a first and second grade classroom, the Greenwood School in a third grade classroom, the Woodville School in an inclusive special needs pre-school classroom and at Odyssey Day School as a substitute and helping in the office. I’m looking forward to working with your children in the After school Program where we will be having a lot of fun! I am the afternoon pre-school teacher for the children from Mrs. McKennon’s and Mrs. Dettorre’s classes in the gym.
	Sarah Quigley I graduated from Wakefield High School where I took the Early Childhood Education course for three years. I began working here at Canterbury Children’s Center in September of 2006. I have my Teacher’s Certificate through the Department of Early Education and Care. Through my field placements in high school, I had two years of internships at the Woodville in the Kindergarten and First Grade Level. I currently attend North Shore Community College pursuing my Associates Degree in Early Childhood, and am also working towards my Associates in Psychology. I am the afternoon pre-school teacher for the children from Ms. Alicia’s and Mrs. Hellmer’s classes in Room 4.
	Stacy Riley I graduated from Wakefield High School in 2009 and am currently a freshman at Northshore Community College, pursuing my Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education. I began working at Canterbury Children’s Center in September of 2008. I will be working with Miss Jayna in the Gym.