Children's Country Day School

Staff

Head of School: Karen Lee
	Karen Lee has been an educator for the past 19 years. She has taught in both public and private schools, and has taught Kindergarten through grade five. Karen received her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh; her graduate work there includes concentrations in both Reading and Technology in Education. Karen was previously the Academic Coordinator of a Montessori school in Middletown. Karen lives with her husband of 31 years, Marc, in Chester. She enjoys gardening, listening to music, reading, hiking and camping.
Pre-K 3's Program: Cathy Kasprak
	Cathy Kasprak has been working at CCDS for 19 years and is the senior teacher at the school. She started her career at CCDS as a teacher's aide. Her love for children brought her to the classroom, and she has continued to teach because she believes so strongly in the philosophy of the school. Cathy is teaching the Pre-K 3's program this year.
Pre-K 3/4 Program: Kay Wright
	In her second year at CCDS, Kay Wright is teaching our Pre-K four-year-old program. Kay has taught in both the public and private school settings for the last 29 years. She received her Bachelor's degree in Physical Education from Southern Connecticut State University, certification in Pre-K through sixth grade from SUNY New Paltz and her Master's degree in Instructional Technology from New York Institute of Technology. Kay lives with her husband, Donald, in Cornwall-on-Hudson. She enjoys gardening, sewing and spending time with her granddaughter Cameron.
Pre-K 3/4 Program: Melissa McHugh
	This is Melissa's first year at CCDS. She comes to us from the York Avenue Preschool in Manhattan where she spent five years as the lead teacher. Melissa has also taught Pre-K at the JCC in Boston and was a movement specialist at the Tufts University Children's Program. Melissa received her Bachelor's degree in English and Theater from SUNY Fredonia. She also spent a year in London at Middlesex University studying acting and playwriting. Melissa holds a Master's in Early Childhood Education from Leslie University in Cambridge. She often uses her love of theater and storytelling in her teaching. Melissa lives with her husband, Sean, and her two children in Harriman. She loves acting, writing, museums and spending time with family and friends.
Pre-K Teacher's Aide: Linda McKeveny
	Linda McKeveny will be entering her 19th year at CCDS. She has worked as a parent volunteer, PTO president, PTO treasurer, one-on-one aide, first and second grade teacher's aide, and presently is the Pre-K teacher's aide. She assists with the kindergarten journal writing and is the A.M. teacher. Both Linda's children attended CCDS from Pre-K to grade 5. Her oldest, Claire, a college graduate, is pursuing a career as a professional ballet dancer, and her son Callum is a junior at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Linda lives in Cornwall-on-Hudson with her husband, Tom.
Kindergarten : Adrienne Lebowitz
	Adrienne Lebowitz received her Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from SUNY Oswego. She is currently pursuing a Master's Degree in Literacy in the Classroom through SUNY Albany. Adrienne brings with her a wealth of experience as she begins her 9th year teaching here at CCDS. Before coming to CCDS, Adrienne worked for Head Start and as a Special Education preschool teacher. Adrienne is married and has two daughters; both attended CCDS. She enjoys spending time with her family, going to the movies and reading. Adrienne is excited about returning to the Panda class this year.
1st/2nd Grade Multi-Age Group: Laura McCormack
	Laura McCormack is thrilled to be returning to CCDS for a third year after taking a four-year leave to be at home with her son Tyler. Laura joined the staff at CCDS back in 1988 and has enjoyed the privilege of being in the teaching profession for 16 years. Laura received her Bachelor's degree from St. Joseph's College in Brooklyn, NY, where she majored in Child Study and Special Education with a minor in Science. She underwent her graduate work at SUNY New Paltz in Early Childhood Education. Laura enjoys photography, gardening, and outdoor activities such as hiking and skiing, reading and spending time with her family.
3rd/4th Grade Multi-Age Group: Sue Zahn
	Sue comes to CCDS with 18 years of teaching experience in grades two through six. Sue earned her undergraduate degree majoring in English at Ladycliff College in Highland Falls. She then completed a Master's Degree in Education with an emphasis in Reading in her home state of New Mexico in 1995. Sue is also permanently certified in New York State Elementary Education (K-6) and Reading (K-12). Because of her reading and English background, she loves to watch her students get excited about books. Sue and her husband, Craig, live with their eldest daughter and family in Newburgh. She feels blessed to live in the chaos and mayhem of a multi-generational family, which includes two small grandchildren. Sue loves reading, traveling, playing the piano, and going to concerts, plays and museums.
Music: Kathy Baker
	Kathy Baker will be returning to teach our music and recorder classes this fall. This will be her 10th year at CCDS. Her experience and education include 30 years of teaching private music lessons - piano, clarinet, and recorder. She has been trained professionally in piano and clarinet and has completed her Early Childhood Degree. In 1986, Kathy founded KN Productions, where she designs and performs educational music programs in the tri-state area. Kathy's philosophy is: "Music is a fun way to learn. When children enjoy the learning process, they naturally retain the material. It's really quite simple." Kathy lives in Montgomery with her husband of 25 years and has 3 daughters.
Art: Alexandra Winkelstein
	Alexandra has a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree from SUNY Purchase where she studied sculpture. She spent her junior year abroad in Florence, Italy, where she studied jewelry design at La Scuola Lorenzo de Medici. Alexandra has a Masters of Teaching degree from Montclair State College where she majored in Art Education. She currently displays her jewelry at fine craft shows and paints murals for children's rooms. She has been teaching both children and adults since 1992. Alexandra hopes that, with the use of many different mediums, she can help children express themselves, not only with words, but also with art.
Spanish: Margarita Strong
	Margarita Strong is from Cali, Colombia in South America, where agriculture as well as industry share Couca Valley, providing jobs to thousands of people from many communities. She came to the United States in 1980 and has lived in New Jersey, California and now New York. Margarita started teaching Spanish in California in 1983 with after school classes as well as at an elementary school teaching a very successful English as a Second Language program for non-English speaking students. Since coming to New York she has been teaching Spanish at several schools in the Hudson Valley focusing on grades K through 8. Margarita says that she loves teaching young people because they respond to positive experiences and absorb a new language so quickly. Making learning FUN is the key strategy she uses, which makes the lessons fun for her as well!