Catherine Bucci has been the director of St. John’s Nursery School since July 2010 when her family relocated to New York from the Boston area. Catherine studied Early Childhood Development and Education and graduated from Tufts University. She has had extensive teaching and administrative experience in the preschool setting. Catherine and her husband live in Pelham with their dog, Clyde. They have two grown children.
Leslie Adamski, 3s Teacher
Leslie Adamski is so excited to join St. John's Nursery School as a 3s teacher. She has 7 years of teaching experience over her time living in Michigan, NYC and Chicago. She has a BA in Special Education, Emotional/Behavior Disorders from Hope College and a Masters in Early Childhood Special Education from Hunter College. She has always loved working with children and watching them grow and learn, discovering new things right alongside them. Leslie has lived in Larchmont since 2015 with her husband and 3 children. Her two oldest are in high school and the youngest is in middle school. She enjoys reading, gardening, traveling, skiing, running, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.
Gilda Blaistin, 2s Teacher
Gilda Blaistin has worked at St. John's since 2014 and is teaching in our 2s program. Gilda earned her teaching degree from Argentina with additional graduate studies in Education at Tel Aviv University. She has worked in area schools and is also currently tutoring Spanish to children of all ages. Gilda has lived in Larchmont for the last 19 years and has a son and daughter. Together they enjoy the many activities the community has to offer.
Sharyn Boswell, 2s Teacher
Sharyn Boswell began teaching in the afternoon 4s program at St. John’s Nursery School in 2019 after working as a substitute teacher. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature from the University of Maryland. Sharyn grew up in Larchmont, lived in London for nine years where she worked as a book editor for Octopus Publishing and traveled extensively. She returned to Larchmont in 2001 where she lives with her husband and their dog Lily. Their son is a senior at Boston College and daughter is a sophomore at William & Mary. She loves spending time outdoors, traveling, reading, and having fun with family and friends. She is looking forward to a magical year with the Tu/Th and MWF 2s classes!
Mary Garrett, 2s Teacher
Mary Garrett came to our school in 2021 and is a teacher in our 2s program. Her background is in special education as a preschool classroom teacher as well as being an ASHA accredited Speech/Language Pathologist. She holds Master of Arts degrees from New York University and CUNY Queens College. Mary has lived in Larchmont for 25 years and she and her husband Dave have three children. Their oldest son is a videographer and world traveler who never stays in one place too long. Their daughter is a sophomore at Penn State (We Are!) and their youngest son is a senior at Mamaroneck High School, who likes suddenly being the only child at home. Mary loves interior design, cooking and traveling to far flung places. She looks forward to a wonderful school year.
Meegan Insley, 3s Teacher
Meegan Insley joined St. John's Nursery School in 2023, and is excited to return to the 3s classroom this year. Meegan lives in Larchmont with her husband and three daughters - graduates of St. John's Nursery School - who now attend Hommocks Middle School and Mamaroneck High School. She loves teaching children, and has been a substitute teacher at SJNS and St. Augustine's for years. She is a founding Board Member of the Friends of Larchmont Parks, helping maintain and improve our town's parks and green spaces; she is active in school volunteer programs, and loves to support and promote junior and adult sailing programs. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and loves going home to visit family in Charleston, S.C.
Andrea Karamitsos, 3s Teacher
Andrea Karamitsos is a teacher in the 3s program and excited to be returning to St. John’s this year having previously taught in the 2s and 4s programs. Andrea received her degree from Occidental College and was an elementary school teacher for many years before having her four children. Andrea and her husband Dimitris moved to Larchmont in 2006 and enjoy travel and spending time outdoors.
Pamela Kernie, 4s Teacher
Pam Kernie first began at St John’s Nursery School as a substitute teacher in 2015 and joined the 3s teaching team in 2017. This will be her second year teaching in the 4s classroom. A Texas native and a graduate of Stanford University and the University of Washington School of Law, Pam spent many years as a litigator, law firm administrator, and pediatric hospital development officer. Since moving with her family to Larchmont from Dallas 13 years ago, Pam has been an active volunteer with the Mamaroneck School District, the Columbia University Department of Pediatrics, and the Sound Shore Stars Special Olympics program. She and her husband Steve have three grown children. In her spare time, Pam loves to cook, travel, and explore the museums, restaurants, and sights of New York City.
Ashley Matlow, 2s Teacher
This year will be Ashley Matlow’s fourth year teaching in the 2s program. Her daughter and youngest son are graduates of SJNS. She and her family have lived in Larchmont for 16 years. She has four children, Michael (17), James (15) Christopher (13) and Charlotte (8) with whom she likes to do lots of things: hike, fish, garden, bike ride, ski, sled, jet ski, exercise, go to the beach/lake, paint, read books and watch movies. Before moving to Larchmont to raise her family, Ashley graduated from Harvard University with a degree in Economics, followed by three years of working in finance at Lehman Brothers. She is attending Columbia Teachers College, working toward her dual certification and masters in Elementary Childhood Education. One of her favorite things to do is visit her lake cabin in the Berkshires with her 4 children and 3 dogs, Happy, Ginger and Goose. They also have 2 ferrets named Bandit and Clover who are lots of fun and sometimes come for a visit to school on rainy days!
Vicky McLaughlin, 4s Teacher
Victoria (“Vicky”) McLaughlin is thrilled to be joining the St. John's 4s team! Vicky holds multiple Bachelor’s and Master's degrees in Early Childhood Education/Child Development (SUNY Cortland/Teachers College at Columbia University) and has been working with children and families for over 25 years. She is passionate about her work in the field and believes in the power of integrated, inquiry-based learning to help children develop the essential skills that they need to build strong foundations for their future academic success. She strives to inspire curiosity and imagination in a nurturing environment to support social, emotional and cognitive growth for all her students. Outside of school Vicky enjoys traveling, writing, and spending time with her family.
Cara Moore, 3s Teacher
Cara Moore is very excited to join the 3s class this year at St. John's. Cara received an undergraduate degree from University of Notre Dame and a Masters in Teaching from Fordham University. She taught for several years in elementary schools in New York City before moving to Larchmont. She has four children from middle school to college age, and is looking forward to working with younger children again. In the past few years, she has taught classes through the Community Counseling Center and worked at MAS as an assistant in a 2nd grade classroom. She and her husband live in Larchmont and love spending time with family, friends, and outdoor activities.
Beth Reynolds, 4s Teacher
Beth Reynolds has been a part of the SJNS community, first as a parent and then as a substitute in the 4s class. She is very excited to be joining the 4s team this year! Hailing from Texas, Beth has called New York home for over 16 years. She and her husband live in Larchmont with their three children who attend schools at Mamaroneck, Hommocks and Chatsworth. Over the years, Beth has enjoyed volunteering with organizations such as A House on Beekman’s Mommy and Me program, Adopt-A-School, Trinity Church as a Sunday School teacher, Chatsworth Garden and Library Committees and MHS College Information Center. She is a graduate of Texas Christian University.
Tara Ryan, 3s Teacher
Tara Ryan joins us in the 3s this year. She has seven years teaching experience in preschool and 10 years teaching in art education. Tara is certified in preschool early childhood development. She earned her bachelors in art education and studied early childhood education. Before teaching, Tara worked as an executive assistant, office manager and in sales in the diamond district. Tara resides in the Bronx with her 3 children and runs a small afterschool arts and crafts business. She loves to teach, create art, dance, being active, the beach and enjoying life.
Kate Spader, 3s Teacher
Kate Spader has been teaching at St. John's Nursery School since 2001, working in both the 3s and 4s programs. Kate received her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Boston College. Kate is a lifelong resident of Larchmont where she lives with her husband David. She has four grown children, all graduates of St. John's Nursery School. Kate loves needlepointing, camping and spending time with her six grandchildren swimming, sailing, and kayaking on Long Island Sound.
Kristen Vasquez, 4s Teacher
Kristen joined SJNS as a 4s teacher in 2023. She enjoys teaching in the local community, developing relationships with families, and continuing to watch students grow even after they have graduated from preschool. She has 11 years of teaching experience in Early Childhood and Primary Grades. She has a B.A. in Education and Human Relations from Connecticut College and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Minnesota. When she isn't shuttling her daughters (ages 11 and 14) to various afterschool activities, she enjoys staying active and volunteering in local schools and community organizations.