We owe the success of our school to the superior quality, education and experience of our wonderful teachers. With an average of 15 years of experience, our teachers bring a wealth of knowledge, creativity and enthusiasm into the classroom every day.
Leslie Ward
Director NNS
Leslie is the heart and soul behind Nassau Nursery School. Her caring attitude, focus on excellence and radiant personality has left a mark on every aspect of the NNS experience which she has carefully crafted over the years.
Leslie has a Masters Degree in Education from Harvard University. She has taught children of many ages, including all grades in the lower school at Princeton Day School. She served as the President of the Parent Board of NNS, as well as a trustee. Leslie and her husband, Grant, have three college age children, all of whom graduated from Nassau Nursery School.
2½s Class
Danielle Martin
2’s Co-Curriculum Coordinator
Dani has a Masters Degree in Special Education from the College of New Jersey. She taught children with developmental disabilities for many years before having her own children. For the past 12 years, Dani has taught in the 2s class at Dietrich Johnson Cooperative Nursery School. She lives in Princeton Junction with her husband Matt and five children, and when not in the classroom, enjoys the beach, camping and traveling with her family to National Parks.
Susan Buckley
2’s Co-Curriculum Coordinator
Susan grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut and graduated from Manhattanville College with a BA in History. After being a stay-at-home mother for a number of years, she became a substitute teacher in the East Windsor School District. She soon became a full-time teacher in the 2s class at Dietrich Johnson Nursery School, where she has been teaching for the past 15 years. Susan has three children and six grandchildren. She lives in East Windsor with her husband Paul and her dog, Izzy.
Leslie Ward
Director NNS
See details above.
3s Class
Marie Matthews
3s Co-Curriculum Coordinator
Marie has taught at Nassau Nursery School since 1986. She grew up in Princeton and graduated from Princeton High School and Mercer County Community College with an A.A. in education. Marie also graduated with honors from Rider University with a B.A. in Liberal Studies. Before coming to NNS, she was a student teacher at Community Park School and has been a day camp counselor for the Princeton Recreation Department. Marie is a also a staff member for the Summer Fun Camp Program at NNS. She lives with her husband Bob and their two daughters, both NNS graduates. They enjoy camping, hiking and trips to the beach.
Luisa Martinelli
3s Co-Curriculum Coordinator
Luisa was born and raised in Milano, Italy. She moved to the US in 1983 to join her husband who was attending a PhD program at Princeton University. After her daughter Micol graduated from NNS in 1991, she began to work as a substitute and went on to become co-teacher first in the 2½’s class and most recently in the 3’s class.
Luisa has been a volunteer with the host family program at the International Center at Princeton University over the past 15 years. She enjoys traveling with her family and loves to explore a different cultures around the world. Most recently her travels have been taking her to London, where her daughter currently lives. Luisa is an avid reader, especially of memoirs, loves walking and relaxing in the warm and beautiful beaches of the Caribbean.
JK Class
Sharon Wright
Assistant Director NNS, JK Co-Curriculum Coordinator
Sharon is the Assistant Director of NNS as well as a team teacher and co-coordinator of curriculum in the JK class. She has taught at NNS for more than 30 years. She attended Rider and Trenton State University pursuing studies in business management, psychology and education.
NNS has a special place in Sharon’s family. The youngest of her 3 daughters and 3 of her 6 grandchildren are all NNS alumni. She enjoys reading and traveling especially with her grandchildren. During the summer, Sharon is the Director of the Summer Fun Camp at NNS.
Pat Sferra
NNS Head Teacher, JK Co-Curriculum Coordinator
Pat Sferra is NNS Head Teacher, team teacher and JK Co Curriculum coordinator. She has worked at NNS for over twenty five years. Pat graduated from Rider University with a degree in Elementary Education, and is a staff member of the Summer Fun Camp Program at NNS.
Pat and her husband have two daughters, both of whom are teachers. Pat enjoys reading, doing jigsaw puzzles and visiting with her granddaughter in Virginia.
