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 adult aged children, all of whom graduated from Nassau Nursery School.
2s Class(es)
Danielle (Dani) Martin
2’s 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 Egan
2s
Susan is a graduate of Katharine Gibbs, New York City. Susan earned the Child Development Associate Credential and is a certified yoga teacher for children ages 3-18. She has been teaching Nursery School for children ages 2-1/2-5 for over 15 years in Princeton. She has taught children’s yoga through the West Windsor School District, the West Windsor Recreation Department, West Windsor Arts Council and University League Nursery School. Susan, her husband Bill and three children lived in London for several years where they enjoyed travelling throughout Europe and experiencing new cultures. Susan and her family currently live in Princeton Junction. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, bicycling, hiking and going to the beach.
Jennifer Kopliner
2s
Jenn graduated from Mercer County Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Special Education. Prior to joining the NNS team in 2011, Jenn spent 8 years as an Assistant Teacher at University League Nursery School. As a lifelong resident of Pennington, she currently resides there with her Husband, Mike, and their daughter Ava who graduated NNS in 2019. Jenn and her family have deep rooted ties to the Princeton community and consider it a second home. In her free time, Jenn enjoys exercising, cooking, day trips to the shore and spending quality time with family and friends.
3s Class
Marie Matthews
3s 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.
Elizabeth White
3s
Elizabeth has a Master’s Degree in Education from the Bank Street College of Education. She taught various elementary grades for twelve years at The Brearley School NYC. Elizabeth moved to Princeton when her daughters Eliza and Sarah were born. When they were in Elementary School, she began teaching again at University League Nursery where she taught in the Pre–K class for eight years. When ULNS closed, Elizabeth was thrilled to find a new teaching home at Nassau Nursery School.
Erin ONeal
3s
Erin is Nassau Nursery School Alumna; she has worked at Nassau Nursery School’s Summer Fun Program for the last 10 years. Immediately after High School, Erin attended Mercer County College and got her Veterinary Assistant Certification. She then did an internship at Princeton Animal Hospital. Previously Erin worked for an Environmental Remediation Company, where she worked for many years as an Environmental Field Tech. She attended Rutgers College where she got certifications in Soil, Water and Air sampling as well as Operation and Maintenance of Soil Vapor Extraction Systems. Erin’is currently enrolled in school to get her Child Development Associate Credentials (CDA). Erin’s two children also went to Nassau Nursery School as well as the summer program. Erin, her partner and two children reside in Hamilton Township. In her free time, Erin enjoys traveling with her family, cooking, baking, and spending time with her loved ones.
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.
