2021-2022 WCNS Board Members
Heather DeDominicis, PRESIDENT
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Hi, I’m excited to be serving as president of the WCNS board this year! This is my fourth year serving on the board, and I enjoy being a part of the Westville community and nursery school.
My daughter, Charlotte, went to WCNS and will be in 2nd grade at Edgewood School this fall. My son, Jack just finished his 2nd year at WCNS and will be starting kindergarten at Edgewood. Our youngest daughter, Grace, will be returning to WCNS this fall. My husband, Gio, and I are so grateful our children went and go to a school with such caring and invested teachers. They have done an outstanding job creating an environment of normalcy and routine during these very unpredictable times! Currently, I teach full time at Norwalk Community College. My area of focus is Developmental English. |
Daron Cyr, VICE PRESIDENT
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Hi! I am Daron Cyr and this is my 3rd year on the board. My daughter (6) attended WCNS and now my son (3) is currently attending.
Our family loves the WCNS teachers, director, and community so much and are so grateful to be a part of it! That magic that happens in the classroom and on the playground through nurturing relationships and child driven play lays an incredible foundation for learning and friendships. I taught kindergarten in New Haven before leaving to pursue my PhD at UConn which I expect to complete this year. I am passionate about family engagement and equity in education. When I am not homeschooling our first grader or working on my dissertation, I enjoy sourdough baking, hiking, and beach walks even on the coldest winter days. |
Matt Desfosses, TREASURER
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My wife Lisa and I are proud members of the Westville community. We have lived here since 2010 as the place we wanted to raise our kids. We are on the eight-year plan at WCNS having seen Meghan (now 9) through three years, Allie (now 7) and Tyler (now 4) who is in his third year at WCNS.
We fell in love with this school right away when we visited. The staff is just incredible. The director and the teachers have an amazing depth of knowledge and experience – and we also really enjoy how each of them brings their unique selves to the class and the kids. It is a truly enriching and very fun environment. When I’m not being a dad, I’m a pricing actuary for a disability insurance company. |
Tseday Tedla, SECRETARY
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Selam (Hello)! I am Tsedey A. Tedla. My husband and I are originally from Ethiopia. After living in three other states, we moved to Westville a couple of years ago and it feels like a home away from home.
Our oldest daughter Naomi went to WCNS and she is now in 1st grade at Edgewood Magnet School. Our youngest Abby joined last spring. She can’t wait to get back this fall. At WCNS, not only did we find an amazing school for our children but also a wonderful community. The teachers are so caring and enthusiastic, I have no doubt our children get to have the best preschool experience. That is why I am excited to serve on the board this year. |
Maureen Wright, FUNDRAISING
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Hi! I’m Maureen Wright and I’m excited to join the board as fundraising chair. I was born and raised in Westville and after some time away, moved back 3 years ago to raise my family in this wonderful community. My husband, JW, and I have Garrett (5) who just graduated from WCNS and Dylan (2) who is eager to join next year.
As a former educator, I knew when I walked through the doors what a magical place WCNS was, with the most caring and creative staff. I currently work at All Our Kin, an organization founded in New Haven, which supports and sustains home-based child care educators. My work is to share their promising practices nationally. |
Stephanie Berner, CO-CHAIR FAMILY ACTIVITIES
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My name is Stephanie Berner and my son, Henry, is in his first full year at WCNS. My daughter, Evelyn, is a WCNS alum and is currently in 1st grade at Edgewood School.
We have lived in Westville for 6 years and found a sense of community here that we love. When pregnant with Evelyn we moved back to CT after 14 years of living outside of Boston and I never thought we’d find such a great community for our family. WCNS has added to that sense of belonging for us. We see schoolmates and teachers while out for walks in the neighborhood and at local activities. Interacting with the families at WCNS only strengthens those bonds, making the Families Activities Committee so special to me. |
Jesika DeMatteo, CO-CHAIR FAMILY ACTIVITIES
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My name is Jesika DeMatteo. I currently reside in Orange with my husband, Mike, my son Tyler and youngest child, Daniella. Daniella had 2 1/2 amazing years at WCNS where we became proud members of the community. Daniella will be starting Kindergarten in Orange this year, however we will continue to keep close ties with WCNS. While I have lived in CT most of my life, I spent a 10-year period in the Dallas area of TX where I started my career in the logistics industry. I have worked for a variety of companies over the past twenty years where I have been able to develop and strengthen my skills.
I currently manage the Planning/Forecasting and Logistics services at Unger Enterprises, LLC. I enjoy the organizational and planning aspects of both my professional and personal life. I love opportunities to plan and coordinate themed parties paying close attention to detail. On the weekends, we enjoy family time together at the beach, listening to music (live and recorded), trying new adventures in the local area, and spending time with extended family. |
Jes Mack, PUBLICITY
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Hi! I am Jes (she/they), I'm a native New Haven-er and currently live in Westville with my husband Brandon and our three kids 10, 8 & 5. All WNCS alums- currently attending Elm City Montessori School.
As an artist the emergent curriculum that WCNS and their incredible teachers provides, has proven to be an invaluable guide for our family in creating holistic, curious and child driven discoveries in all aspects of life. I hope to help broaden the reach of the school, while fostering long lasting relationships within the community. I work creating and supporting live event production and community building. A founding member of A Broken Umbrella Theatre, creating all ages theatrical events based on the history and lore of New Haven, CT. |
Ann Finateri-Laist, COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE
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Hi, I am Ann Finateri-Laist. my husband, Randy, and I are long-time New Haven residents. Our son, Tony and daughter Sharilyn, attended WCNS for two years, and loved it.
I have lived and traveled extensively in both West Africa and Latin America, and I’ve loved being able to come in and share stories and songs from around the world with the children. The WCNS program is amazing, the teachers are loving and dedicated, and the school really does feel like a family. We feel so fortunate to be a part of the WCNS community. Prior to having children, I worked for several years as a public school teacher. I currently work part-time as an adjunct instructor of art history for Goodwin College; and in my spare time I like to play trivia, sing in a women’s choir, and strum a few chords on the ukulele. |
Jessica Westbrook, COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE
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Jessica is a New Haven native who is passionate about uplighting and supporting her community. By providing birth services she is able to advocate and provide a safe space for new families. She is a mother of three who has gained a tremendous amount of hands on experience with pregnancy and postpartum needs of every mother. She plans to expand her services to other aspiring Doulas in the community by offering scholarships for those who are interested in Birth/PostPartum Doula certification. Furthermore, she is working to decrease mortality among women of color during pregnancy and birth by offering her services to underserved communities in Connecticut.
Jessica is the founder of The Lotus Doula Group in New Haven, CT, a Childbirth International certified birth/postpartum Doula and Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, and Senior Executive Assistant at The Children's Community Programs. |
Simon Hutchinson, TECHNICAL SUPPORT
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Hello! We lived in New Haven for several years before we finally ended up settling down up in North Haven. We still spend quite a bit of time in Westville for work and play, so it's wonderful that WCNS provides another excuse for us to be around. My specialty is music technology, but luckily some of those skills transfer over to more general skills in technology so I'm happy to let my support to the technical needs of WCNS. In my spare time, I'm usually tinkering with something, programming pointless software, or out for a walk with the family.
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