Vicki Bain
CPNS Head Teacher, M/W/F AM Pre-K and M/W/F Preschool Skill Builders Lead Teacher
Mrs. Bain has a B.S. degree from the College of New Jersey, certified in both Nursery School and Elementary Education. She began her teaching career working with three and four-year-olds at the Trinity Cathedral Day School in Trenton. After moving to East Windsor several years later, she began teaching in the East Windsor Regional School District, working with kindergarten and later first grade students. While teaching in East Windsor, Mrs. Bain received the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Award for the Walter C. Black School and was recognized in “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers”. Mrs. Bain retired from teaching in East WIndsor after 35 years of dedication to the district. She is a member of the Delta Kappa Society International, which promotes professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. Vicki is a member and Elder of the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury and is currently active on the Christian Education and Youth Ministries committees. She taught Sunday School for many years and served on the CPNS Board. When not teaching, Vicki enjoys days at the beach, Jazzercise, reading, gardening, and spending time with her 5 grandchildren.
Paulette Christie
M/W/F 2.5 Class Assistant Teacher, Lunch Teacher
Paulette Christie was born and raised in Rome, Georgia. Paulette studied Neuroscience at Emory University. For over 35 years, she worked as a Neurology Technologist and Neurology Assistant. She has worked as Department Manager of Neuroscience departments between hospitals and private practice. Much of her experience has been working with children that have neurological issues. She retired and moved to Cranbury 5 years ago to help with her 4 grandchildren. She loves to read, sew, play various musical instruments, and run.
Jessica Corriveau
CPNS Director
Mrs. Corriveau graduated from The College of NJ with a BS in Deaf Education and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership. She began her career at Katzenbach School for the Deaf, where she acted as an elementary school teacher and later the Head Teacher of the Lower School. After having her second child, she left Katzenbach and began to teach as an Adjunct professor of American Sign Language at TCNJ. She has continued to teach ASL for the past 20 years and loves every minute. Mrs. Corriveau sent 5 of her 6 children to CPNS and served on the CPNS Board for 10 years. In 2011, she took a job as a Teacher of the Deaf in the West Windsor Plainsboro School District and later moved on to becoming the Director of Cranbury Presbyterian Nursery School in 2019. Her 25 years of teaching experience from preschool to college has taught her that each child is curious, talented and ready to learn in their own unique way and on their own personal path. In her free time, she enjoys traveling to Disney World with her husband and 6 children, spending time with her family and friends, volunteering for her kids’ activities and doing Community Theater.
Pam Dressel
3’s Lead Teacher, Library Adventures Lead Teacher and Lunch Teacher
Mrs. Dressel is a graduate of Kean University in New Jersey. She has her degree in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Child Psychology. She worked at CPNS as a teacher in the 3-year-old program from 1993-1996, as well as substituting at CPNS for many years. After raising her sons, Mrs. Dressel returned to teaching at CPNS in 2010 as the Lead Teacher of the 3-year-old program and continues to teach both sections as well as being the Lead Teacher of Library Adventures. She lives in Monroe with her husband, Dennis, and her sons, Patrick and Kyle, who both attended CPNS. Patrick is currently a physical education teacher and Kyle is a high school English teacher in Manville. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family at their lake house.
Nicole Femiano Ayala
T/W/TH Pre-K Head Teacher & Lunch Teacher
Mrs. Femiano is a former preschool special education teacher in Staten Island, NY, with over 10 years of experience. During her teaching career, she experienced working in a classroom and working one on one with students. Mrs. Femiano is also trained in Applied Behavior Analysis. Since she was in the second grade, becoming a teacher was always her passion. In 2006, she realized this dream upon receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a minor in Social Studies from St. John’s University in Staten Island, New York. Immediately after, she started a Master of Science degree at Wagner College. Mrs. Femiano graduated with a dual Masters degree in Special Education and Childhood Education in 2007. She holds multiple New York State professional teaching licenses including Students with Disabilities and Childhood Education. In 2018, she took a teaching hiatus when she became pregnant with twins. At that time, her family moved to East Windsor, NJ. Since then, she has been a full time stay at home mom. She absolutely loves being a twin mommy to Francesca and Marco, who are also CPNS students! She is excited to return to the classroom at CPNS as a substitute and lunch teacher!
Emily Forman
M/W/F 3’s Assistant Teacher, Lunch Teacher
Mrs. Forman grew up in Cranbury and got a Masters in Oriental Medicine from the International Institute of Chinese Medicine in Santa Fe, NM after getting a BA in Environmental Studies from Gettysburg College. She has been involved in childcare her whole life and will be the childcare coordinator for Sunday morning services this Fall. Mrs. Forman spends her free time gardening, painting, writing and laughing with friends and family.
Nicole Minguillon
On the Way to K Lead Teacher
Mrs. Minguillon has a degree in Psychology with a focus on Early Childhood Development from Rutgers University and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Montclair State University for Preschool-5th Grade. She taught 3rd grade for Edison Township School District before having her own children. Mrs. Minguillon sent her own four children, Gianna, Michael, Bryan and Brielle to CPNS before joining the teaching team in 2021. She resides in Monroe Township and enjoys spending time with her family and rooting her kids on in their sports activities.
Heather Podlesny
3’s, On the Way to K and Creative Expressions Assistant Teacher, Lunch Teacher
Mrs. Podlesny attended Middlesex Community College, where she received a degree in Early Childhood Education. She also attended Monmouth University, where she studied Special Education. Mrs. Podlesny worked for Pascataway School District as a substitute teacher and one-on-one aide for children with Autism. She currently resides in East WIndsor with her husband and four children, who all attended CPNS.
Gretchen Potter
Lead Teacher 2.5 Year Old Classes, Creative Expressions, Lunch Teacher and Coordinator
Mrs. Potter grew up in Lancaster, PA and graduated from Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, VA with degrees in German and Religious Studies. In 2022, she received her Child Development Associates Degree (CDA). She served as Director of Children and Youth Ministry at Chester United Methodist Church in Chester, VA for almost 12 years before her husband was transferred to Montreal, Canada, and then back to New Jersey. She lives in East WIndsor with her husband and three children. She enjoys reading and watching theater.
Linda Protinick
Substitute Teacher
Mrs. Protinick graduated from East Brunswick High School and has taken classes at Salem College in West Virginia and Rutgers University in Early Childhood Education. She received her CDA in 2012. Her previous work experience includes working as an aide at the Wicoff Elementary School in Plainsboro and running her own in-home childcare business. Three of her four children are CPNS graduates and she has served as assistant teacher in several programs as well as running the Mommy and Me program. Mrs. Protinick is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Cranbury and has worked in childcare for the church. Mrs. Protinick retired from her part time position as assistant teacher in 2021, but remains a dedicated member of our substitute teaching staff. She helps to run her family farm in Plainsboro, Protinick Farms.
Denise Reilley
Pre-K, Preschool Skill Builders Assistant Teacher, Full STEAM Ahead, ABC Soup Lead Teacher
Mrs. Reilley grew up in Cranbury and attended West Virginia University, majoring in Animal Science. She worked for 14 years in the Pharmaceutical Industry doing Pre-Clinical and Clinical work. Mrs. Reilley was a member of the Cranbury First Aid Squad and was an EMT for several years. She also is the supervisor of the Cranbury School Crossing Guards, and will often be seen doing her job on the corner of Main Street and Station Road! She was a Room Parent at CPNS and Cranbury School for her children, Sean and Devon, as well as being active in the PTO and Cranbury Education Foundation. Mrs. Reilley started working at CPNS in 2005 as a substitute teacher and moved on to working in the lunch program and then as an assistant and lead teacher in various CPNS programs and enrichments. Mrs. Reilley received her CDA (Child Development Associates Degree) in 2021. Her son Sean is a recent graduate of University of Delaware and her daughter Devon will graduate from Hofstra University this May.
Susan Sumutka
Music Teacher
During her 37-year teaching career, Susan Sumutka taught vocal general music to Preschool through 8th grade students and directed choruses and select choral ensembles who performed at annual Christmas and spring concerts and other school-wide events. She was awarded the Superintendent’s Award from the Jackson, NJ School District for upholding superior teaching and ethical standards.
Susan earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Muskingum University in Ohio and a Master of Education degree from The College of New Jersey. She holds a New Jersey Elementary School Teaching Certificate, attended numerous sessions at the New Jersey Music Educators Conferences and also several seminars and workshops at Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ.
Singing is Susan’s passion; she is a member of Princeton Pro Musica, which performs four concerts a year. She also sings and plays the ukulele with a local group, that performs at various events.
Volunteer activities keep Susan busy by sewing quilts for leukemia patients, distributing food products at a pantry, and preparing Christmas stockings for soldiers stationed overseas. Susan enjoys exercising, biking, taking nature walks, and traveling.
Annam Thaneermalai
Pre-K Assistant Teacher
Annam Thaneermalai holds a bachelor of science degree in home science from India, an associate degree in Medical Assisting from Montgomery County College, PA. and has a Master Gardener Certificate from Rutgers Agricultural Extension. She is an avid painter and artist, teaching kids of all ages during their after school hours. She lives with her husband and son in Monroe Township, NJ. She joined CPNS as a lunch teacher when her son was a preschooler in CPNS and has worked as an assistant teacher for the last two years. During her free time, she does painting, organic gardening and cooking from the garden. She learns and practices the steps to reduce her carbon footprint and create a greener environment.
Lindsay Tremarco
2.5 Class Assistant Teacher
Lindsay Tremarco was born and raised in Woodbridge, NJ, where she graduated from Woodbridge High School. She now resides in Monroe Township with her husband, George and their three children, Olivia, George, and Vincent. She is an active member in the community as she participates and volunteers in her children’s schools, sports, and extracurricular activities. All three children attended CPNS, which made for an easy decision to be a part of such an exceptional school. Lindsay enjoys going to the beach, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.