Our Team
OCNS operates with a Co-Teacher model. Each class has two highly experienced, progressively trained co-teachers who equally manage classroom duties. Each teacher participates in ongoing professional development, and continued education courses and workshops.
Ms. Coralee
Director
Coralee began her career in early childhood education in 2008 and joined Oneonta in the spring of 2015. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Studies from Cal Poly Pomona and is currently pursuing her Master of Social Work through Arizona State University. After 10 years of teaching, Coralee stepped in as the Director in 2024, bringing warmth, experience, and an understanding of all things OCNS. She is passionate about creating a supportive and enriching environment for children, families, and staff. She is dedicated to making sure that all families have equitable access to the resources and support they need in their communities.
Outside of work, Coralee enjoys reading and exploring the outdoors with her husband, Nick. Her favorite place to explore is the High Sierras, though she also loves camping and hiking all over California. She especially loves spending time with her nieces and nephews.
Ms. Ciara
Greenhouse Co-Teacher
Miss Ciara graduated magna cum laude from Cal Poly Pomona with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Studies and received her master’s degree in Child Life at the University of La Verne. She has been in the field of early childhood education for nearly ten years, with Oneonta being a very special part of that journey, first spending five years here, taking a short break, and then returning.
Working with young children is Miss Ciara’s true passion. She loves seeing the world through their eyes, sharing in their wonder, and sparking their curiosity as they learn and grow. Building meaningful connections and creating joyful learning experiences are at the heart of her teaching.
Outside the classroom, Miss Ciara enjoys spending time with her son, Rylee, who keeps her days full of laughter and adventure. She also loves reading, listening to podcasts, traveling, going to the beach, and playing with her two dogs, Finn and Milo.
Ms. Robyn
Greenhouse Co-Teacher
Robyn is joining OCNS after strongly connecting with many families involved in her outdoor nature-based play classes, Robyn's Roundup, over the last 4 years. Her contagious joy, her focus on creating intentional play and meaningful connections with children, and to our Earth, are felt by all.
She graduated from Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor's degree in Child Development and Psychology and has consistently pursued working with children in various capacities for the last 2 decades.
Prior to joining the team, Robyn is known in the community for her strength in outdoor play programming, her background and involvement as a long-time camp director at local camps, and has since continued to find herself seeking out all things child's play, centered around social emotional learning.
When she's not with children, you can find her traveling and joyfully hiking in places like New Zealand, Patagonia and Norway! She loves going to concerts, eating vegetarian meals and exploring nature near and far with friends and family!
Having grown up here in South Pasadena, she is excited to return to her hometown community and build relationships with each of you, mindfully approaching each interaction with intention and truly meeting children where they are at. She is delighted to have your child in her class and can't wait to create magic playing, exploring and discovering together.
Ms. Katie
Treehouse Co-Teacher
Katie has been working in early childhood education since 2006 and is passionate about creating meaningful, nurturing learning experiences for young children. She earned her Bachelor"s degree in Early Childhood Education from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena in 2014. For 10 years, Katie also served as a Mentor Teacher through Los Angeles City College, supporting and guiding future early childhood educators. She values creating an environment where children feel safe, respected, curious, and confident as they explore the world around them. Katie Lives in Pasadena with her husband, Steve. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys reading, hiking, biking, singing and traveling the world.
Ms. Mary
Treehouse Co-Teacher
Ms. Mary began teaching preschool in 2000 and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development from Cal State LA in 2004. Her goal as a preschool teacher is to foster the children's emotional and social development while creating a safe environment for them to ask questions and explore. Ms. Mary took a break from teaching full time when her daughter was born in 2010 but continued teaching part-time. Even as a mom, she applied the same philosophies and practices she used as a teacher while raising her own kids. Ms. Mary joined OCNS in October 2022 and has since developed a deep appreciation for the co-op model, cherishing the relationships she builds with families and the community. On days she is not teaching or driving her kids around to their many activities, she enjoys watching shows and movies with her husband. She also loves getting lost in a good book and baking cookies.
Ms. Andrea
Sunroom Co-Teacher
Ms. Andrea joined OCNS in 2014 as a teacher after first becoming part of the community as a parent in 2012. Her early experience includes working with infants and preschool-aged children at Cristina’s Kids Club and volunteering with the South Pasadena YMCA, where she provided music and movement activities for youth. Andrea earned her B.S. in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations from Cal Poly Pomona in 2000.
Since joining the OCNS staff, Andrea has taught in every classroom. She brings an empathetic, relationship-centered approach to teaching. She supports early learners through an attentive and respectful presence, encouraging self-regulation and empathy for others through co-regulation. She focuses on helping children develop self-awareness by recognizing and naming their emotions, then builds on that understanding to foster relationship skills and social awareness.
Andrea encourages children to express themselves through dress-up, dance, song, art, and play. Through observation and project-based lesson planning, she follows the early learner's interests with curiosity, and intention, creating meaningful opportunities for discovery.
Outside of OCNS, Andrea enjoys adventures with her family and attending meditation retreats whenever she can.
Ms. Michelle
Sunroom Co-Teacher
Michelle started her OCNS journey as a parent, then a board member, then a teacher sub, and is now thrilled to become a part of the full-time teaching staff! She studied Business Administration and Communications at the University of Portland in Oregon where she was raised. She is one of five children and grew up babysitting and caring for kids and has always had her heart in early childhood education. With the birth of her son Charlie in 2020, Michelle decided to take a step into the education world and led a parent-and-me nature class in Pasadena. Once she joined the Oneonta community as a parent, she decided to pursue her dream of going back to school to study Early Childhood Education. During her time as a board member, she finished her ECE teaching credits and was able to start subbing in our classrooms. Michelle is excited to teach your children through the power of play - using books, movement, music, and exploration of our natural spaces. She enjoys curling up with a good book in her spare time, and loves spending time at the beach.
Ms. Harriet
Little Explorers
Originally from the UK, Harriet trained professionally as a dancer at London Contemporary Dance School and California Institute of the Arts. After graduating and relocating to Los Angeles she shifted focus to early childhood and began sharing her love of music and movement with young children. When Harriet’s son began attending OCNS in 2022, she fell in love with the school and its magic. She jumped at the chance of joining the incredible team of educators! As an early childhood educator, her goal is to provide children with an enriching experience that empowers them to feel, explore and create. She also believes that nature is a huge part of learning and strives for a nature-based curriculum. When she isn’t teaching, Harriet enjoys adventures with her husband and son, spending time in nature, and crafting. You can usually find her drinking a cup of tea (with biscuits, of course!)
Ms. Kaylin
Substitute Teacher
For most of Kaylin’s professional career she has worked in the film industry. She holds her BFA in Creative Producing and has worked on countless TV Shows, movies, and digital series, but always had a special place in her heart for the projects she worked on with child actors. This has lead her to go back to school and study ECE! This is her first year teaching while she continues her education. In her free time Kaylin can be found traveling, enjoying the outdoors, or reading with her cats!