Sarah lives in Waltham with her husband and their 10-year-old son, who also went to CCL. She holds an A.S. in Liberal Sciences from Middlesex Community College and a B.S. in Business from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Her professional credentials include EEC certifications as an Infant/Toddler Teacher, Lead Infant/Toddler Teacher, Director I, and Director II. She brings 17 years of experience in early childhood education and has been a dedicated member of the CCL community for the past eight years.

"I’ve been in the childcare field for over 20 years. I’ve been a part of the Children’s Center of Lexington for the past 8 years, and I’m thrilled to now serve as Director. I married my high school sweetheart, and we have a 10-year-old son who is a proud CCL alum. What I love most about CCL is the strong sense of community—we aren’t just a school, we are truly a family. I’m so excited for all that this year will bring!"

Shauna joins the CCL team with more than 25 years of experience in the field of early education. She studied Child Development and Family Studies at West Virginia University and began teaching thereafter. 

Shauna taught in a Toddler classroom for over 17 years at Family ACCESS of Newton before moving into administrative roles. It was there where her passion for working with young children and families was underscored. She is a Community Level Trainer of the Brazelton Touchpoints Approach, and these values are at the core of her interactions with families. Shauna believes strongly in building trusting relationships and that development happens within the context of these relationships. 

“Being able to work closely with teachers and still be connected to children and families in the classroom is a gift. I continue to find this critical work to be incredibly rewarding and consider myself lucky to be able to share in the immense growth and development that occurs during the early years of life. 

I am excited to be joining the team here at CCL in a more permanent capacity and am very much looking forward to jumping in and learning more about the entire CCL community. In my free time I enjoy reading, cooking and spending time with my family.” 

Alaya currently lives in Woburn with her husband and her two cats, Ember and Pepperoni. She has a B.A. in Folklore and Mythology from Harvard University, where she specialized in Latin American folklore and traditions. She has a diverse background in administration, sales, customer service, and event management.

"Magic in storytelling has always had a huge influence on how I perceive the world. I have a deep interest in the intersection between storytelling and learning in communities, and I look forward to exploring this interest at CCL!"