Christ Episcopal Church Day School (CECDS) is governed by a Board of Advisors, consisting of seven church members. The Board recommends to the Vestry of Christ Church Parish, Kent Island the hiring of the Director, the annual tuition fees, and the annual school budget.
CECDS personnel include its director, teachers, teaching assistants, administrative assistant, and priest.
Director
The CECDS Director has a seat and voice on the Board, but no vote. The Director must hold a college degree and have recent early childhood experience. The Director oversees the hiring of all school staff.
Lisa Oesterling
Lisa has been the Director at CECDS since 2000. She served one year as the Interim Director/teacher in the 1999-2000 school year and prior to that was a teacher at CECDS since 1991. She has a Bachelor’s degree from John Carroll University and did post graduate study in Special Education at Cleveland State University and Early Childhood Education from Trinity College. She has three sons who all graduated from CECDS. Her hobbies include being a grandmother, traveling, reading, fitness and spending time with family and friends.
Teachers and Teaching Assistants
Currently, CECDS has four teachers, four teaching assistants, a music specialist/assistant, and an administrative assistant. Teachers sign contracts for employment from August to May, based on enrollment at the school. Requirements for teachers include a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or 120 semester hours of college credit and knowledge of children’s development and growth. Assistants are required to be able to determine cognitive, social, and physical needs of children and be knowledgeable of growth and development of children. When substitutes are needed, they are selected from a pre-approved list.
Ashley Rossbach
Ashley is thrilled to be joining the CECDS staff as a nursery teaching assistant this year! After earning a B.A. degree in Elementary Education from Salisbury University, Ashley taught elementary school for 6 years in Wicomico County MD., and Loudon County, Virginia. Upon moving back to the Stevensville area, she volunteered on the CECDS PTO while her oldest son was in Pre-K. Ashley is a proud CECDS alum(Pre-K class of ’95!) and is excited that her boys have had the opportunity to attend as well. Ashley enjoys reading, and crafting, but most importantly spending time with friends and family.
Jamee Belleau
Jamee became a teacher assistant with CECDS in 2021 after sending her twin girls to kindergarten. She proudly stayed home to raise them and co-lead a homeschool pod during their Pre-K year. Prior to that she was a customer service associate and loan processor with MidAtlantic Farm Credit and was involved with the Chesapeake Moms Club for many years including serving as President. She obtained her Associates degree in Human Services from Delaware Technical &Community College in 2003 where she was also a member of the softball team. She was raised in Sussex County Delaware and has resided on Kent Island with her husband Jason, since 2014. They also have two teenage children and a dog. Her love for the community, all things outdoors, swimming, planning events in her community association, and hosting holiday parties makes her a fun asset to our team.
Becky Cournow
Becky graduated from Virginia Tech with a BA in History. After living in several cities in Virginia and North Carolina and enjoying a career in the business world, Becky and her family landed in Kent Island 21 years ago. Not long after moving to Maryland, Becky came to CECDS where she worked for 10 years as a Nursery and Preschool Teacher. In 2012, Becky left CECDS for a full time teaching position at Anne Arundel Community College – Child Development Center where she taught 3-year olds for 8 years. The pandemic provided Becky with the happy opportunity to return to CECDS where her heart has always belonged. Originally from Richmond, VA and married to her high school sweetheart, Becky and her husband enjoy traveling now that their 2 sons are grown. Other interests include spending time with family, friends and Milo (Golden Retriever), home renovations, reading, gardening and planning that next trip!
Sandi Sparks
Sandi has been teaching at CECDS for 26 years. She was born and raised in Annapolis. Sandi graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 1979 with a degree in Social Work and Sociology and did post graduate study in Early Childhood Education at Trinity College. Her two children graduated from CECDS in 1994 and 1996. She enjoys reading, walking on the Cross Island trail, boot camp at Island Athletic Club, and spending time with her family. She has lived “on this side” of the bridge since 1987 and officially calls herself a local. She considers living and working on the island to be a blessing.
Beth Judy
Beth has been a music specialist at CECDS for over 35 years. She accompanies the children on the piano in their music classes as well as for their special programs and leads chapel three times a month. Beth studied music at Greenbrier College in Lewisburg, West Virginia and Shenandoah Music Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia. She has three children and four grandchildren.
Debbie Marinucci
Debbie fell in love with this little preschool back in 1992 when her son Russ attended, then Tony and last Jenna. In 1999, Debbie came on staff as a teaching assistant. She attended AACC with the hopes of becoming a nurse but instead graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Business. She does use her business degree working part time in her husband’s construction company. Her hobbies include gardening, hiking, biking and going on new adventures. Her favorite hobby is spending time with her family and especially her grandsons.
Keri Cato
Keri came to CECDS after teaching Kindergarten through 2nd grade at Chesapeake Academy, now Severn Lower School in Arnold. Keri graduated from Castleton State College in Vermont with a degree in elementary education and social science and continues to take courses to support her Maryland state teacher certification. Keri was president of the PTO during the time her son attended CECDS. Keri has been a substitute teacher, a Nursery teacher and a Pre-K teacher at CECDS. She enjoys being active with her son, playing golf, exercising, traveling, and spending time with her husband, family and friends.
Meghan Coon
Meghan has a Bachelors and Masters degree from East Carolina University. After teaching fourth grade in North Carolina, she decided to stay home with her children while her husband’s military career moved them around the US. In 2018, they relocated permanently to Kent Island where she continued to stay home with her three children (Alyx 13, Ethan 9, and Connor 4). She fills her time volunteering at their schools, working on the PTA, and supporting her daughter at dance competitions and sons at Karate. She enjoys spending time with her family, running, reading, walking her yellow lab (Remi) and the beach! She loves learning and is excited to get back in the classroom and join the CECDS family!
Elliott Morotti
Elliott is excited to be joining the CECDS staff as a Pre-K teaching assistant. A local of Kent Island, his journey with CECDS began as a student in 2005, following his brother’s footsteps from 1995 and preceding those of their youngest brother in 2007. Elliott is currently a student at Anne Arundel Community College, pursuing a degree in Architecture and Interior Design. In his free time, he enjoys working in the garden, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Martha Morotti
Martha began at CECDS in 1996 as the first treasurer of the PTO and as a substitute teacher. She quickly became an assistant teacher to Sandi Sparks and then moved on to her own classroom as a lead teacher. She left CECDS in January 2004 when her third son was born. She returned in 2007 as a 3-day Nursery teacher. In the Fall of 2009, Martha became the Administrative Assistant /bookkeeper. Martha graduated from Washington College with a Bachelor’s degree in economics and did post graduate study in Early Childhood Education at Trinity College. She and her husband own Joe’s Seafood in Severna Park. All three of her sons graduated from CECDS. She enjoys gardening, reading, going to the beach, teaching Sunday school, spending time with family, and watching her sons perform in band and theater.