KASANDRA DEPAUW - Director

Being the oldest in a family with younger siblings and many younger cousins has always made me love being around children.

I attended Merrimack College where I received a bachelor’s degree in Family and Community Engagement and I attended North Shore Community College where I received an associates degree in Early Childhood Education. I initially wanted to be a kindergarten teacher but after working in preschool for many years, I knew this is where I wanted to be. Preschool is the foundation for students and their future learning and I love being a part of that. There are two things I am extremely passionate about when it comes to teaching students. One is creating hands-on, fun curriculum and the other is introducing all different types of literacy to students.

I currently live in Salem and I absolutely love it. I live with my husband and my two little dogs, Chloe & Coco. Family is very important to me so the majority of my free time is spent with them. I also enjoy cooking, trying new restaurants, and spending time with friends.

JESSICA CAPONE - Interim Director Preschool Teacher

I have been working in the childcare/preschool field for 20 years and began working at Ocean Breeze in 2021. I am so excited to be part of the OBS team! I have an Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Bunker Hill Community College and love working with children. Teaching preschool is so rewarding. Watching their excitement during science experiments or observing their creativity during art makes being a preschool teacher the best job in the world.

I live in Peabody and love spending time with my family, taking vacations to Disney World, watching football, NASCAR and taking walks with my dog.

JOYCE AUSTIN - Toddler Teacher

I have been teaching preschoolers and toddlers for 24 years and have been teaching at OBS for 7 years. I graduated from North Shore Community College with a degree In Early Childhood education. My favorite part of teaching is watching all of the students grow, gain confidence and make new friends. Watching their growth from September to June is amazing and I love supporting them on that journey as they go from toddlers to kindergarten ready.

I grew up in Swampscott and have an amazing husband and daughter. I love the ocean, boating, yoga, reading outside on my patio and spending time with my family.

STACEY DUELL - Toddler Teacher

I have been at OBS for 11 years. I received my Bachelor's Degree from Salem State University where I focused on Early Childhood Education. I have always been a toddler teacher, which is my favorite age to teach. The learning and development that happen with this age group is amazing and wonderful to be a part of. I love watching their personalities grow from the start to the end of the school year.

Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family. My husband and I have a 15 year old daughter, 12 year old son and two Labs. We love spending time on the beach and traveling. On my own, I enjoy running, yoga, reading, doing puzzles and listening to music.

PATTIE COSTIN - Preschool Teacher

I have had the privilege of being part of the OBS family since 2010 and have been teaching preschoolers since 2000. I earned my Teacher Certification through classes at Salem State and North Shore Community College. I feel both proud and blessed to have had the opportunity to work with a team of dedicated, passionate, creative and most of all amazing teachers. I love every aspect of teaching and have come to realize through my many years of working with children, is that they can teach us as much as we teach them. What I find most rewarding is seeing the excitement in their eyes and on their little faces as they use the skills we have taught them to grow, flourish and succeed. I believe that children learn through play and each child is unique. I love being part of an environment that works hard to allow the children to learn and thrive at their own pace. I look forward to more wonderful years at OBS working with children and their families.

ALYCIA MICELI - Preschool Teacher

Working with children reminds you to look at the world in a whole new way. Young children are experiencing so many things for the first time. It is incredible to be able to share that with them, question and observe the world around them and watch them grow and develop new skills.

I have a degree in Early Childhood Education and in Culinary Arts. I was a professional baker for 14 years. I had always loved working with children and taught children’s cooking classes on the side. When the restaurant industry became too much, I became a nanny as working with children was another passion in my life. That led me to earning my Early Childhood Degree and it’s been amazing ever since. Managing a kitchen and a school are surprisingly similar at times!

I grew up in Framingham and moved to the Northshore 10 years ago, first in Salem, now in Swampscott. I had always wanted to live near the ocean, and it is incredible to do so. I love that I spend my days helping students build confidence, independence and creativity. There isn’t a better job.

KRISTIN ROCK - Preschool Teacher

Ocean Breeze School has always been my dream school to work for. While studying at North Shore Community College, earning my degree in Early Childhood Education, I completed my student teaching at OBS. I was able to truly learn, hands on, what being a great teacher is while learning beside some of the best! What I love most about being a teacher is exploring new topics and curriculum through the children's point of view. In my eyes, there is no greater joy than seeing a child learn or witness something for the first time. Being a part of that experience as their teacher is pretty amazing!

I am a mother of two beautiful girls and reside at my home in Peabody with them, my husband and our two lovable dogs. In my free time, I enjoy family time, painting, listening to music and going on walks.

B0PHA RIVERA - Preschool Teacher

I began teaching at OBS in 2021. When I received my degree at Bunker Hill Community College in 2015, I had already been teaching for two years and knew that the passion I had for teaching young minds was far greater than any other interests I had considered pursuing. I love building relationships with my students and finding ways to make learning fun so that the classroom is filled with joy and laughter. I enjoy incorporating activities that help children gain the confidence to express themselves, as well as activities that help build and maintain friendships. I value positivity and kindness, so I make sure to pass that onto all of my students every chance I get.

I am also a Registered Behavior Technician and have experience working with neurodivergent clients.

COLLEEN CIVIELLO - School Assistant Teacher

I am so excited for my first year as a teacher with OBS. I have been teaching for 7 years and each day is an adventure. I completed my Early Childhood Certification at NSCC and I am currently attending Cambridge College for my degree in Early Childhood Education. I find child-led activities to be especially rewarding and love seeing where a child's natural curiosity takes them. It is amazing to give children new tools and watch as they explore and discover the world around them.

I currently live in Swampscott with my husband and two girls. I enjoy camping and hiking with my family and friends. I am also a proud Girl Scout leader on the weekends.

ERIN KELLY - Preschool Teacher

I have been working in the childcare field — both in and out of the classroom — for over 15 years. My experiences range from Assistant Teaching at a local preschool to working as a Nanny and Personal Chef for area families. This is my first year at OBS and I'm thrilled to return to the classroom. I am passionate about color and creativity, and think you can't underestimate the impact of imaginative play on children's growth and independence. I'm confident that an open mind and a big heart can go a long way! In addition to a teaching certificate from NSCC, I have years of experience caring for children of all ages. This is such a rewarding field, and I feel lucky to be working at OBS.

In my free time I like crafting, cooking for friends and family, seeing live music, and arranging things in rainbow order. I live in Swampscott with my husband, teenage daughter, and two very feisty cats.