For more than two decades, Sherry Spier has watched the Cinnaminson School District from nearly every angle — as a teacher, librarian and administrator. Now, as the district’s director of early childhood education, she is drawing on those experiences to help shape the beginning of students’ educational journeys.
Spier began her Cinnaminson career in 2005 as a fifth-grade in-class support teacher. She later taught special education and reading at the high school before becoming both the high school and middle school librarian.
Her career eventually led to district administration, where her responsibilities included overseeing state testing, supporting students receiving special education services, providing staff professional development, managing district databases and the staff evaluation system, and supervising school libraries and district nurses.
Over those 21 years, Spier has worked with students ranging from preschoolers to young adults age 21. That broad experience ultimately helped draw her toward early childhood education.
“Those experiences shaped my belief that the earliest years of a child’s education are incredibly important,” Spier said. “I knew that I wanted to help our youngest learners build a strong foundation — not only for academic success, but also for developing appropriate social skills, confidence, and a strong sense of self-worth.”
A major turning point came in March 2024, when Spier wrote the grant that enabled Cinnaminson to expand its preschool program through New Jersey’s Preschool Expansion Aid initiative. The effort grew into a significant district-wide program, and in 2025, Spier was named director of early childhood education.
She now oversees the district preschool program, including classrooms and staff, private provider partnerships, curriculum and instruction, professional development, program quality and compliance with state preschool requirements.
The program is continuing to expand for the 2026-27 school year. Cinnaminson now has 16 universal preschool classrooms across seven locations.
District-staffed locations include Temple Sinai, Westfield Friends and Memorial School. Cinnaminson also continues partnerships with Newman Early Learning Center, CinnamonSticks and The Learning Experience in Riverton. A new partnership with Children of America has added three classrooms.
Spier said one of the district’s biggest priorities this year is the successful passage of a referendum that would allow Cinnaminson to expand its in-district preschool classrooms and bring more of the program together at one location.
Doing so, she said, would create greater consistency and connection among students, families and staff.
At the same time, Spier plans to continue emphasizing student and staff well-being, family and community relationships and high-quality learning experiences that support children academically, socially and emotionally.
That means focusing on the whole child rather than viewing preschool solely as academic preparation.
Students will participate in engaging, play-based learning designed to build foundational skills while encouraging curiosity and independence. Social-emotional development will remain another priority, with teachers helping children develop confidence and a positive sense of self.
Spier also wants families to see themselves as active partners in their children’s education.
“We want families to feel connected, supported, and like valued partners in their child’s preschool experience,” she said.
The priorities build on what Spier considers one of the program’s biggest accomplishments from last year: welcoming its largest group of preschool students to date and continuing to increase access to high-quality early education in Cinnaminson.
Spier also marked a personal milestone when she received the Burlington County Visionary Leader Award while continuing to grow into her new leadership role.
As another school year begins, however, her focus remains on the children entering classrooms, many of them for the first time.
Spier acknowledged that beginning preschool can be an emotional transition for children and parents alike. Her advice to families is to approach that transition with confidence and recognize the many positive experiences that will follow.
“There may be tears, but there will also be new friendships, little victories, and so many moments that will make you smile,” she said. “Let your child know that you believe they can do this.”
And if Spier could deliver one message directly to every preschool student on the first day, it would be simple: They belong.
She wants children to know they are safe, valued and capable of learning and growing — including making mistakes and trying again.
“It will be a period of adjustment for all of us,” Spier said, encouraging families to provide patience and grace. “Most importantly, I want every child to know that we believe in them and are excited to see all that they will accomplish this year.”
For Spier, that philosophy reflects what she believes makes Cinnaminson special: a community in which teachers, staff and families work together toward the same goal.
After 21 years in the district, she is now helping ensure its youngest students experience that sense of community from their very first day of school.
