Meet our Directors
Barbara Sullivan has been the Executive Director of ACNS since 1980. In 1989 she opened ACNS Too by popular demand. She has a BS from Framingham State and a Masters in Supervision and Counseling from Suffolk University. Barbara was a first grade teacher, a special ed. teacher, and a school counselor. She has been a Newton resident since 1973 and has always been involved in the Newton community. Barbara was a "Big Sister", a volunteer for Parent & Child Program, PTA President, YMCA Board member, founding member of NECA and Underwood After School Program. She has been Chair of the Newton Child Care Commission since 1989. She is also on the CPC Council, a member of NAEYC and NECA, and NAEYC Program Validator. She has 3 adult children (2 of whom are ACNS graduates) and 4 grandchildren.
Paula Fallon-Dolan has been a Director at ACNS
since 1997. Prior to this Paula was the Director of an infant, toddler, and
preschool program for 10 years and taught at the pre-school program at
Wellesley College. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from
Framingham State College. She has pursued graduate studies in early childhood
administration and early childhood environments. Paula has been a member of Newton Community
Partnership for Children since 1997 and is presently co-chair, is a member of the Dover/Sherborn Guidance Advisory Committee, and has been a
NAEYC validator and consultant. Paula, her husband and two teenaged daughters (one of whom is an ACNS graduate),
live in Sherborn.
Katie Donovan has been at ACNS since 1986.
She started when her daughter was in the Teddy Bear Class and was the lead teacher in the
Dinosaur Class for 15 years. She has been a Director at the school since 2001.
Katie earned her Masters in Elem. Ed. at Boston College in 1990. She is a commissioner on the Newton
Child Care Commission, a board member of the Newton Early Childhood Association and a
member of NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children).
Katie and her husband, Mark, are life long residents of Newton and have two adult children who both attended the
Newton Public Schools.
