CONTACT

CONTACT INFORMATION

For more information call 650-529-1335 or email [email protected]

LOCATION

Our address is 815 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028
We are located on the beautiful campus of Christ Church.

Cara O'Connell, Director
Email to: [email protected]

Cara O'Connell has dedicated more than 25 years to the field of Early Childhood Education and has served the Carillon School community since joining the program in 2014. During her early years at Carillon, she had the privilege of working alongside interim director Nancy Kruberg, whose leadership and role in establishing Carillon's strong foundation helped shape Cara's commitment to excellence in early childhood education.
Cara earned her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, with a concentration in Sociology, from Georgian Court University in New Jersey. She has continued her professional development through Early Childhood Education coursework at Foothill College and remains committed to lifelong learning and best practices in the field.
After relocating to California with her family in 2001, Cara continued her teaching career, working with two-year-olds, three-year-olds, and Pre-K students before transitioning into school leadership. She became Co-Director in 2019 and now serves as Director, where she provides leadership for the school's educational program, faculty, and families while remaining actively involved in the classroom with the Honeybees program.
Cara believes that young children learn best through meaningful play, exploration, and nurturing relationships. She is passionate about creating a warm, engaging environment where every child feels known, valued, and inspired to develop confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of learning. Her leadership is grounded in building strong partnerships with families, supporting exceptional teachers, and fostering a school community where children thrive academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
Cara and her husband have four adult children, and she considers it a privilege to support children during these important early years of growth and discovery.