Kayla Fryar

Two Year Old Teacher

Abbi Yost

 After School Teacher

Caroline Dugas

Owner

Our AWESOME Staff!!

Ashley Danko

Owner

Taylor joined our team in 2023 after she, her husband, and their two sweet daughters moved to Leland in 2022 after living in 8 different states! They call Vermont home, but are excited to make Coastal NC their forever home!! Taylor has worked with children for many years, in many different capacities, and is excited to work with our four year olds! In her free time, you will find Taylor reading or

 at the beach collecting shark teeth!

Abbi is an NC local, raised in the Pender county area, graduating from Heide Trask Highschool in 2018! She got married in 2020 and moved to California. Her and her husband spent the next three years exploring the PNW and West Coast while he did an enlistment in the Marine Corps. Growing up in a family with 8 daughters, she’s very family oriented and loves children! Abbi joined the Coastal team in 2023 after moving back to NC. She and her  husband are excited to start a family in the near future!! 

Caroline is from Chapel Hill, NC, and graduated from UNC in 1990 with a Bachelor's degree in Communications and a minor in Public Relations. Raised in a family that placed a very strong emphasis on academia, she grew up surrounded by authors, musicians, scholars and artists-but what she loved most were the children she regularly babysat. Married to Michael, she has three wonderful children of her own and they are every bit as precocious as she was when she was young. In addition to assisting with the oversight of Coastal Day School, Caroline is a full-time real estate agent.

Ashley moved to North Carolina from Pennsylvania in 2003. Ashley attended WCCC for Early Childhood Education and later received a certificate in Childcare Administration in North Carolina. Ashley taught preschool at Coastal Day School for seven years before putting down the stickers and playdough to give more attention to daily operations. Her heart remains in the classroom; however, she loves working alongside our amazing teachers, parents, and students. Ashley loves spending her free time traveling and exploring with her husband, three kiddos, and dog!

Michelle Runyan

Three Year Old Teacher

Christie Smith

Four Year Old and After School Teacher

Jodi Caddell

Office Manager

Maggie Sayers

Four Year Old Teacher

Jodi and her family moved to Leland in 2011 to plant Reach Community Church. Jodi attended ASU and loves putting her organizational skills to use in our office! Jodi has also assisted in various classrooms here at CDS since she joined our team in 2014 and loves when she gets to sub! In her free time, Jodi enjoys doing puzzles, playing games, and hanging out with her husband and three children! 

After graduating from Radford University in 2003 with a licensure in Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education, Caitlin taught First Step (a 4 year old program) for 4 years, followed by 1st grade for 7 years. Caitlin and her family moved from Hampton Roads, VA to Leland in August of 2014 and joined our team at CDS shortly after. In her spare time, Caitlin loves to read and go to the beach/pool with her husband and three boys. Caitlin was truly made to teach and shines the brightest when she's surrounded by her sweet Kindergarten students!

Emily Bradley 

Two Year Old Teacher

Caitlin Baer

Kindergarten Teacher

Maggie joined our team at Coastal Day School in 2015, after her older two children attended preschool and Kindergarten here. Maggie has spent most of her years in our four year old program and absolutely loves the eagerness and fun they bring to the classroom! Maggie and her husband have called Wilmington home for the last 13 years and enjoy spending time at the beach with their four children! They also love spending time in the kitchen together, creating and experimenting with different flavors and ingredients!

Christie joined our team in 2022, bringing numerous child care certifications and 30 years of experience with her! She loves working with children and partnering with their families!! She is most proud of her amazing daughter that she got to spend 30 wonderful years with. In her free time, Christie loves spending time with her family and four-legged son! 

Veronnica joined our team in 2013. She has a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Early Childhood from Penn State University. One of Veronnica's favorite experiences was teaching 2 and 3 year olds in the Dominican Republic for a year. Veronnica is happily married and mommy to a super cute little girl! Veronnica loves everything Wilmington has to offer and is excited to be a part of the CDS family!

Taylor McAllister

Four Year Old Teacher

Melissa Wiltshire

Three Year Old Teacher

Michelle moved to Leland from Michigan in May of 2020 and shortly after joined the CDS family! Michelle has taught and nurtured children from infants to preschoolers since graduating from Schoolcraft College in 2012 with a degree in Applied Science, specializing in Child Care and Development. Michelle enjoys walking, dining out, going to the movie and spending time with her family and friends! Michelle is very creative and loves making fun and interactive activities for her students!!

Anna Hardy

Three Year Old and After School Teacher 

Melissa attended Cape Fear Community College for Early Childhood Education and worked in preschool for years prior to joining the team at CDS in 2014. Melissa loves teaching the two year old class and guiding families through their first year with us! Melissa and her husband have three amazing kids and enjoy traveling with them, as well as supporting them in their various sports and activities! 

Veronnica Padala

After School and Summer Camp Director and Four Year Old Teacher

Kayla has her degree in Early Childhood Education and has taught preschool for years prior to joining our team at Coastal in 2021. Kayla absolutely loves children, which is great since she has six of her own!! Kayla is a military wife and loves spending time with her husband of ten years! In their free time, they soak up as much family time as possible and love hanging out at the beach or pool! 

Anna moved to Leland in 2012 and loves the small town feel! Anna has worked in preschool for the last ten years, joining the CDS team in 2016. In her free time, Anna enjoys baking, reading, and watching movies! She loves all things Disney, Marvel, Harry Potter, and Hamilton!! Anna also enjoys spending time with her students outside of school, babysitting them and watching soccer games and dance recitals!