Cari L. Caris , Executive Director
and Elementary Principal

A Southern California native, Cari L. Caris is a graduate of the University of California at San Diego(B.A. Economics) as well as the Harvard Graduate School of Education with a Master's in Education; School Leadership Program.  Ms. Caris taught 6th grade in Encinitas, CA where she served on the district's committee to enhance and renovate it’s GATE program.  Prior to teaching full time, Ms. Caris was employed for six years by SCORE! Learning Inc. where she successfully opened and operated four centers in Orange County.  Ms. Caris also holds a Bilingual Teaching Credential and has taught Spanish to pre-school through sixth grade students in La Jolla, CA.  An avid traveler and athlete, Ms. Caris has lived in Santiago, Chile, hiked Machu Picchu in Peru, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa and successfully run the Chicago marathon.   It is most important to Ms. Caris that McDowell students develop a true love-of-learning as they work to reach their full academic potential.

Cheryl Cragun, Preschool Director

Cheryl Cragun first became involved at McDowell Elementary and Children’s Choice Preschool in 1986 when her eldest daughter first attended preschool. She became an active volunteer and held a chair position on the Parent Support Board for 3 years. In 1989 Cheryl Cragun was approached by Sandra Senn, the school’s founder, to become an official employee of the school. Cheryl Cragun attended Saddleback College to pursue her Early Childhood Education certification. She taught preschool until 1996. This is when the school was sold and she was asked to take the position of Preschool Director. Since 1996, Cheryl Cragun has enjoyed overseeing the preschool and being involved with all the children and their families. Cheryl Cragun loves spending time with her two grown daughters. Her hobbies are tennis, skiing, whitewater rafting and enjoying any activity that takes her outdoors into the sunshine.