Cadence Academy Preschool, Sewell

Janet Soto is the Director at Cadence Academy Preschool, bringing over 15 years of experience in early childhood education to her role. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Education with a minor in Africana Studies from Rutgers University and is currently completing her Master of Education in Human Resource and Organizational Leadership at Rutgers Graduate School of Education. Janet’s career has spanned a remarkable range of roles, including classroom teaching, center leadership, early intervention, professional development, coaching, quality improvement, and multi-site support — a breadth of experience that has shaped her deeply held belief that great early childhood programs are built on strong relationships and supported educators.

Janet leads with warmth, transparency, and a genuine respect for the people around her. She is passionate about creating environments where children feel safe and loved, families feel connected, and educators feel valued. As both a director and a mom to a toddler son and a 12-year-old daughter, she understands firsthand the trust families place in their school community every day, and she takes that responsibility seriously. Outside of work, Janet enjoys making memories with her children, discovering new places and foods, writing and journaling, writing music, decorating and organizing, and hunting down the perfect cup of coffee. She is excited to get to know every child, family, and team member at Cadence Academy and to build a community where everyone truly feels like they belong.

Rachel Sundberg is the Assistant Director at Cadence Academy Preschool, bringing energy, warmth, and a genuine love for early childhood education to her role. She began her career in ECE in 2021 as a Pre-K teacher and quickly advanced, stepping into an Acting Assistant Director role just a year and a half later before being named to the position permanently. She has also had the opportunity to serve as Acting Center Director on three separate occasions, each experience deepening her leadership skills and her ability to support teams and build strong family relationships. Rachel is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Western Governors University.

Rachel’s favorite part of her work is watching children reach milestones, build confidence, and truly thrive — and she feels incredibly lucky to have a career filled with those special moments. She is outgoing, approachable, and committed to creating an environment where both staff and families feel supported and valued. Outside of work, Rachel loves spending time with her four kids, her fiancé, and their dog, whether that means walks, park trips, or backyard firepit nights with country music playing in the background. She is also a self-proclaimed fall and Halloween enthusiast, a lover of amusement parks, and someone who makes time for brunch with her best friends and a little well-earned “me time.”

I have been teaching for over twenty years, and I’ve been with Cadence Academy since 2014. For the past two school years, I’ve been voted “Teacher of the Year.”  Before joining the Cadence Academy Preschool Family, I taught grades ranging from Preschool to 7^th grade, however, preschool is my favorite grade to teach. As a teacher, it’s my mission to instill a love for learning and I teach with passion so that my students develop a desire to become life-long learners. I received my bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Rowan University and my master’s degree in educational leadership from Neumann University. I also hold both Elementary and Preschool Certifications with the State of New Jersey.  Outside of school, I enjoy taking yoga classes, going to Phillies games, and spending time with my husband Wes and our two cats Timothy and Elizabeth.