This is my twenty-fifth year teaching... and teaching at the Trumbull Early Childhood Education Center!! I love my job and the children I teach. I am also thankful to work in such a collaborative and supportive environment. The staff at the Preschool is top notch and truly helped me grow from a "shiny new teacher" to who I am today (and still learning!!) My initial educational training started in elementary education. Perhaps I was trying to find a different path from that of my parents who were both retired professors of Special Education at Southern Connecticut State University! But, alas, after many summers of being a camp counselor at a special needs camp, I fell in love with this population and chose to go and get my Masters Degree in Early Childhood Special Education. My certification now includes teaching special education, preschool through kindergarten, and regular education, preschool through sixth grade. I also, after coming to the conclusion that I enjoy working with adults in the educational field as well, I completed my Sixth Year Degree in Educational Leadership and have a certification to become a school administrator. I added a new title to my resume nine years ago..."Mom!!" I have a daughter named Hope, who is in fourth grade this year! I truly believe my very hands on and realistic look(!!) into parenthood has helped make me a more well rounded teacher and partner to all of you! In addition to my own experience I bring to the classroom, the paraprofessionals I am lucky enough to work with bring their own wealth of knowledge and expertise. They are creative and talented women who possess a natural gift and love for working with children. We truly are a team in the classroom, and your children love them as much as I do!!
Some believe that preschool teachers just play on the floor and facilitate naptime with their students!! All of you know there is so much more to preschool and what your children are capable of doing. The main mission for this class is to assist your children with their independence, self confidence, self-knowledge, and social growth. Every child learns at a different pace and some go on to kindergarten with different skills than others. But, I truly believe that the most important thing your child can bring to kindergarten is the ability to know "they CAN do it!!"