Parents as Teachers

Teaching Overview

All the teachers at our Preschool are governed by the (NAEYC) National Association of the Education of Young Children's core values:

• Appreciating childhood as a unique valuable stage of the human life cycle (and valuing the quality of children's lives in the present, not just as preparation for the future);
• Basing our work with children on knowledge of child development (and learning)
• Appreciating and supporting the close ties between the child and family
• Recognizing that children are best understood in the context of family, culture, and society
• Respecting the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each individual (child, family member and colleague)
• Helping children and adults achieve their full potential in the context of relationships that are based on trust, respect and positive regard. (Feeney & Kipnis 1992,3)

They also follow NAEYC's guidelines for developmentally appropriate practice which are:

• Creating a caring community of learners
• Teaching to enhance development and learning
• Constructing appropriate curriculum
• Assessing children's learning and development
• Establishing reciprocal relationships with families

Molly Wilson: Toddlers and 3/4 Classes

Molly is a great example of what early education is all about. Being a Co-op Preschool alum, she is excited to come full circle and contribute to the same nurturing community that she enjoyed as a child. With a degree in social sciences and a concentration in early childhood development, pursuing her Masters in education was a natural progression. She is thrilled to work with children and their parents during this exciting time of development. Her past experience of working with children reinforced her belief in the importance of the relationship between teachers, parents and their children. Children are drawn to her warm, happy and energetic personality. Molly is as excited to teach her little students as she is to learn from them and she can’t wait for the year to start!

Emma Hathaway: 2/3 Class

Emma is an island resident for over 25 years, will be joining our co-op family as the new 2/3 teacher. Emma joins us with years of hands on experience. A mother of two, to son, Blake, who turned five last April, and daughter Ava, who will be three this October, and joining her mama this year in the classroom. Emma has always found herself surrounded by and a feeling of comfort in the company of a room full children. She began caring for kids as young as she could! A "mothers helper" lead in to a very popular/busy island babysitter as a teen. She started mentoring/tutoring as a freshman in high school and continued to, all four years of high school. Later attending community college and working part time on the island, as a preschool teacher's assistant, lead in to a full time job teaching ages 2-5. She found herself holding the preschool together in a time of difficult transition, working long, full days to keep the preschool program alive and strong. After three years working in the preschool and an after school kindergarten program, she left to be a full time nanny while carry her first child. Emma now comes to us as a full time at home mother of two, and the energy and drive to be back in a class room. She is thrilled to be joining the co-op teachers and families, and looks forward to getting to know you all. She is a strong believer in the co-op's philosophies, and feels proud to help bring parents, teachers and children together in a fun, safe, clean, and nurturing environment to truly learn through play.

Andrea Braganza: 4/5 Classes

Andrea is an experienced educator who has taught young children since 1993. She received her Master’s in Teaching from Seattle University in 1998 and then went on to teach art at Bertschi, an independent elementary school in Seattle, for nine years. After her move to Vashon in 2007 and the birth of her third child, Andrea took a hiatus from teaching to stay home with her kids. She enrolled her son, Theo, at VMCP, where he attended for two years. Her family’s experience at the coop was very positive and was instrumental in building a community of friends on the island. Andrea’s youngest child, Isaac, joins the toddler class this year. Andrea is excited for her debut in the world of early childhood education, and is proud to be a member of the community of learners that is VMCP.