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Teacher Biographies
Parents as Teachers
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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
- Recognzing 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
Deb
Kimmbrough: Teacher 3/4 & 4/5 Class
Deb
moved to Vashon Island seven years ago from Colorado with her husband
and 2 children. She has an Associates Degree in Early Childhood
Education and holds an ECE Director’s Certificate in the state
of Colorado. She has taught in many different types of preschool
settings over the past 20 years, but this is her first Co-op experience.
With each passing day sheI learns more and more about the ‘Co-op
way’ and is encouraged by the rewards and challenges that
this type of setting provides.
While raising her children from infancy through 3 years sheI had
the fortunate opportunity to have them with her at her Children’s
Center. Though she wasn’t actually in the classroom with them,
she was never more than a child’s cry away. Beside her love
for working with children, she always believed one of the greatest
benefits of her job was the ability to be with her children while
she worked. She admires all of the families who have also made that
choice by becoming a part of this program, and experiencing the
joy of watching their own children learn in a classroom setting.
It is with great pleasure and excitement that she joins all her
fellow teachers at the Co-op
Melanie
Salonen: Teacher 2/3 Class & Parent Instructor 3/4 &
4/5 Class
Melanie
Salonen, SSCC Parent Instructor, brings many years of her own cooperative
Preschool experience into the Vashon/Maury Coop Preschool program.
After seven years of being a parent and board member at the West
Seattle Coop Preschools, spending countless volunteer hours within
the Vashon School District, and working as a Family Advocate at
McMurray middle school, Melanie decided to return to the place that
originally inspired her.
Interning
with the South Seattle Community College Coop program in West Seattle,
while finishing her degree in Family Support, rekindled Melanie's
passion for working with children and families. She is thrilled
and delighted about returning to the program that originally supported
and nurtured her and her husband during their early parenting years.
Judy
Hall: Parent Instructor, 2-3 Class
Judy brings experience from all arenas in the SSCC co-operative
preschool system. As a preschool mom of two boys she learned
first hand the joys and benefits of parenting "the co-op way."
She was quickly drawn into the role of preschool teacher and has
worked in preschool classrooms with a variety of ages. Her
"roots" as preschool teacher are very evident when
her role is parent instructor--she is first to be available
for little hugs from kids and full of funny stories about kids for
parents. She lives her talk. Training with Marianne
Ulene- Kogen's (University Of Washington Parenting Clinic)
"bug in the ear" method was an invaluable way to
learn to give and receive feedback about parenting styles.
She has become the "Guidance and Discipline" guru--her
classes and attitude bring light hearted empathy to a serious subject.
She is a key player in the organizational structure as co-registrar
for the West Seattle Preschools and site coordinator for the SSCC
Campus Preschools....and the friendly voice on the phone that patiently
takes time to explain what co-op is all about. After many years on
the mainland, Judy is excited to be back on Vashon as parent
instructor because it is a vibrant learning environment and will
feel like coming home again
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