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We moved to Winthrop
in 1980 when my youngest daughter was 1 year old. One of the first
friends we made were our neighbors from across the street. The Mom was
a teacher at Wonder Awhile and she invited us to come visit when it was
time to sign up my then almost 3 year old daughter in 1982. It was love
at first sight for both my Megan and me! I joined the Parent Board at
Wonder Awhile and became an active chaperone for field trips, carpool
driver, substitute teacher and fund raiser. When Megan turned 4, I was
asked to become an "official teacher " at the school as there was a
vacancy on their staff. For the next 5 years I taught both in the 3
year old and in the 4 year old classes, filling in as Acting Director
for several years when the current Director was out on medical leave,
sometimes for months at a time.
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In 1989 I was hired
as the next Director, and I have been playing, loving, learning and
teaching children ever since. While all this was happening, my husband
Doug and I raised three daughters, Heather, Sarah, and Megan, sent them
off to college, launched them on their careers, saw them happily
married, and watched them become mothers themselves. While none of them
lives close enough to send her children to Wonder Awhile, coming down
to "Grandma's school" whenever they visit is always on the "must do"
list. From 1985-2005, I also worked 20 hours a week at my church in
Augusta as the Director of Religious Education where I co-ordinated
programs for infants, pre-schoolers, school age children, teens, and
adults, and worked with the teachers and church Board of Directors. I
am a graduate of Bates College with my degree in Sociology and many
classes in Education as I suspected I might be interested in teaching.
I have taught Girl Scouts, Lamaze Childbirth Education classes, breast
feeding classes, swimming, boating, and canoeing, though I have to say
some days it is my background in social work that serves me the most
when I interact with children, parents and teachers! I love reading,
jig saw puzzles, music, gardening, cooking, family time and kayaking,
and have incorporated many of my interests into the Wonder Awhile
curriculum (not the kayaking!). It is my hope to instill in these young
minds a life long love of learning, respect for the earth and all of
its inhabitants, strong values, a growing sense of self-confidence, and
the ability to find the humor in every day living, but not at the
expense of others. My favorite phrase I love to hear at school is "I
did it all by myself!"
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--former
Child Care Provider, Childbirth Education teacher, Emergency Medical
Technician, one on one aide for Child Development Services as an Early
Intervention Developmental Therapist, at Wonder Awhile since 2002,
mother of four and grandmother of many!
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