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I come to the Technology Children’s Center at Westgate with an extensive background in early education. Although I had been working with children for many years, I feel my role as an early educator evolved when working as a preschool teacher at the Helen Gordon Child Development Center at Portland State University in Oregon. While attending Portland State, working towards a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education, I was introduced to the philosophy and teachings of Reggio Emilia. During this experience I began to see the role of the teacher, child, community, and environment in a new light. I chose to return home to the East Coast, and on my way back to Boston, I worked at Stony Brook University on Long Island in their infant/toddler program. This was a wonderful experience for me, personally and professionally, allowing me to experience different stages of child growth and development.
For three years, I had been the Preschool Program Coordinator at MIT’s Technology Children’s Center at Stata. Beginning at Stata’s inception, I had the opportunity to contribute to the creation of the preschool program—an emergent curriculum rooted in the Reggio Emilia philosophy—and to see it grow and flourish. Teachers gain deep understanding in observing and listening to children’s ideas and in providing them with a framework for discovery and learning within their environments. I feel the importance of family and parent participation is fundamental to the child’s experience, and I strive to work collaboratively with parents and establish relationships between families, teachers, and the community.
This will be my second year in the position of director at Westgate. I look forward to building new relationships with the children and families of our community.
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