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Meet the Carrot Patch Teachers! Elizabeth DiCapua, B.S. (Miss Liz) Head Classroom Teacher, Toddlers A 2000 graduate of Southern CT State University with a B.S. in Public Health, Liz worked throughout her college years at a nursery school in Shelton. After graduation she realized the experience had been so rewarding that she accepted a full-time position there, and has since opted to devote her career entirely to early childhood education. Liz married and moved back to the area after 3 years as a toddler teacher at a very well-respected childcare center in the Philadelphia area. Liz says toddlers are her favorites and she's developed quite a bit of expertise in the all-important process of potty training! Liz, now the mother of her own bundle of joy, has moved into our Head Teacher role and is a fabulous asset to the Center. ** Erin McCool, B.S., M.S. (Miss Erin) CT-Certified Head Teacher, CT-Certified K-6 Teacher Classroom Teacher, Preschool Erin is a graduate of Southern Connecticut State University. She has both a bachelor's and master's degree in Elementary Education and her teaching certification for grades K through 6. She has several years' experience at the Wallingford Family YMCA, where she worked closely with elementary school children as a Head Teacher and Summer Camp Counselor. She brings many fresh and innovative ideas to share the with the preschoolers at the Carrot Patch! ** Elspeth Poile, B.S., M.S. candidate (Miss Elsie) CT-Certified Head Teacher Classroom Teacher, Toddlers Elsie holds a degree in Human Development & Family Studies from the University of Connecticut, and is currently purusing her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Special Education. After graduating from UConn, Elsie spent a year in London working with special needs children in a Social Services Nursery. She returned to the U.S. in May 2005 and resumed her employment with Ridgefield Parks & Recreation as Camp Coordinator, having formerly worked with 3-5 year olds and taught a pre-school cooking class there. She is now in the main Toddler Room, where her never-ending patience and calm demeanor bring out the best in our spirited two-year olds! *** Kellan Chatelaine, B.A., M.S. candidate (Miss Kellan) Classroom Teacher, Transitional Toddlers Kellan is a UConn graduate with a degree in English. During college, she tutored at UConn's Writing Center and at Hartford High School, and--most exciting--worked at UConn's Child Development Laboratory Nursery school and Choate's Early Learning Community. She has taken Master's level education classes in New York City, student-taught in the Bronx and will be starting a full Master's program in secondary education in the fall. She has a special gift for bringing out the best in this very challenging age group. Kellan has recently started a wonderful blog, highlighting the developmental milestones reached every day in her happy and creative classroom! *** Cathryn Martos, B.A., M.A. (Miss Cathryn) Classroom Teacher, Infants Cathryn is a recent transplant to Connecticut, moving here from Arizona, along with her husband who is attending Yale Law School. A 2001 graduate of Arizona State University with a B.A. in Early Childhood Education, and a new Master's in Elementary Education, she will be completing a second Master's in Early Childhood this time next year. Cathryn says her favorite thing about working with babies is making them giggle! In addition to the peals of laughter, you may notice the sense of utter peace and calm that Cathryn has brought to Babyland! *** Kristina Russell, A.A. (Miss Kristina) Assistant Classroom Teacher, Preschool Kristina was recently awarded her Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education at Gateway. She plans to attend SCSU part-time in the fall to earn her Bachelor's Degree in the same field. Kristina has worked for several years at the School Aged Childcare (SACC) in Branford, most recently as a site supervisor. She brings enthusiasm and a strong interest in early education to her role as a teaching partner for Miss Erin. Kristina will soon be taking over the new 3-year-old preschool class as Head Teacher. *** Shannon Knudsen (Miss Shannon) Part-Time Assistant Classroom Teacher, Preschool Shannon, a former English major at University of Cincinnati, brings years of teaching experience to The Patch. She is currently an After School Instructor at the North Haven elementary school where her two daughters attend, and she has taught at the Apple Blossom School and the Linden Hill School in Wilton, as well as at the Cincinnati Waldorf School. She brings her calm maturity and positive nature to our preschool class. *** Caitlin Dell, B.A., M.A. candidate (Miss Caitlin) Part-Time Assistant Classroom Teacher, Infants & Toddlers Caitlin holds a degree in Psychology with a concentration in Child Development, and currently attends Albertus Magnus in the Graduate Art Therapy program. She has worked with children in many settings, including as a pre-school assistant at St. Francis Home for Children, as a reading specialist assistant, and as an elementary school psychology intern. *** Heather Walkewicz, B.A., M.A. candidate (Miss Heather) Part-Time Assistant Classroom Teacher, Toddlers Heather, a Marist College graduate, is presently pursuing a Master's Degree and Professional Diploma in School Psychology at SCSU. Heather comes to us from Orange County, N.Y., where she worked as an assistant teacher and later as head teacher in a two-year-old room. Heather also has experience working with children at the Town of Wallkill Boys and Girls Club summer camp and at the Children's Home of Poughkeepsie. *** Michelle Ancion (Miss Michelle) Part-Time Assistant Classroom Teacher, Infants Michelle, the mother of 2-year-old Eric, has several years experience working with infants and toddlers in area child care programs. Michelle actually worked at 235 Johnson Road in an earlier incarnation, and was quite pleasantly surprised to find the setting changed so dramatically since her last visit! Michelle currently does double-duty, working mornings with young toddlers at our Community Children's Center and afternoons in the Infant Room at the Patch. *** Lauren Macary, B.A. (Miss Lo) Part-Time Assistant Classroom Teacher, Toddlers Lauren has recently completed her Bachelor's degree in the Honors Program at SCSU, where she majored in both Elementary Education and Special Education. She brings her love for drama to the classroom, as well as special skills in puppet-making. Miss Lo brings an unparalleled level of energy and enthusiasm to the toddler room and can often be seen conducting the "potty train" as it wends its way through the Patch on its way to the kiddie rest room! She will be back with us on a full-time basis for the summer. *** Jaclyn Long, B.A., M.A. candidate (Miss Jackie) Part-Time Assistant Classroom Teacher, Toddlers Jackie was recently awarded her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology, and has already begun a Master's program in Elementary Education at Quinnipiac University. She has interned in public school classrooms, and worked for a time with preschoolers at a Head Start program in New York. *** Jaclyn Costello, B.A., M.S. candidate (Miss Lin) Part-Time Assistant Classroom Teacher, Toddlers Jaclyn has a Bachelor's Degree in Health Science Studies, and is currently a Master's student at Quinnipiac University. She spent her last three summers as a day camp counselor in her native New York. *** Caitlin Galvin, B.A. candidate (Miss Caitlin) Part-Time Assistant Classroom Teacher, Toddlers Caitlin has a dual major in Mathematics and Psychology at Quinnipiac University. She is quite accomplished in competitive ice hockey, and an active participant in numerous outdoor pursuits. She has traveled extensively including tours of China, Finland, Russia and Iceland. She reports having been a life-long babysitter of sixteen younger cousins, and truly enjoys spending time with the kids at the Carrot Patch. *** Laura Krajewski, B.A. (Miss Laura) Part-Time Assistant Classroom Teacher, Toddlers Laura has recently completed her Bachelor's Degree in the Elementary Education program at SCSU, having transferred in after two years at UConn. She has done two semesters of early elementary classroom observations, has done extensive babysitting, and worked as an assistant teacher in the Dominican Republic where she spent time on a mission trip. Laura describes herself as: "hardworking and I love nothing more than working with children." *** Meghan McCool (Miss Meghan) Part-Time Assistant Classroom Teacher, Preschool Meghan is the younger sister of our wonderful Head Preschool Teacher, Erin. She brings several years of coaching experience in girls volleyball, and already appears to share some of the same chemistry with children and maturity beyond her years that her older sister exhibits. *** Monique Davis, B.A. candidate (Miss Monique) Part-Time Assistant Classroom Teacher, Toddlers Monique has just completed her junior year as an education major at SCSU. For the last six years she has been teaching gymnastics to toddlers and preschoolers, both in groups and through private lessons. Monique also served as a camp counselor for three summers in Farmington. Monique fills in at the Patch, in addition to teaching at our Community Children's Center. *** *** JANICE ROMO, B.S., M.S., 6th Year Certificate in Administration (Miss Jan) Education Consultant & Staff Developer Jan Romo’s educational career spans over 35 years. Her training background took place at both SCSU in New Haven and Bank Street College of Education in NYC. She received her B.S. & M.S. in Early Childhood Education and later her 6th Year Certification in Administration and Supervision. She has been mentored and inspired by some of our top educational leaders in the field. Jan began her teaching career in 1970 as a first grade teacher. For nine years she enjoyed teaching both first grade and Kindergarten at the West Hills Magnet School, New Haven's first experimental program bringing Hamden and New Haven children together for instruction. With its gradual expansion to a K-8 program, Jan’s role shifted to Staff Developer where she became a “teacher of teachers” for 13 years. She was responsible for the development and assessment of the school’s core curriculum. Her active involvement with this "community of learners” brought yet another shift. She became the West Hills K-8 principal and was honored to work even more closely with all the components that affected its 700 children. After 29 years at West Hills, she was appointed to Supervisor of Early Childhood Education, overseeing 4,000+ New Haven Pre-K and Kindergarten students. Her work broadened, yet brought her back to her Early Childhood roots. Involved with writing curriculum standards and a wide variety of School Readiness & Head Start initiatives, Jan was able to lead the city for three years in truly appreciating how important developmentally-appropriate early learning is, starting with its very youngest students--infants & toddlers. For the last four years, Jan enjoyed her adjunct professorship at SCSU, teaching “Integrated Curriculum for Pre-K & Kindergarten" and working as an educational consultant in area nursery school programs. She is currently co-president of NHAEYC (the New Haven Chapter of the Association of the Education of Young Children), having formerly served as co-chair of the program committee. We are lucky to have Jan as our Educational Consultant and Staff Developer, where she works closely with the Carrot Patch staff, parents and management. We are pleased that Jan has now taken on the added challenge of directing the Cheshire Nursery School, sister program of The Carrot Patch. And if she wasn't already busy enough, Jan will also act as Education Consultant and Staff Developer at our newest Center, the Community Children's Center of Hamden! |
