Melissa A.
My name is Miss Melissa and I have worked at Children Central for the past 17 years, having started in December, 2001. I am Lead Teacher in the Preschool classroom and am also Senior Staff Supervisor.
I currently have earned the equivalent of a CDA (Child Development Associates) credential, and am looking forward to pursuing an Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education starting in the fall. I have also been a certified medical home health aide for the past 6 years.
I previously taught the two year olds in our Twaddler classroom. This experience was great preparation and helped contribute to my knowing how to effectively teach our 3 year olds in Preschool. I have found much happiness and humility working with children. My goal as a teacher is to make sure the children in my care gain a sense of compassion, confidence and a love for learning! I like to incorporate a variety of art and music in my class daily to help the children’s creativity to flow naturally. I also make sure each child is celebrated when they reach their goals in the classroom to give them a sense of accomplishment and confidence. I have found the keys to success in my classroom are good leadership, working very closely as a team of teachers, and continuing to be very creative with the curriculum.
My strong family connection has been a big part of who I am today. We are an active family who love to travel, gather once a week for family dinner and game night, and enjoy our annual traditional gatherings and family sports events.
I feel very confident that my education coupled with my personal experiences can continue to be a positive asset to Children Central, as I help prepare the class for our Pre-Kindergarten program.
Meet Miss Vanessa!
I am Miss Vanessa, affectionately known as “Nes.” I have been teaching for more than five years and joined Children Central in December, 2015 as a Twaddler teacher for the older two year olds. I already know most of you, since most recently I was the teacher of the younger two year olds in our Toddler Two class.
I am so glad to have the opportunity to teach the Preschool class! I have always had a natural connection with children and teaching. The chance to teach the 3 to 4 year olds is wonderful, as I appreciate their energy and eagerness to learn everything about the world around them. Children absorb everything we say and do. It is always amazing and interesting for me to help them interact and learn new things each and every day. I am able to utilize my educational experience in Psychology, and prior teaching experience in the Twaddler and Toddler Two classrooms, to prepare the children to do well. I will help make sure that your child will be ready academically and socially for the Pre-Kindergarten class here at Children Central.
I first attended Essex County College where I majored in Education and earned 34 early childhood education credits. I recently completed my degree in Psychology where I am proud to say that I made the dean’s list with a GPA of 3.5. I am now pursuing a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology, which I plan to earn in January, 2020!
Incorporating the school curriculum, I like to utilize the ‘sing, dance and play’ method of teaching. While teaching, I sing songs, dance, jump around and play with the children. I have witnessed how this method helps the children learn faster and they have much more fun learning. The fun of learning helps make the children want to learn even more and it encourages them to look forward to coming to school each day. I am a lover of children and life. I provide TLC to all children and I also have a savvy, fun and energetic way of teaching and entertaining.
I personally enjoy cooking, singing, animals and nature. I have two girls of my own, a ten year old, and a four year old who is in our Pre-K class. Due to the difference in their ages, I am always doing exciting and varied activities with them.
I am originally from Newark, NJ. I wanted a change of scenery and a chance to meet new people, so I moved to Pennsylvania. This decision turned out to be a great one, as it has afforded me the opportunity to become a teacher here at Children Central. I am very excited to teach in the Preschool classroom, meet all of the parents, build a solid bond with the children, and work with and befriend amazing people. This experience has by far been an exciting one!
I look forward to being a part of your child’s development and to get to know you – their families!
Jessica D.
Hello! My name is Miss Jessica. I joined Children Central in March, 2018. I am so excited to get back into teaching, after working as a Therapist/Support Staff for children with Autism for the past few years. I started my college career majoring in Marine Biology, at Millersville University, out of my love for science and animals. When I called my mom to tell her I was changing my major to Elementary Education she told me “I knew that’s what you were meant to do, but you had to figure it out on your own.”
I have always had a passion for teaching, starting with helping my brother with his homework, to becoming a Pre-School teacher while finishing my degree, and continuing to work with special needs students. After graduating with my Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, I moved on to becoming a TSS/ABA Therapist for children with Autism. Working with many children over the years, I have learned how differently each child grows in the classroom. One of my favorite things to do is to figure out each of my student’s interests, and apply that to how they are taught in the classroom, to make sure they are learning at their greatest potential, as I help prepare the class for Pre-Kindergarten.
This past December I had my first child, who is also here at Children Central. I am excited to watch her grow and learn just as my students will do. When I have down time I enjoy playing darts in a league, but I also play in tournaments that benefit various organizations such as U.S.O., Aid for Friends, Holy Terror Stars (Athletic Organization supporting special needs children), For Pete’s Sake (Organization benefiting young people with cancer and their families).
My philosophy for teaching is to encourage children to explore, ask questions, and learn through experiences. I cannot wait to see how much they grow and learn in the classroom, and I am especially excited for all the fun we are going to have together!
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