|
||||
Our Teachers
director@gfns.org
“Wednesday mornings are the highlight of my week! Teaching the Ones class is a joy! Getting to know the children as babies and watching them grow into curious, inquisitive toddlers is truly priceless. Getting to know the parents during this year is also very special, as we share the trials, tribulations, and fantastic wonders of gently guiding children through this early stage of development. Classes are full of laughter and fun! Together we observe the children gain comfort and confidence in a small group, gradually taking notice, then pleasure in their peers. These first friendships and shared learning experiences form a foundation upon which the children continue to build and thrive through our Twos classes and beyond! I feel extremely fortunate to be a part of this important year of growth, and to be a part of this warm community and fantastic team of teachers at GFNS!”
“I enjoy coming to work each day and seeing my students’ smiling faces. There is always something new to look forward to. I love watching the children’s eyes light up and how excited they get when they realize they have accomplished something new! Watching children learn something new is the most rewarding part of my job. I enjoy seeing the children in my classroom grow throughout the year. I find the staff and parents at GFNS warm and inviting, and I look forward to be a part of GFNS for a long time.”
“I am so honored to be a part of the GFNS family, working with both the Twos and Fours classes. As both a teacher and a mother, I understand how important it is for children to feel safe and loved. I am passionate about creating a nurturing classroom where every child feels comfortable and confident. I absolutely adore the children at GFNS and look forward to the start of each new school year while always missing “our kids” from the year before!”
“GFNS is in my heart. We moved to Westport 19 years ago and were so fortunate to find a space for my then 4-year-old son, Josh, and my 2-year-old daughter, Ava. GFNS gave my children and my family the most special gifts… a warm, positive learning environment, amazing teachers, excitement and love for learning, forever friendships, a caring community, and so much more!
When I decided to return to work, GFNS was where I wanted to be. My absolute joy is to play a part in giving our school children the same incredible experience my own kids had. My goal is to make a difference in others, and I am so blessed to watch ‘our children’ grow and thrive. It’s amazing to see the children’s excitement when they arrive each morning, to watch them make new friends, learn new ideas, and develop new skills. When they feel proud, we are all so proud! Importantly, they absolutely learn that school is safe, nurturing, and fun!
I am honored to be a part of our school. I look forward to and enjoy each day!”
“GFNS is my extended family. My two boys are alumni and made lifelong friendships. They are now 18 and 21! I began my teaching journey here 15 years ago while my youngest was three. I have a BS in Music Education, and I’ve been fortunate to have taught Music, the Ones class, and currently Harmony Yoga and the 3s. As an educator and mom, I am beyond lucky to have the opportunity to be a part of a nurturing, kind, and devoted community of parents and teachers.
We laugh, sing, and play. We comfort, love, and hug. We teach and form a warm bond with each child. I delight in who our children are today and take joy in helping them grow. I believe our children learn through motion, novelty, adventure, and play. Trust me, they’re learning! Every child in our class is someone’s whole world. I am just so thankful to be a part of it! “
“I absolutely love being part of the GFNS family! The Threes class is a wonderful place for a teacher to see children thrive, and I absolutely enjoy being part of it. I have worked with children all my life in various settings, with all ages ranging from infant to teen, but preschoolers hold a special place in my heart. Both my own children are GFNS alumni. After they graduated and moved on to elementary school, I started working as a substitute at GFNS and then became a co-teacher in the Threes. And I have to say, three is my favorite age! We learn together, we share laughs together, and we spread a lot of love in the Threes class! So much growth happens during the school year, and it’s such a delight to be a witness to it all! The connections I make not only with the children but also with their families and my coworkers are absolutely wonderful. GFNS truly feels like home!”
“In my first year here at GFNS, I could already feel the sense of family within this school that everyone describes. After being an assistant in the twos and threes classes, I knew that GFNS was special. The environment here is so bright, cheery, and inviting. I have felt so welcomed not only by the rest of the staff, but also by the parents and families! I am lucky enough to have gotten the opportunity to begin my teaching career in the Fours class, which has been amazing! I love seeing the children’s unique imaginations and fun, loving personalities. Every day is such a treat with them! One thing that I enjoy the most is making special connections with each and every one of the children and seeing them grow and learn in their own ways. I’m looking forward to all of the exciting experiences to come during my time at GFNS! “
“I have had the privilege of working at GFNS for the past nine years, and it has been a wonderful experience. The support and passion from both the families and staff has been amazing. The atmosphere here is kind, nurturing, and warm. Five women have joined the staff as educators after their own children attended school here. I feel that in itself is a true testament to our school and its philosophy. I am very lucky to be a part of this community and team.”
Lauren Courtney, Fours classroom
“I came to GFNS as a mom — my two kiddos grew up in these classrooms, and this community holds a very special place in my heart. I earned my master’s in childhood education and got my start student teaching in NYC public schools, then spent several years teaching Pre-K and Kindergarten at a small school on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. I love guiding children to ask questions, seek answers, and discover the world around them. I can’t wait to explore and learn alongside each of your children this year.”
“I feel so luck
y to be able to say that I have found my true passion, which is teaching. I have had the privilege of working with children ranging in age from toddlers all the way up to third grade! Teaching each age group has been so rewarding, and I feel so fortunate that I have had such wonderful experiences along the way.
When I was looking for a teaching job in Westport after I had moved to town, I didn’t have to look far! When asking around to some local families about preschools, I kept hearing GFNS’ name over and over again. After interviewing and meeting with Christina and the incredible faculty, I knew I wanted to be a part of the GFNS community. It is one of the most welcoming, nurturing, and amazing schools that I have ever stepped foot into. Every time I walk in the doors, I feel like I’m coming home. I can’t wait to continue to grow as an educator at GFNS, and I look forward to being a part of this wonderful school for many years to come. “
“I love teaching. It is such a huge part of me that I can’t really imagine doing anything else! Having taught in the Threes and Fours at GFNS for several years, I was delighted to move up to the Fives, which I truly enjoy because it all starts here. The Fives is not just about teaching the ABCs and 123s, but it is a HUGE year for learning social skills and independence. I have found that the key to school success is the ability to get along with others and to be confident in oneself – and that is what we strive to teach every day! The way we set up the room and activities allows for integrated learning, communication and language development, exploration, new discoveries, problem-solving, tackling challenges, and building friendships for life. What I love most about teaching at GFNS is being part of a wonderful group of teachers who truly care about creating a warm and caring environment for children. I also love how we collaborate as teachers and support each other, and the children feel that. I feel honored to have an opportunity to teach at GFNS. “
“Over 35 years ago, when I was looking for a warm, safe & nurturing Preschool environment for my children to successfully grow, learn and discover, I found Green’s Farms Nursery School. I loved the “old-fashioned” play and learning through hands-on discovery that was evident in the classrooms. There was a climate of mutual respect, family involvement, and community involvement, which allowed all children to discover the world that awaits them and prepare them to enter elementary school. I loved the atmosphere of fostering independence by helping the children make appropriate choices while building the foundation for later learning. GFNS has been my second home for more than 30 years. As a teacher, I have dedicated myself to providing an exciting and enriching classroom for my children where learning is fun. A little bit of each child I have had in my care remains dear in my heart – those rewards are immeasurable! Together we have laughed, lived, loved, and learned – GFNS enriched the lives of my own children, and I hope I am passing that along to all my students. Many of those former students are now parents here at GFNS – and I have had their children in my class. Many of my former students’ parents are now staff members here at GFNS. I can’t say enough about our caring, nurturing staff – we’re the best and so is GFNS. “GO GREEN!”