Curriculum and Staff
Typically
educators who choose a cooperative environment as a career are innovative, communicative,
and accepting of new ideas. Our teachers at Community Cooperative Preschool
are all that and more. They work as a team to create and implement
our developmental curriculum designed to meet each child’s needs—intellectual,
creative, emotional, physical, and social. They provide time for our children
to choose and direct their own activities and play both inside the classroom
and outside on our playground. This free-play time is balanced by adult-directed
whole- and small-group activities and play throughout the day. The children
thrive in this rich learning environment.
Indoor Activities
Our teachers at Community Cooperative Preschool work hard planning and implementing engaging themed units to frame each day at school. The educational purpose of each activity is carefully assessed and matched with the current group of children enrolled. Our classroom is filled with fun, with areas set up to engage every child’s interests. Among others, we have these areas for children to explore each day:
a wooden block area
a listening center (books on tape)
These are a few examples of the fun and age-appropriate themes for learning:
Outdoor Play
Outdoor play allows children to exercise their loud voices and their large muscles for running, climbing, hanging, skipping, jumping, and swinging. Through their play outside, children develop muscle coordination and spatial awareness. It is also a wonderful opportunity for children to socialize with each other, learning skills such as cooperation and taking turns. At Community Cooperative Preschool, our children spend a portion of nearly every school day outside. Our teachers and parents supervise this outdoor time carefully so that every child is safe and secure during this much-loved part of the day.
Field Trips
What better way to reinforce learning than to take children on field trips? Many of Community Cooperative Preschool’s field trip destinations are only available to school groups. Each themed unit includes a related field trip (about once or twice a month). For most field trips, parents take turns driving, although each parent has the choice to drive only his or her own child. Each field trip location and presentation is tailored to the preschool level. Here are few examples of field trip destinations:
Our teachers also supplement each unit with special presentations by musicians, exercise specialists, and other interesting community members, such as North Andover’s K9 police officer. The teachers take great care in crafting stimulating and engaging themed units. Each theme is refined annually according to the needs and interests of the children.
Our TeachersAt Community Cooperative Preschool, we feel our teachers are the backbone of our high-quality program. In a recent CCP survey, parents highly praised our teachers, saying that they are “knowledgeable, patient, nurturing, supportive, enthusiastic, warm, approachable, and diplomatic” among many other desirable qualities you look for in your child’s first teacher. Each is dedicated to a team-teaching approach and to lifelong learning, and they enjoy the benefits of working closely with the parents. It’s a special teacher who thrives in a cooperative environment, and we are lucky to have found four such exceptional people:
Karen Walsh, Director/Teacher
Karen Walsh has been teaching at Community Cooperative Preschool since 1997. Her role as director began in 2001, following the resignation of her predecessor who had spent 14 years at CCP (four of those years as Mrs. Walsh’s mentor.) Mrs. Walsh is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Fitchburg State College, with a Bachelor of Science degree in the field of Early Childhood Education. She earned a concentration in the area of Special Education, while also completing three additional minors in Literature, French, and Art History.
Mrs. Walsh maintains a Director II qualification from the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services. In addition to her administrative responsibilities as Director, Mrs. Walsh co-teaches students in our two-day morning program. She lives in Wilmington with her husband and three young children, Ryann, Grace and Molly.
LouAnn Donovan, Assistant Director/Teacher
LouAnn Donovan joined the CCP staff in 2001 as lead teacher and went on to immediately achieve a Director I qualification from the Office of Child Care Services. In 2005, she assumed the role of assistant director. Mrs. Donovan holds an associate’s degree with a concentration in Early Childhood Education. She also has held various jobs in North Andover, which have allowed her the opportunity to share her expertise in the field. Some of these positions include three years in the public school system as a clerical, noontime, and lunchroom assistant. She earned a glowing recommendation from longtime Bradstreet School principal Kathy Callagy. She also worked for KinderCare before coming to CCP.
Local families may recognize Mrs. Donovan, as she has resided in North Andover’s Old Town Center for 19 years. She spends much of her free time rooting on her son, Theron, as he plays youth baseball, and cheering for her daughter, Christine, who is an avid soccer player.
Ellen Connolly, Teacher
Ellen Connolly is a highly seasoned teacher who came to Community Cooperative Preschool in 2003 with many years of experience. She earned her B.S. in Elementary Education and began her career as a first grade teacher. While raising two daughters, Mrs. Connolly worked for the North Andover Public Schools as a Title 1 teacher and tutor. In addition, she spent five years with the North Andover “Kids’ Stop!” after-school program.
“Mrs. C” has made a lifetime commitment to the education of young children. She is Teacher Qualified by the Massachusetts Office of Child Care Services, holds an active Massachusetts K-8 certification and is skilled in the area of early literacy. “Mrs. C” recently added a new role to her resume….she is “Ge Ge” to her grandchildren Jason and Bailey. Her grandchildren are her pride and joy!
Linda Schoonmaker, Teacher
Linda Schoonmaker came to CCP in 2006 with many years of experience in the field of early childhood education. She worked at Century Preschool for six years as lead teacher, developing curriculum and teaching children ages three to five years old. Mrs. Schoonmaker currently is the Acting Out director/owner, which is a local theater company for children and adults. Mrs. Schoonmaker brings her creativity and enthusiasm for the arts to our morning three day and Play-Pals programs
Our Commitment to Quality Education and Professional Development
In accordance with Massachusetts state regulations, CCP teachers are certified in CPR and First Aid. All staff members complete a minimum of 20 hours of professional development and training annually.