Patty Nowicki – Director & Teacher
I have a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Development and Elementary Education from Michigan State University.
My husband of 22 years, our two children, and I live in San Juan Capistrano. I have experience teaching kindergarten and preschool. I love to watch parents and children working and learning together in the co-op environment. I am passionate about providing experiences for kids that engage all of their senses.
As I was growing up my mom used to say that I never wanted to leave kindergarten. I remember having a magical childhood. Playing in the creek behind my house, catching frogs and turtles. Exploring the surrounding fields and ponds, creating little worlds of our own known only to my friends and I. The possibilities were endless. All we needed was our imaginations and the freedom to use it. I think all children deserve to have a magical childhood. Children’s make believe is rooted in their unique experience of people and events. When given the opportunity to play, it comes naturally to them and serves as an essential early experience of self-reflection and expression. It is a gift, both to children and to the adults who care for them, and can be a window into their hearts and minds. Creating spaces for children to play, to develop their imagination, explore their ideas and wonder about the world around them is something I am passionate about. I earned a BS in elementary education and early childhood development from Michigan Sate University. I started my journey as an early childhood educator in the kindergarten classroom. My mom was not surprised that I ended up back in kindergarten. I taught kindergarten for seven years and loved every minute of it. I then had two children and spent time at home with them. As my children grew and were in school all day I discovered parent co op nursery school and that;s when my real learning as a teacher began. I found that a community nursery school is a truly a place that cherishes and values young children. Parents and teachers work together to create an environment that is nurturing, accepting, encouraging and secure. Parents understand that play is the primary vehicle for children’s learning. It was a place where I could put all my energy into what mattered to me most as a teacher. Creating an environment that allows children to do what they do best. Play is what kids do best. Susan Linn the author of “The Case for Make Believe” believes that play affords children the opportunity to learn invaluable skills. Play allows children to immerse themselves in experience, solve problems, create possibilities where none exist, learn what its like to be someone else, and make something new from that which already exists. Isn’t our future as a society dependent on those skills? Art, music, cures for disease, new technologies, the plots, themes and languages for poems, novels, songs,and plays, as well as resolutions for conflict, are all rooted in creative play. Serra Preschool is a place that supports and nurtures children’s growing imaginations and need for play. I am happy to be part of this very special preschool and look forward to all the promising adventures that await kids, parents and teachers!
Betsy Fuller
- Teacher
I started out on my journey at Serra Preschool as a working mother. I came to know the school as a wonderful, creative, and free place for children to grow and explore. I loved the sense of community, and the strong base it gave my daughter as she continued on with her schooling. When the opportunity to work at Serra arose I was thrilled.
In terms of my philosophy, I believe that curriculum planning should be based upon what the children are interested in, and what they see every day. I think that preschoolers need to recognize the rhythm of the seasons by being outside in them. I know that a good reading foundation has its roots in storytelling, movement games, and singing. I think that being silly is a component of trust and is of utmost importance in the learning process. I agree with Rudolph Steiner who says that, “we shouldn’t ask: what does a person need to know or be able to do to fit into the existing social order? Instead we should ask: what lives in each human being and what can be developed in him or her?” I believe in educating the whole child: “heart, hands, and head.” I want to help foster self esteem in children because I believe that it is a key component to their future academic success. I also believe that the best way to grow self esteem in anyone is by honoring them, what they are interested in, what they are sensitive about, and what they are confronted with on a daily basis. I agree that children should have full access to their environment, that they should absolutely touch and smash, bend and pull. Most importantly…I believe that learning should be fun! Especially for preschoolers.
In practical terms, I will be receiving my early childhood teaching certificate at the end of summer 09’, and I will graduate in fall of 09’ with my B.S. in child and adolescent development. I have 21 ECE units, and four combined years of experience as a teacher, and substitute. My husband and I own an overnight surf camp in which I have participated as the activities director, and camp “mom” for the past 5 years. Beyond all of that, I do not think that it is possible to work with young children without being in a place of continuous growth. I do know for certain that I am the “sleeves rolled up, muddy shoes, paint splattered, in the grass with them” kind of teacher. I enjoy children, I feel connected to them, and I think that this is probably the most valuable thing that I can bring into the classroom.
