What is your role at Stevens for the SY20-21? How long have you been teaching? I am one of two Early Learning Supports Teachers at Stevens. This is my 17th year teaching and my 13th year in DCPS.  I spent the last 12 years at Oyster Adams where I opened and taught in the ELS classroom. I also opened an inclusive Pre-k classroom and taught a year of kindergarten.  I am very excited and honored to be a part of the Stevens community!

What do you love most about the ECE age group? Teaching in early childhood is pure joy!  I am grateful for the opportunity to engage in creative work each and every day.  I love the passion with which young children approach everything in their lives.  They are compassionate and kind and fiercely love their friends.  They dive into every activity with commitment, courage, and creativity.  

Can you share a little about your teaching philosophy? I strive to build a warm, loving, structured, and equitable classroom community.  Children thrive in an environment where they feel safe, loved, and heard.  In my classroom community, children have a voice in developing the classroom community and learning space. Children learn best when they have opportunities to grow, explore, and express themselves through play, construction, creation, discovery, and design.  

How can we make virtual learning successful?  

1. Be kind to yourselves!   Give your family time to adjust to and build skills for distance learning. 
2. Set up a dedicated and special space just for learning.  Let your child help design and build it.  Think creatively! Perhaps it’s a desk, perhaps it’s a fort or a tent. You know how your child learns best.  Follow their lead in creating the space.  
3. Communicate ​and collaborate with your teachers!  Tell them how things are working for you.  Let them be a partner with you to collaborate for success.  Let your teachers be a source of support to you.  

What are some of your favorite children’s books? There is so much joy and creativity in children’s literature it’s hard to choose! Here are some favorites:

     Hug, by Jez Alborough (this is the loveliest little book about helping a friend)

     Oh No George by Chris Haughton  (his books have a sweet sense of humor and gorgeous illustrations)

What was your favorite childhood book? ​I loved Richard Scarry books because of the intricate and detailed illustrations.  I would pore over them for days and days.  

What is a fun fact to share with our families? Fun fact:  I studied to be an actress before becoming a teacher!  It’s been a natural transition from acting to teaching because like acting, much of teaching is about listening, observing, reflecting, and responding.  I love to incorporate my musical training and singing into my teaching as much as possible.  

Meet one of our Early Learning Supports (ELS) teachers, Kristen Brown!

What is your role at Stevens for the SY20-21? How long have you been teaching? This is going to be my 8th year teaching and my 4th year teaching with DCPS. I will be one of the Early Learning Support teachers. Previously I taught in a prek CES classroom. 

What do you love most about the ECE age group? I love ECE because you can incorporate so much learning into play and see so much progress in students so quickly! I love teaching foundational skills that I know will benefit each student forever. 

 Can you share a little about your teaching philosophy? I believe each student learns best when instruction is tailored and differentiated to meet their own learning needs. Education is not one size fits all. I love creating materials and adapting the curriculum for my students to make sure every student has access to learn. 

How can we make virtual learning successful? We can make virtual learning successful by having compassionate collaboration. This is such a challenging time for so many for many different reasons. Building relationships with families and students is key before learning can take place.

What are some of your favorite children’s books? Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus by Mo Willems, Dot by Peter Reynold, Pete the Cat, Click Clack Moo, Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin

What was your favorite childhood book? Dog Breath by Dav Pilkey

If you could have any super power what would it be and why?  I would want to be able to fly so I defeat my fear of heights and also get from place to place faster!