Meet the Teachers
Teacher Penny Campbell 3/4's and 4/5’s
Hi! My name is Penny Campbell, usually referred to as Teacher Penny, and I have been with Edmonds Co-op Preschool since 1988! I love working with children and parents! I love this co-op model of preschool, as the parents are teachers right alongside me! The choices the children have during free playtime are incredible, as there is a parent available in each area where the children can choose! From games and puzzles, art, science, housekeeping and dress-up, blocks and trains, playdough, sensory tables, any thing the child wants to pursue, they can because the parents are there to support their choices! No other schools can beat the ratios of a co-op! We have at least 4 parents every day as well as myself, and once a week, a parent instructor from Edmonds Community College! I love the way each class becomes a family over the year, as we get to know each other, and help teach children to be capable for themselves! We have a lot of fun learning and growing through the year!
My primary goal for kids is for them to love to come to school! I like to think I am setting the tone for their future, that school is fun, a place they want to go everyday, a place to meet up with friends, and feel good about themselves, and to engage in activities that stimulate a love of learning! I love the fact they can choose what interests them, if even just one child is interested in dinosaurs, and we are learning about transportation, those dinosaurs are coming out of the closet for that one child! It's okay! Supporting the children’s interest as it comes up, supports that child and, as it turns out, there are usually a few others in the group interested as well. It’s a positive atmosphere when you can learn about what interests you, and can "go for it" with the support of teachers and parents! We have a positive, energetic, and loving environment for your children! I love co-op!
Teacher Patti Baughn 2/3’s
My first exposure to the co-op model for Pre-school began in the ‘70’s when I attended a Parent Toddler group with my oldest child. The emphasis on first hand involvement in my child’s education, connecting with other Parents and having the rich resources of my child’s teacher readily available was the perfect fit to my early childhood education expectations. My experience with Co-op continued through all four of my children’s pre-school years and when my youngest child graduated from the program, I “changed hats” and became a Co-op teacher at Edmonds Co-op Preschool! The 2007/2008 school year will celebrate my fifteenth year with Edmonds Cooperative Pre-school program!
Play is the work of children! I feel that facilitating that work (play) by allowing a child to work in their chosen area as long as they wish during free choice time, communicates a belief that they are doing what is most important on that day, for their growth and development. Consistency and routine to the Pre-school day help the child with separation and trust, instilling a sense of sequence to tasks such as hand washing, toileting, selection of snack seating and circle time.
I feel privileged to be a part of this time in a child’s life as they grow and mature from toddlers to pre-schoolers. My hope and belief is that each individual who participates in our class will have fun, learn new ideas and feel respected regardless of their age!
Spending my work days with bright, interesting, busy 2-3 year olds and their parents combined with sharing the classroom with my long time friend, work associate and 3-4, 4-5 teacher, Penny Campbell, makes this the best job a person could ask for!
