ASHLEY BESSETTE

Addison County has long been revered as a leader in early childhood education in Vermont for a number of reasons. It boasts high-quality, long-standing programs with clear philosophical beliefs that children come first in all we do. Programs that believe that inquiry and play is at the center of healthy early childhood development and experiences.

Addison County is home to some of the most active and supportive leaders amongst our early education centers and preschools. We have leaders that are ethical, motivated, intelligent and highly qualified to do this work. They mentor, advocate, coach, and bring people together. We have teachers that are passionate, creative, and push themselves on the ground and in higher education to achieve more and become better. We have early education classrooms that bring inquiry and warmth to all children who enter. We are a community that believes in the power of the early years.

After running my own preschool program for over a decade, I’ve learned a lot in my new role at Universal PreK Coordinator thus far. When I was a Director, I knew MY program and that was my day-to-day focus — where I put all my energy into staff, children and families. Throughout those years, I collaborated with my fellow early childhood colleagues in many ways, but I was highly focused on what I was doing in my own space. In the last nine months, I have been in over 40 classrooms serving the 410 children in Universal PreK in Addison County. I’ve watched dozens of teachers interact with children and implement curriculum. I have been nothing short of blown away!

This is what I’ve learned, early childhood education and preschool is not one size fits all. It doesn’t have to be implemented in a universal way to be successful. It can look like so many things! It can look like the “Wish You Well” song at Otter Creek Child Center where children and teachers sing a sweet love song to their friends who aren’t there. It can look like wool felting at Mary Johnson Children’s Center. It can be a day spent in the forest at Wren’s Nest where hammocks are rest mats. It can be putting on a circus at Lincoln Cooperative Preschool or writing a children’s book at Evergreen Preschool. It can be tending the chickens at Quarry Hill School or swinging inside at Play Lab. It looks like family suppers, smiles at the door, checking in on each other, sharing resources and so much more. What our early education programs are doing in the field is incredible and it’s something we should all be proud of.

I’ve had the privilege of leading a Community of Practice with over 15 local preschool teachers this year. We meet monthly to share our classroom experiences and find extensions to our practice to build and grow. We discuss literacy and math, the classroom environment, books and songs, and how to extend children’s interest and learning. These teachers come together each month in the most supportive way, immersing themselves in growth and discovery. They lean on one another, brainstorm together and actively build their practice as a cohort. They have such powerful ideas, creative avenues to reach all children and a genuine thirst to be the best they can be. Every month, I leave inspired by their dedication, intellect and passion.

I’ve learned that nothing is impossible within these high-quality programs. Children are thriving in a variety of ways in our early education system in Addison County and that’s predominantly because of the people who make up this system. It’s the directors, the teachers, the assistants, the cooks, the special educators, the outreach support, and the parents and families. It certainly does take a village and my biggest take away is that our village is really extraordinary. Something we should be proud of and celebrate often. Thank you to all of you who make early childhood education thrive! In this Month of the Young Child- we all applaud you!