Teachers

Parents and students consistently rave about our caring, experienced teachers! The Co-op teachers are highly trained professionals with both degrees in education and many years experience teaching young children, including their own. Always wanting to advance their teaching methods, our teachers regularly pursue additional training and attend the Ohio National Association for the Education of Young Children Conference each year.

With over 30 years of experience teaching preschool, "Miss Joan" is an

exceptional educator. Children readily respond to her calm but

enthusiastic, compassionate demeanor and inquisitive approach. Miss

Joan's classroom philosophy is to provide children with hands-on,

interactive experiences which will help them grow and develop a lifelong

love of learning. She encourages students to not only explore cause and

effect and critical thinking skills in the educational realm, but to also

apply them to their social environment. It is very common to hear Miss

Joan start discussions with the students by asking open ended questions

such as "What do you think will happen when..." and "How else can I use

this...." tapping into their natural curiosity. Having raised twin daughters

in Granville with her husband Ray, and now currently enjoying her first grandchild, Miss Joan relates to the challenges of parenting today and the ever evolving skills our children need.

Having taught since the 1960s, Mrs. Kreider has extensive early childhood education

experience across generations. She has taught preschool, kindergarten, first grade

and remedial reading. With 23 years of her teaching career being spent in the

Newark City Schools at the elementary level, Mrs. Kreider has intimate knowledge of

the social and educational skills young children need. Her teaching philosophy

focuses on providing active, multisensory activities with positive reinforcement that

allow children to learn by exploring. Free play interaction helps the children become

aware of their own feelings as well as those of others, while encouraging cooperation

rather than competition among the children. In addition to her vast teaching

expertise, Mrs. Kreider's personal experience raising her three children, being a

grandmother to five and a great-grandmother, helps her nurture the 2 year olds in

her class, and is a wonderful resource for parents as well.

Some of Mrs. Kreider's accomplishments include:

> Degree in Education from Ohio University

> Ohio Certified Teacher

> 23 years teaching elementary school

> Previously taught at the Co-op in the 1970s