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About
Us: Our Teachers
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| Magic Years has been
in operation since 1973. Two certified teachers lead the classroom
activities supported by two parent helpers. The staff to student
ratio is 6:1 as maximum enrollment is 24 students. Our teachers
are well educated in early childhood education and licensed
by the Massachusetts State Department of Early Education and
Care (EEC). The teachers attend specialized early childhood
and special needs training each year. |
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Rachel
Shwartz:
Rachel Shwartz is Magic Years’ Director and Starfish teacher.
Rachel is a graduate of UMASS Amherst, majoring in Education
with a concentration in early childhood education and minoring
in Public Health. She has taught in many preschool settings,
including Traditional, Open and Montessori classrooms.
Since joining Magic Years in 1995, Miss Rachel has been instrumental
in establishing the school as a well respected and much loved
nursery school serving Manchester and the surrounding areas.
Her specialized training, integrating music into the curriculum
to teach literacy and mathematics, creative pretend play, techniques
for creating an integrated classroom, and teaching in an inclusive
classroom (including all forms of learning differences), has
been instrumental in the creation of our curriculum.
Rachel is an integral member of the Manchester community. She
enjoys a special relationship with the Manchester
Essex Regional School, which makes the transition to kindergarten
much easier for many families, especially those with special
circumstances.
Rachel serves on many Boards and committees, including the Manchester
Community Center Board and the Jewish Federation of the North
Shore Women's Division. She is also a former member of the Memorial
School Council.
Rachel is also a volunteer at Wellspring as a reading mentor,
the Open Door Food Pantry in Gloucester serving meals, the North
Suburban Jewish Community Center as a music teacher and she
is a Daisy troop co-leader. |
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Wendy
Collins:
In 2008, we welcomed Wendy Collins as the Dolphin teacher. She
comes to us with a B.A in Early Childhood Education/Psychology
from Colby Sawyer College and a Masters in School Administration/Curriculum
Development from Wheelock College. Wendy taught preschool at
Lasell College starting in 1990 and over the course of the next
ten years held positions as Curriculum Development Coordinator,
Director of Student Teacher Placement and College Professor.
Wendy is also involved in the Manchester community, as a
Brownie troop leader and a fundraiser for the Manchester
Mother’s Club. Most of her extracurricular activities
revolve around her two young daughters.
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