Article Link: http://www.exchangepress.com/article/meet-our-cover-directors-from-the-six-largest-chains/5012539/
LITTLE AVIATORS CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERCHILDREN'S DISCOVERY CENTERS
MARY BUCKLEY-HALL
Renton, WA
My career in child care began nearly 18 years ago as an assistant toddler teacher in a Montessori school. I knew nothing about child development, developmentally appropriate practice, or child psychology. All I knew was that I loved children and wanted to work with them. It didn't take me long to return to school and receive my Montessori certification. I then became a lead teacher in a preschool room. Eventually, I went back to school again and earned an AA in early childhood education, a BA in human development, and an MA in human development with a specialization in leadership in education.
My priorities have changed somewhat over the years. I have spent at least half of my life as a parent, being a single parent. This has opened my eyes to the difficulties faced by single moms. To this end, I have facilitated single parent support groups and workshops to help women identify job skills and potential employment. I have also taught parenting classes at a homeless shelter for women and children, as many times parenting skills fell by the wayside as women dealt with all of the other difficulties they were facing. ...