Today we’d like to introduce you to Michele Shipley.
Hi Michele, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
This is some text from a letter of introduction I sent to families when I started here:
My name is Michele Shipley, and I am both honored and excited to introduce myself as the new Director of Tarrytown Children’s Center. It is truly a blessing to join a community so committed to teaching and nurturing young children. As someone who has been called to serve in early childhood education, I deeply value the role we play in shaping young hearts and minds. I believe in creating a space where children feel safe, loved, and guided to grow socially-emotionally, academically, and spiritually a loving, play-based environment..
Four years ago, my husband, Joe and I, and our four incredible children, moved from Long Island, New York in search of a better life for our family. We have been so incredibly blessed. Joey (19), Brian (18), Tim (16), and Abigail (11) have thrived here in Texas, and have been able to find friends, a wonderful church, and great schools. I look forward to partnering with the congregation for their support in further developing the preschool and becoming a shining light in the community. I look forward to meeting you and your children, and I thank you for choosing TCC to partner with you on your child’s early education experience.
My heart is for collaboration, encouragement, mutual respect, and grace-filled leadership. Before I was a Preschool Director, I was a Director of Children’s ministries and a preschool teacher for over ten years. I plan to be a support to my teachers, as well as a safe place for our parents to ask questions, seek guidance, pray with, and to give hugs to our first time mamas and daddies that are dropping off their little ones for the first time. I promise to you, as a mother of four, and as an educator, I will always love and protect your children as my own, as well as listen with patience, tenderness, love, and empathy. While teacher guidance and leadership is my vocation, listening to and assisting children and families is a cornerstone of my position. My hope is that we, the faculty and leadership of TCC, can partner with you in these early years to develop skills and relationships with your children to not only prepare them for kindergarten, but create life-long learners with the love of others and the Lord in their hearts.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
learning the culture of the community
Finding and nurturing connection with children and families
developing a professional relationship with a new faculty
introducing new curriculum concepts and methods to the teachers
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am passionate about early childhood education. I believe in professional development and sharing my passion with my staff. My heart’s desire is that they fall as in love with this branch of education and view themselves as professional preschool teachers, not just “childcare workers.”
Staying up to date on the lates research and methods is important because of how much we pour into these little minds every day. We want to be sure we teach in a way that learning is real, tangible, and accessible. Play-based methods, sensory exploration, and the nurturing of curiousity and wonder is the most authentic path to teaching our youngest citizens.
I love going in to classrooms and playing with the children. I love immersing myself in their world. Sometimes I will bring masking tape and some recylables and start a S.T.E.M. project with a few little ones, or I might bring a sensory bin full of easter grass and other things into a toddler room just to spend a little time in their world. I like modelling new, bold techniques for sensory and play-based education.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Every year my staff and Iattend the TXAEYC (Texas Association for the Education of Young Children) or the national NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) Conference. We take some amazing classes with them and have some important team building opportunities. I also use a lot of their articles and print material for parent education and teacher training. We use the Brightwheel app(a native Austin company) in our daily business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tarrytownchildrenscenter.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarrytownchildrenscenter/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-shipley-a4482946
