STAFF
Shanam
Shanam studied Developmental Neuroscience at the University of California, Berkeley and graduated with High Honors. She studied the effects of social influences, such as stress, on the brain development of children from 0-4 years old. After several years in academia, she realized the bigger impact she would have applying break-through research in the classroom so she earned her Early Childhood credentials. Given her passion for educating young children, research, and writing, she is a frequent contributor on our blog. Even though she is always keeping current on research, you'll find her most often in the classroom with the students she loves.
Leian
Leian has a Master's degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught for many years at a University preschool and pre-kindergarten program using a literature-based curriculum where reading, language, and mathematics were integrated. Leian is a wonderful storyteller. She exudes exceptional enthusiasm and energy, perhaps matched only by the children. There's no dull moment in Leian's classroom.
Miss Annie
Annie has over thirty years of experience at different schools and under nearly every educational philosophy. She acts as a mentor to teachers. Annie always has a bit of magic in her pocket and has a passion for all things exercising the imagination, particularly puppetry. Annie is on temporary medical leave and visits the school once or twice a week as a very special visitor.
Amanda
Amanda worked for several years in the non-profit sector at community-based agencies serving young children and their families. She eventually transitioned to teaching after attending workshops on behavioral observation and screening of young children. She is a dynamic teacher having experience with children as young as infants and toddlers and as old as middle schoolers. Exuberant and extroverted, Amanda is a child at heart with an inherent ability to relate to children. She has a passion for language and teaches Spanish classes at Windsor. You can often find her hula-hooping with the children.
Nani - Grandma
Nani is the grandmother of a staff member at Windsor and often comes into the classroom to spend time with the students. She helps the children with their emotional development as they are transitioning from a homey environment to a school environment. We think every school needs a kind, patient, gentle, understanding onsite grandma, especially for the younger children. Nani speaks Hindi and teaches children classic Hindi nursery rhymes, reads them stories, and gives them too many hugs and smiles to count.
David
David is a local software engineer and a volunteer at Windsor. While here, he spends most of his time with school administration. He also helps out, in various other roles, as needed. Most of David's prior early childhood education experience is in helping schools develop their curriculum around the tenets of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education.