Ashley, Squirrel Nutkin Tuesday/Thursday
Ashley joined the community at Paddington Station in the fall of 2017. Ashley’s educational background consists of a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies and Creative Writing from Iowa State University (2006) in addition to a Master's of Arts degree in Education and Human Development from the University of Colorado Denver (2017). Ashley completed the Stanley British Teaching Intern Program in 2015 and currently holds a Colorado early childhood teaching license. Ashley believes the classroom environment should promote curiosity, joy, and individual reflection. When Ashley is not teaching she can be found traveling, enjoying time outdoors, gardening, watching any show on Bravo, and attempting to keep up with her active toddler.
Childhood is a sacred time in a person’s life when the future holds endless promise. Children can grow up to become anyone and anything they want to be. During early childhood play enables kids to transform into everyday heroes within a moment’s notice. Through using their imaginations children evolve into firemen, teachers, unicorns, space travelers, doctors, mothers and fathers – kids to try on all the best roles in life while playing. The childlike wonder children possess has always enabled me to connect with my own personal childlike wonder, even as an adult.
Years ago I moved into the Montclair neighborhood and consequently drove past Paddington Station almost every day. One day, I requested a meeting with Deb Deverell during which I told her, “I feel like I am meant to come here and work for you at this school. I feel it in my heart.” Deb, being the amazing mentor that she is, told me to go back to school and get my early childhood education teaching license. Shortly after our meeting, I enrolled in the Stanley Teacher Preparation Program in order to receive my Colorado Teaching License. l also completed my Master’s Degree in Education and Human Development through the University of Colorado Denver. I worked at the Jewish Community Center for a number of years until the opportunity to teach at Paddington came my way. Every day I wake up excited to play with my students and try on the role of everyday hero (aka teacher).
I am humbled and honored to be part of the community at Paddington and I appreciate the opportunity to cultivate curiosity and wonder in the field of early childhood education. Children are why I do what I do; they are the music makers and they are the dreamers of dreams.
Years ago I moved into the Montclair neighborhood and consequently drove past Paddington Station almost every day. One day, I requested a meeting with Deb Deverell during which I told her, “I feel like I am meant to come here and work for you at this school. I feel it in my heart.” Deb, being the amazing mentor that she is, told me to go back to school and get my early childhood education teaching license. Shortly after our meeting, I enrolled in the Stanley Teacher Preparation Program in order to receive my Colorado Teaching License. l also completed my Master’s Degree in Education and Human Development through the University of Colorado Denver. I worked at the Jewish Community Center for a number of years until the opportunity to teach at Paddington came my way. Every day I wake up excited to play with my students and try on the role of everyday hero (aka teacher).
I am humbled and honored to be part of the community at Paddington and I appreciate the opportunity to cultivate curiosity and wonder in the field of early childhood education. Children are why I do what I do; they are the music makers and they are the dreamers of dreams.