Wendy Kelley has been teaching at ELC 16 years. She has been in the teaching field for 30 years. During this time she taught Head Start preschool, kindergarten, first grade and toddler playgroups. Mrs. Kelly has a Bachelor of Science degree from Western Michigan University with an Early Childhood Endorsement.
Her favorite things about teaching are: talking on play phones, acting out dramatic roles like Goldilocks and the Big Bad Wolf, holding little hands, teaching words to children so they can get what they want. ("Can I use it when you're done?"). "The developmental stages in early childhood are amazing to witness for example making friends, taking turns, independence, caring for others. So much of our work is play... what's not to love?" Wendy says that the families that return with each additional child and the long term friendly staff make ELC like a family!
Marciah Boerema has been teaching for 13 years at ELC. She has over 30 years of experience in teaching. She taught at the Lamaze Family Center for over 20 years as a Parent-Child Playgroup facilitator and Infant Care instructor. She is also a Big Brother Big Sister tour guide at both area hospitals. Mrs. Boerema has her Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development/Early Childhood Development from Northern Illinois University.
Her favorite things about teaching are the children and the funny things they say. She loves the way a group of 3 year olds have the abiltiy to change her lesson plans for the better. She also loves working with her co-teacher Mrs. Kelley.
Nancy Martin has been teaching at ELC for 19 years. She began her career in preschool over 30 years ago when she began teaching first in preschool and then a Kindergarten class. She also ran her own licensed home-based child care before discovering ELC. Mrs. Martin has a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and 18 additional graduate hours in Educational Psychology.
Her favorite thing about teaching is witnessing the love of learning in young children and knowing that she is playing a part in that . Her favorite thing about ELC is the families and the staff. "We all work together to give children the best start in their educational journey."
Sara Rydell is a first year teacher at ELC. As a former parent, board member and teacher's assistant, she is very familiar with ELC and loves the family oriented atmosphere. She has 5 years of experience in education which started at the college and secondary level. After staying home with her children for several years, she came back into education working in a Kindergarten classroom and now at ELC. Mrs. Rydell has a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Central Michigan University.
Her favorite thing about teaching is developing relationships with the children and seeing how much they grow as individuals throughout the year. Her favorite thing about ELC is the community. "Most of our staff has been here for several years and our families return when their younger children are of preschool age. It just makes for a warm community which is more like a family".
Tracey Smith is our new director. Tracey has been working with young children since she graduated with her BA degree with a major in child development/preschool from CMU in 1985. Tracey recently earned her Master’s degree in Early Childhood from Eastern Michigan University in April 2017. She comes to us with many years of experience teaching toddlers, preschoolers and kindergartners. She was previously a teacher and co-director at a preschool in Novi for twenty years.
She is excited to be a part of the community at ELC and loves the family environment that it provides. She is looking forward to supporting the teachers and families at the Early Learning Center and is passionate about advocating for young children to learn, create, discover, pretend and play in a warm and nurturing developmentally appropriate environment.
She is excited to be a part of the community at ELC and loves the family environment that it provides. She is looking forward to supporting the teachers and families at the Early Learning Center and is passionate about advocating for young children to learn, create, discover, pretend and play in a warm and nurturing developmentally appropriate environment.
