Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Sullivan.
Wendy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I received my bachelors degree from Colby Sawyer College specializing in Early Childhood Education in 1990. Soon after graduation I was offered a position as a preschool classroom teacher at Lasell College in Newton, MA. While working there I took classes at Wheelock College in Boston and earned a Masters degree in School Administration. I continued to work at Lasell in their on campus Lab School as a lead teacher as well as college professor, working very closely with the education students and their student teaching placements. I resigned after 10 years to stay at home when my daughter Sophia was born in 1999. I was lucky enough to be able to become a stay at home mommy until my second daughter Emalia was born. When she started kindergarten, I felt the tug of the classroom pulling at my heart strings and decided to go back to work.
I was fortunate to begin working at Magic Years Nursery School in 2007 as Lead Teacher. Magic Years is located right in my home town which made it very convenient to continue with the many volunteering opportunities I have become involved with.
I am now the director of Magic years and have been for the past year and a half. Being part of the administration and the classroom of this wonderful little school has been a fulfilling career for me and I feel extremely blessed to work with an extraordinary staff and group of parents. I look forward too many more years of teaching and being part of the education of young children.
Besides working as a preschool teacher, I enjoy being a part of my community. I volunteer my free time at both of my daughter’s schools, Manchester-Essex Regional School District as well as other community events and committees.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have a natural, calm and patient way about me. I am able to step back, look at the bigger picture, and tackle obstacles as they come. I try not to sweat the small stuff. I thrive on setting goals for myself and achieving those goals even though it may take much much longer than anticipated.
It really helps that I go to work each day in a town that I live and to a job that allows me to be silly, kind, fun, serious and that challenges me enough to not be bored. Each day, although not always easy, is different and wonderful. I see the world through the eyes of a child experiencing the simple joys of life each day. It is a gift and I definitely do not take that for granted.
Magic Years Co-Operative Nursery School – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Magic Years Preschool is a unique model. It is a parent cooperative school which simply put is a school managed by a board of directors of currently enrolled families. The school has been established in Manchester for over 40 years and is a prominent part of the community. The parents are directly involved in the daily life of the school. There is a strong focus on the education and development of the whole child. We offer five half and whole day options for students. We make a commitment to our program that we spend a large portion of our day outside on our large playground with spacious green areas as well as our fun play equipment. We offer yoga class each week to all students by a certified yoga instructor and music class by our very talented music director. Our staff members are certified by the MA department of education and hold undergraduate and masters degrees in Early Childhood Education. Keeping the model of the co-op with the growing needs of working families has been a challenge. We are proud to announce that our enrollment is thriving and our commitment to the success of this school is very important to us.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I am not sure that in my line of work I am able to choose just one. Working with children gives me mountains of proud moments each day. I know for sure I am in the line of work that I am meant to be in. Teaching comes very natural to me.
Becoming the Director of a school is a very proud moment in my career.
Contact Info:
- Address: Magic Years Co-Operative Nursery School
Chapel Lane, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944 - Website: WWW.Magicyearsbythesea.com
- Phone: (978)-526-4750
- Email: Magicyears.wendy@gmail.com
- Facebook: Magic Years Cooperative Nursery School – Manchester,MA
Getting in touch: BostonVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
