Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Stoner.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Jennifer. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.S in Early Childhood in 1983 and knew after teaching in the EEC lab school that I wanted to someday own my own preschool business. I worked at two nursery schools for the next 4 years while earning my Master’s Degree in ECE and Administration and graduated from Wheelock College in 1987. I met a woman in one of my Wheelock classes who was selling her preschool so I bought Echo Falls Preschool in December ’86 and began running it the following Fall for the 1987-88 school year.
Now I’ve just completed owning/directing and teaching for the 30th year!! It has been a wonderful and educational 3 decade journey so far!!! I love what I do and am waiting for the day a former student /now parent sends his/her child back to Echo Falls Preschool 🙂
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?
It’s a truly FULL time job where there is always something that can/should/needs to be done- accounting, snack shopping, parent communication, enrollment, curriculum development and planning, caring for all our school pets, posting pictures, cleaning, etc… etc… . Biggest struggle- Not enough time in a day! Luckily, Echo Falls was my first baby and then I married in 1990 and became a mom in ’92 and ’94 so balancing work and family became even trickier!
Echo Falls Preschool – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Echo Falls Preschool is a preschool that runs a 5 hour day (8:45-1:45) and offers a stimulating preschool program with developmentally appropriate activities which promote preschooler’s (2.9-5.9yr olds) optimal social-emotional, cognitive, fine and gross motor development.
For the past 30 years, Jennifer has created a unique preschool that emphasizes creativity, hands-on learning, pro-social skills, healthy eating, planet protecting, animal loving, music/art experiences and lots of playful, fun, thematic curriculum. We teach children to love to learn and learn to love!
Our most unique features that set us apart from other preschools are that we are very Nature Based with lots of animals- 2 dogs who regularly visit, 2 resident bunnies, a beautiful aquarium with fish and a crayfish, lots of SPRING life cycles: fertile eggs to chickens, caterpillars to butterflies, tadpoles to frogs, baby bunnies… We are Planet Protectors and take care of our Earth by recycling, composting, and having children only use re-usable containers in their lunches.
At EFP, we sing every day and the children become very competent singers, movers and shakers! They love Dance Parties! Our Kindergarten bound children have well rounded, developed skills in all areas- social/emotional abilities for team work, being a contributing member to community and have awesome pro-social/language skills and can communicate well. They also have developed cognitive and fine motor skills as they have learned through playful “Must Do” activities and Pre-K readiness experiences throughout the year. We offer a true balance between learning through play and some more sit-down, structured appropriate “Must Do” fun!
Please visit our website: echofallspreschool.com or call 617 965 3606 to learn more about our preschool program and to schedule a visit to see our school in action!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Every spring when we realize just how much our preschoolers have grown and learned! When I see how kind and considerate they are with each other and how much their confidence has grown! When they can express themselves and be part of a highly functioning team and school community and that they love themselves and each other- those are the “goose bump” moments and true validation!
Pricing:
- Our preschool program is based on $12.25 hour for 2017-18 school year. Children are enrolled 3, 4 or 5 days for a 5 hour day or for some of the children a 3.25 hour day(Noon pick up).
- The regular school year program runs mid September – end of May ( 33 weeks) because we follow NPS calendar for vacation/holidays.
- We offer a June Camp and then, my co-teacher offers a July Mini Camp- we are closed in August.
- Tuition is calculated by $12.25 hr x # of hours/week x 33 weeks)
Contact Info:
- Address: Echo Falls Preschool
545 Grove Street
Newton Lower Falls, MA 02462 - Website: echofallspreschool.net OR echofallspreschool.com
- Phone: 617- 965- 3606
- Email: echofallspreschool@verizon.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EchoFallsPreschool
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/echo-falls-preschool-newton-lower-falls
- Other: http://www.savvysource.com/preschools/ma/newton-lower-falls/echo-falls-preschool
Image Credit:
Diane Hughes for teacher personal photo
Jennifer Stoner for all others
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