Today we’d like to introduce you to Nina Tebaldi.
Nina, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started out working for an international telecommunications company overseas, in finance and human resources. I loved the travel and living abroad, but was not a fan of the corporate culture. When my husband and I moved back to the States, I decided to take a break from it, to stay home and raise my two daughters.
When I was researching preschools, I fell in love with the cooperative model, which allows parents to actively participate in their children’s education. I visited Bowen and immediately knew it was where I wanted my children to be. After four years of helping in the classrooms, serving on the Board, and becoming part of an incredibly involved and supportive community, I felt like I had found my calling. When my oldest daughter left Bowen to move on to kindergarten, I asked the Director to keep me in mind if a position opened up. In the meantime I began taking classes to get my teaching qualifications. A year later, I got a voicemail from the Director saying “Do you hear that noise? It’s opportunity knocking!”
I started as an Assistant Teacher. A year later, the Lead Teacher I was working with went on maternity leave and I took over the classroom. Two years after that, the Director decided to retire and asked if I would consider submitting my resume for Director. Although I loved teaching, I felt that my previous experiences and skills were well suited for that role, and I was ready to take on a new challenge. I am now going into my fourth year as Director of the school.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Going back to work after being home for a number of years was an adjustment for the whole family. Even though working in a school allows me to be home afternoons, summers, and vacations, I still find myself feeling like there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything that needs to be done. There are times when I feel like my family has to take a back seat to my work, and other times when my work has to take a back seat to my family. Luckily both my own family and my “Bowen family” are extremely supportive.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Bowen Cooperative Nursery School story. Tell us more about the business.
Bowen is the one of the oldest continually running cooperative preschools in the country … we just celebrated our 61st birthday! We offer programs for 3 year olds and 4 year olds, as well as a transitional kindergarten for children turning 5 in the second half of the year. Our programs are play based, child centered, and focus on helping children develop socially, emotionally, intellectually and physically.
What sets us apart is our community. We are not just a school for children, but a school for families, where parents can become deeply involved in their children’s school experience. This has many benefits; the children get to see first-hand how important their education is to their parents, parents get a unique window into their children’s first school experience, and both children and parents make lifelong friendships and connections. It makes me proud to see how much the families care for and support each other, the teachers, and the school. By doing so they are teaching their children the value of community.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I do feel lucky to have been in the right place at the right time when opportunities opened up, but luck can only take you so far. I think my work ethic, eagerness to learn and take on challenges, and my dedication to the school and the families gave others the confidence that I would succeed if given the chance. Once I knew what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be, I was going to get there eventually!
Contact Info:
- Address: Bowen Cooperative Nursery School
96 Otis Street
Newtonville, MA 02460 - Website: www.bowencoop.org
- Phone: 617-332-3923
- Email: director@bowencoop.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bowencoop
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