Fabia Simpson is the parent of two Playschool graduates. She is originally from the UK and her background in Performing Arts and Dance has allowed her to travel extensively. She has worked in Japan, Korea, Greece, and Spain, and on board cruise ships in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. She has been teaching dance to children and adults since she first moved to the US over 10 years ago. She was also a substitute teacher here at the Co-op for 5 years. She currently teaches our one-year-old Dewdrops on Tuesday and Thursday.

Kinsey Wennerstrom earned her BA from UNC-CH in Economics and Psychology. Prior to starting a family, she was an award-winning mortgage banker. Since the birth of her three children, ages 9, 7, and 4, she has worked in schools and childcare as a Chairperson of a local Daycare Board and as a substitute teacher at a preschool in Durham. Kinsey currently teaches our two-year-old Ladybug class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Amy Hart earned her BA from UNC-CH and has been teaching for 19 years, ages birth through kindergarten. She has over 100 hours of Early Childhood coursework and training. She has been at our school for 11 years, and has taught all ages at the Co-op. Amy has three children of her own, ages 13, 15, and 17. She is currently teaching our two-year-old Sunbeam class five days per week and is also our Head Teacher.

Jessica Shipley-Watson earned her BS degree in Early Childhood Education from Frostburg State University in MD. She was a preschool teacher for several years prior to having her two boys ages 3 and 7. Her older son is a Playschool graduate and her younger son currently attends the Playschool as a Dragonfly. Jessica was also a professional nanny while attending college and most recently owned and operated a successful local nanny agency. She currently teaches our three-year-old Rainbow class five days per week.

April Ashford earned her North Carolina Early Childhood Credentials in 2001 and has worked with ages birth through pre-kindergarten for eight years. Her mom owns and operates a NC licensed childcare center where April began her love of teaching at age 15.  She is the mother of four children: two boys, ages 8 and 9 and newborn twin girls.  April plans to begin pursuit of an AA in Early Childhood Education during the 08-09 school year.  She currently teaches our three and four-year-old Dragonfly class five days per week.

Miranda Bailey Danku earned her BS in Anthropology from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. She did fieldwork for her thesis in Alaska, working with Yup’ik Eskimos.  She has been working in preschool and elementary school classrooms for the past eight years, and has three children ages 6, 9, and 11. Miranda earned her North Carolina Early Childhood Credentials in 2008 and is teaching our four and five-year-old Wildflowers five days per week.

Beth Partington earned her BA in Psychology and Spanish from Drew University in Madison, NJ and her M.Ed. and Ph.D. in School Psychology from UNC-CH. Her dissertation research examined factors that helped children make a positive transition to kindergarten. Beth is a NC Licensed School Psychologist who has specialized in early childhood education, development, and mental health throughout her training and work.  She was a psychologist at Project Enlightenment (an early childhood intervention agency that is part of Wake County Public Schools) in Raleigh for 7.5 years and was the staff psychologist to Project Enlightenment's demonstration preschool. Beth has two children who attend the Playschool in the Sunbeam and Wildflower classes. She is the director of the Co-op.

Each of our teachers brings her own special experiences and interests to the school, along with a love of working with children. We are also fortunate to have teachers that work well individually as well as collectively to create the best learning and growing atmosphere for our children. Furthermore, each teacher is certified in CPR and First Aid, which is renewed annually. In addition, we have regular staff development opportunities for our teachers to further their growth and knowledge in the field.

Our Cooperative

A cooperative is a group of people who merge their resources to meet a common need. In a co-op, all members benefit in a combined and shared way, unlike in a traditional structure of a business, where there is a pyramid or sole ownership. The co-op alternative provides an empowering, democratic, and satisfying structure within which a common societal need can be met.

“Being a member of a co-op empowers one both as a conscious consumer and as an owner-member of a highly principled business”

As a preschool cooperative, each family whose child attends the school is an owner and member of the co-op. With this come many privileges and obligations to the school.

What is expected of members/owners of the Children’s Co-op?

The contributions each family makes to the functioning of the school are:

WHY CO-OPERATE?

There are many benefits to being a member of a cooperative preschool. Among them are: