Early Education in Massachusetts, Talks during Covid 19.: Recent Episodes
Patty Sinclair
Early Education folks have been impacted by the closure in a variety of ways, all worried about the future of their programs and the future of our industry. Will my program survive through this closure? If we do re-open, what will my group of children look like when I return, will they all return? What will their needs be like? Will they be safe? Will I be safe? What if I contract Covid 19? The list goes on… While we don’t have answers we do we do want to recognize that there is a lot of anxiety around not only the health implications but also around what comes next.
Let's learn about Anja's experience running an emergency child care program and her thoughts on Governor Baker's decision to extended school closure through June 29th.
Anja moved to Martha's Vineyard in 2008 after spending several summers on the island. Born in Germany then raised in Oxford, England, Anja spent time working in South America and the Caribbean. Her career in early childhood started early with volunteering at the age of 14 in the preschool classrooms at the International School she attended. After completing her Baccalaureate, she taught English in Bolivia and volunteered in the 4-8 yr. old portion of the La Paz orphanage. In the Caribbean, she ran an in-home, multi-age day care on the island of Antigua. Since 2011, Anja has been working at the Chilmark Preschool with Chris Abrams, Heather Quinn and Pia. She studied Social Anthropology and Development Studies at Sussex University in England. Anja lives in Aquinnah with her partner Spa and her two teenage sons.
Jill is a Director in Training in Boston, MA. She has worked with Bright Horizons for over 5 years and has recently moved to MA, with her wife and 10 month old old daughter, for a new job opportunity and promotion. Learn how her program has transitioned to online learning as well as her worries and hopes for the future.