Teacher Spotlight
Sue is a native Mainer, who lives in Durham with her husband and rambunctious labradoodle, Finn. She is an avid reader and a self-confessed choc-alcoholic. She enjoys outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, biking, kayaking, snow shoeing and ice skating. Sue also enjoys spending time at the gym participating in yoga, spin and weight-training classes. While not currently practicing, Sue holds a 1st degree Black Belt ranking in Shaolin Kenpo Karate.
Sue attended USM and holds a Bachelors Degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences with a concentration in Early Childhood Studies. She is a member of Maine Roads to Quality with a Level 7 Center Based Professional ranking. Sue joined the First Step Team in the fall of 2013. Prior to joining First Step, Sue taught for eight years in the Pre-K classroom at private preschool in Freeport. In addition to teaching, Sue also has 17 years experience as a nanny for a well-known local pediatrician’s two sons. She has been with the family since the eldest was 6 months old (he is now age 17 and driving), and she feels privileged to be an integral part of their lives and family.
Sue has a passion for working with young children and believes that play is a powerful tool that benefits children’s intellectual, social, emotional, physical and language development. Over the years she has found that children learn exceptionally well when in an environment that encourages play and exploration. Sue understands that every child comes to First Step with as an individual with a special and unique set of skills, and she shapes her curriculum to meet the uniqueness of each child. Sue believes that incorporating early learning concepts in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere encourages each child to feel free to venture into new experiences, allows for greater retention, and deeper teacher/child/peer interaction. Introducing children to social concepts such as respect, pride, and a love of learning is, to Sue, equally as important as introducing math, language, and science concepts.