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April 12, 2016

Doodle Bugs! Team Tuesday: Issue 257

We are proud to announce our nominees for the 2016 Employee of the Year! Faculty members will be voting later this month at our 2016 Annual Conference: #BestDayEver. We are thrilled that each of these ladies are a part of the Doodle Team!

Angela Frost, Director Assistant, Clarence Center
Angela Frost has been with Doodle Bugs! for 2 1/2 “magnificent” (her words!) years. In addition to her work experience, she has an impressive educational background which includes: a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Education; a Master’s Degree in Education and post-graduate work in Special Education.

Whatever Angela is doing, she commits 100%. She prides herself on being organized and loves to cross things off her “to-do” list. It’s clear that she is passionate about early childhood learning. Angela says she has wanted to teach since her first day of second grade!

Angela believes that she has the best job ever because she gets to smile all day long! She loves that every day is different but always includes love and learning. “The children, families, and teachers that I get to work with are OUTSTANDING! Who could ask for more?”

If you had to be trapped inside one giant food and the only way to escape was to eat your way out of it, which food would you choose?
A HUUUUGE plate of spaghetti, with extra sauce!

What’s your secret talent?
Doing the “Tooty Ta”; starting “Drop Everything and Dance” Parties; creating Doodleisms (Doodletastic, Doodlerific, and Doodley); empting the Bumps and Bruises folder!

Did you have a childhood nickname?
Yes! Angie Pantz

Stephanie Fuqua, Pre-K Teacher, West Amherst Center
Stephanie has been with Doodle Bugs! for 8 years. She began her tenure as a Preschool Teacher Assistant, then decided to pursue teaching and went back to school full time. After completing her coursework, she returned to Doodle Bugs! as an Infant Teacher. In 2012, she moved to the preschool level and in 2014, she took the role of Pre-K Teacher, her
current position. Her education includes a Bachelor of Science in Biochemical Pharmacology; Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry; Minor in Education; and a Masters in Childhood Education.

Stephanie loves to inspire creativity and curiosity to encourage kids to become lifelong learners who show compassion for the world around them. She is most passionate about science. “Raising guppies as class pets, learning about volcanoes and tornadoes with hands-on experiments, creating straw rockets, learning about weather through a weather station, cloud experiments; these are some of my favorite science memories in the classroom”.

Stephanie prides herself on each day, entering her room with an open mind and ready to learn something new from her students. She continuously challenges herself to grow as a teacher through self-reflection. She loves to have fun with all that she does; and makes a habit to smile often, laugh, give hugs, admit mistakes, and just be herself.

For Stephanie, Doodle Bugs! is the best job ever because she gets to work with amazing children, families, and co-workers everyday!  She asks herself daily how she can make a child’s day the best day ever? When she accomplishes that goal, she considers it a success!

If you had to be trapped inside one giant food, and the only way to escape was to eat your way out of it, which food would you choose?
Strawberry cheesecake Greek yogurt because it is my ultimate favorite healthy dessert!

What’s your secret talent?
I have always loved art, and can create a classroom wonderland based on the children’s interests or themes. Some of my favorites are a Toy Story themed classroom complete with Buzz Lightyear’s Spaceship and Woody’s Round-Up; a Star Wars theme with a light saber dual scene and Darth Vader photo op; and a Teddy Bear picnic fantasy land theme.

Did you have a childhood nickname?
Growing up, my Grandmother would always call me Stephka.

Jess Greene, right

Jess Greene, Lead School-Age Teacher, Henrietta Center
Jess has been with Doodle Bugs! for 4 1/2 years. Prior to this position, she graduated from SUNY Oneonta with a degree in Secondary Education and a concentration in social studies. A few years later, she discovered Doodle Bugs! and now her heart is with younger kids!

Outside of Jess’ passion for early childhood education, she is “obsessed” (her word!) with Disney World and “ I basically know everything there is to know about it”.  She is also “mom” to a miniature dachshund named Elephant— who is number one in her life!

For Jess, Doodle Bugs! is the best job ever because she loves how much her kids teach her about themselves and the world around them. She truly enjoys getting to know each of their unique personalities. Jess says, if you don’t know their favorite color, favorite food, and their grandma’s cat’s name, you don’t know them well enough!

If you had to be trapped inside one giant food, and the only way to escape was to eat your way out of it, which food would you choose?
Definitely macaroni and cheese. I’ve made over 100 different mac and cheese recipes in the last year and a half- it’s an obsession.

What’s your secret talent?
I can walk through Disney World with my eyes shut and know exactly where I am based on smells!

Did you have a childhood nickname?
Jessie bird! I’ve been singing since before I could talk!

Emma Hartman, Closing Manager, Teacher Assistant, McCandless Center
Emma has been a part of the Doodle Team for 2 years. Prior to Doodle Bugs!, she was born and raised in Britain. She began higher education in Zoology, but soon realized that what she really wanted was to be able to see the world. In Britain, Emma had worked with children and loved it— so she decided to look into CHI Au Pair, a program that would allow her to travel to the United States for 1 year and live with a family while caring for their children. In 2011, she began her journey with a family in Northern Virginia. She completed 2 years with the program and although it was incredibly hard, she loved seeing the influence that she had on the two children she cared for. “I learned so much, it was an adventure that really did shape who I am today.”

Emma is in the process of becoming a US Citizen and will celebrate 5 years in America this June! She is passionate about being creative and loves any opportunity to bake, paint or perform!

Emma says that the people she works with make her job, the best job ever. “I love working with amazing men and women, I love the individual relationships I have with each family and I adore watching the children develop and grow!”

If you had to be trapped inside one giant food, and the only way to escape was to eat your way out of it, which food would you choose?
A huge bar of Cadbury’s chocolate. I miss British chocolate!

What’s your secret talent?
It’s a secret!

Brittany Wachowiak, Teacher Assistant, Clarence Center

Brittany has been with Doodle Bugs! for 5 years. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University at Buffalo and plans to pursue a master’s degree in a psychology-related field.

First and foremost, Brittany is passionate about early childhood education and taking care of the children in her care everyday. She takes pride in watching them grow and succeed, knowing she was able to play a vital role in their development. Personally, she enjoys trying new things. She thrives on learning, and growing, and appreciates being able to take away something useful from each experience. Brittany also loves: finding quotes that inspire her; reading books by a poet, author, and photographer, Tyler Knott Gregson; and the HBO show Game of Thrones.

Brittany thinks she has the best job ever because she is able to work with a talented group of teachers not only in her center, but companywide. She feels thankful for all of the amazing children whose paths she has crossed during their education at Doodle Bugs! “I learn so many valuable things from each person I meet!”

If you had to be trapped inside one giant food, and the only way to escape was to eat your way out of it, which food would you choose?
I would definitely choose watermelon. I am obsessed with fruit and constantly say I could live off of it if I had to! I think being trapped inside a watermelon wouldn’t be so bad, you’d get to eat and drink at the same time and hopefully not get too full too fast!

What’s your secret talent?
I have talents so hidden that I don’t even know about them…. but if anything, maybe drawing. I don’t think that I’m really great at it at all but some of the teachers I work with are still trying to convince me otherwise.

Did you have a childhood nickname?
My childhood nickname between my Grandpa and I was always “Beepa.” I called him Beepa because I couldn’t say Grandpa so when I was little that’s what he used to call me too. Everyone else called me “Bits” because I was such a skinny little girl!

Congratulations to our nominees! The doodle community is a better place because of you!