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February 21, 2017

Doodle Bugs! Education Team Doubles in Size

We are so proud of the Happy Teachers that fill our centers. Every day, they deliver a personalized experience to the children and parents that make up our Doodle Family. Behind the scenes, the Education Team is continuously working alongside our teachers to provide them with the resources they need to deliver excellence in early childhood education.

The Doodle Bugs! Education Team is made up of a group of early childhood professionals who develop and implement all aspects of our exclusive, Bravo! Early Childhood Curriculum— which is professionally designed to facilitate learning through play. We know that children learn best through hands-on exploration and discovery and, in the process, will grow to love learning. Each day, children at Doodle Bugs! might solve math problems, play pretend, do yoga or build friendships. Within Bravo!, each of these moments is tailored to nurture children and help them grow–every interaction is a learning experience. We are thrilled to have incredible teachers and a talented Education Team working toward a common goal, to deliver an early childhood education that is second to none.

As we continue to grow, we are proud to announce that our Education Team has doubled in size! Four positions were added the the department to ensure that all Doodle Bugs! Learning Academies continue to have the appropriate resources to cultivate a love of learning in all children enrolled in our programs. Doodle Bugs! highly values a ‘promote from within’ culture and strives to continuously develop, train and mentor team members. All four of these women are  perfect examples of individuals who climbed the #DoodleCareerLadder. Prior to their promotion, each actively participated in various Doodle Bug! extracurriculars including our Mentorship program, Bug Squad and Leadership 101.

In their new role, they are doing a wonderful job collaborating with and working alongside Center Management, while continuing to provide direct support in the classroom with hands-on assistance each day.

Without further ado, let’s meet the new Education Team members!

Lauren Wierzbicki
Education Specialist

Lauren began her career with Doodle Bugs! in 2013 as an Assistant Teacher and quickly became an asset to her team. She was promoted to Lead Preschool Teacher in our Orchard Park location and thrived in her role.  Lauren holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music with a concentration in Education from Nazareth College. She also obtained her Master’s Degree in Music from Michigan State University. She has been described by her peers as, “… a responsive and loving teacher.  Her passion for the children and their learning is evident in her daily interactions and her commitment to Doodle Bugs! Way.”

As a child, what did you wish to become when you grew up? 
A famous singer.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Night owl – need to enjoy that time when the baby is asleep.

What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
No chicken nuggets for me, I’m a “bacontarian” – a vegetarian who eats bacon!

What’s the one food you could never bring yourself to eat?
Sushi – I can’t imagine the texture of raw fish being very pleasant.

 

Katie Lansberry
Rochester Region Program Coordinator (Henrietta, Penfield, Webster)

Katie studied Interdisciplinary Arts for Children at SUNY Brockport and also holds a Master of Education degree in Inclusive Education from Nazareth College; her educational background inspires her passion for differentiation and for integrating arts education into daily learning experiences. Prior to her tenure with Doodle Bugs!, she taught at the elementary school level for four years. Before her promotion to Rochester Region Program Coordinator, Katie began her career with Doodle Bugs! as a Pre-K classroom teacher at our Webster, NY location. Katie enjoys reading and participating in her Book Club outside of Doodle Bugs! in addition to spending lots of quality time with her family and young daughter.

As a child, what did you wish to become when you grew up?
A nurse or a teacher.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?
Morning! I go to bed insanely early… I’m in PJs by 7:00.

What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
I don’t eat meat, but I dip my “chik’n” nuggets in barbecue sauce.

What’s the one food you could never bring yourself to eat?
Any kind of meat!

 

Ashley Howard
Buffalo Region Program Coordinator (Clarence, East Amherst, Orchard Park)

Ashley studied Early Childhood and Childhood Education with a focus in Spanish at SUNY Fredonia; her devotion to others and developing each child uniquely throughout her career is a direct reflection of her understanding and passion for early childhood education. Before her promotion to Program Coordinator she worked as a Pre-K/UPK classroom teacher at our Orchard Park center for over three years. When she’s not at work, Ashley enjoys spending time with her husband and dogs; she is also an active volunteer in the Buffalo-area and fosters for a local dog rescue.

As a child, what did you wish to become when you grew up?
I was obsessed with the “Free Willy” movies and wanted to be a whale trainer when I grew up. Then, I went through a stage of wanting to be a lawyer because my mom worked for law firms before finally deciding teaching was truly the place for me.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I am most definitely a morning person, the latest I can sleep in is 8:00am. But, I can’t make it past 9:00pm without falling asleep on my couch!

What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
Depends on my mood. It’s usually some type of “Buffalo” concoction (hot sauce by itself or  with ranch or bleu cheese. If I’m ordering them from fast food-it’s Wendy’s sweet and sour.

What’s the one food you could never bring yourself to eat?
Raw sushi- I liked the cooked stuff!

 

Alison Tweedie,
Buffalo Region Program Coordinator (Cheektowaga, Lancaster, West Amherst)

Alison studied Early Childhood & Childhood Education, earning dual certifications (B-2 and 1-6) and dual minors in Literacy and Theatre at Niagara University; her diverse experience influences her passion to nurture the creative minds of both the children and teachers she works with every day. Her career at Doodle Bugs! includes a variety of experience as both a Preschool and Pre-K classroom teacher and Director Assistant at our Lancaster center for six years. In her spare time, Alison loves to read, sing, and dance as well as spend quality time with her husband, son, and dog.

As a child, what did you wish to become when you grew up?
Amid brief dreams of becoming an Actress/ Singer and President of the United States I always wanted to be a teacher.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?
While I love the quiet of the morning when no one else is awake, I have always been a Night Owl.

What do you dip a chicken nugget in?
Barbecue sauce! And lots of it!

What’s the one food you could never bring yourself to eat?
Liver and onions.