Staff
Melodie Savage-Hanson, M. Ed
Owner /Executive Director
Melodie holds a Bachelor.s Degree in Special Education and Elementary Education, as well as her Master.s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Melodie also hold and maintains all the appropriate certifications for the Massachusetts Department of Education (DOE) and the newly formed Department of Early Education & Care (EEC).
Melodie began her professional career as a Public School Teacher, teaching a number of grade levels. As her family grew, she operated a family child care for 6 years. Then, it was onto to a management position at Head Start where she oversaw 40 classrooms in 10 cities and towns for another 6 years. She then began her own consulting firm. The opportunity came about in 1997 for her to become an Accreditation Specialist for National Association for the Education of Young Children , ( NAEYC) grants supported by the state of Massachusetts Department of Education.
In addition she has remained on staff at Massasoit Community College for 17 years teaching the full variety of evening education courses that are part of an Associate.s Degree in Early Childhood Education.
As an early childhood professional, Melodie brings to Shining Wonders Preschool, not only a dream come true for herself, but a willingness to share all that she knows and has experienced out in the field of early childhood. This is evident in many facets of the preschool program, from the classroom design, to the developmentally appropriate and closely monitored curriculum, to her selection of warm, diligent and knowledgeable staff, to the very informative Family Handbook and the many times she makes herself available to parents and staff for that personal connection, no matter the reason.
Miss Janice (Janice Young)
Co-Director/ Lead Teacher
Miss Janice has been at Shining Wonders since Dec 2006. At that time, we were just opening and it was the middle of the school year, so most of her tasks were related to administration. Come spring we had 3 students and Miss Janice jumped right into the role of Preschool Teacher, creating a lot of fun, hands-on activities. She continues to work in both capacities as a co-director/lead teacher team with Miss Debbie. Miss Janice comes to us with more than 6 years experience in the field of Early Childhood, an Associate Degree in Business and is currently working towards a Bachelor.s in Early Childhood Education. She is Director/Lead Teacher qualified through EEC, has 1st aid and CPR and when the children have gone home, she is often found reading about new curriculum and activity ideas for the classroom. She lives in Bridgewater with her husband and three young adult children. She loves to do crafts (needlepoint, knitting & crocheting), is an avid reader of romance novels and her favorites include: color: Red, children.s storybook character: Winnie the Pooh, TV show: Grey.s Anatomy, snack food: anything with chocolate chips, she dances to the beat of top 20 rock music and her favorite thing to do at any time of the year is to go to the beach. Here.s to a great teacher who is not afraid to get sand between her toes.
Miss Debbie (Deborah DiPerri)
Co-Director/ Lead Teacher
Miss Debbie joined us here at school on Sept 16 and we soon saw just how fun, open and down right playful she could be. Miss Debbie and Miss Janice are working together as Co-Directors/ Lead Teachers, each contributing many ideas to the classroom activities. Miss Debbie comes to us from New York state, where she lived growing up. After her marriage , she came to live here in Massachusetts. She and her husband have 2 sons who attend school in West Bridgewater. After getting her Bachelor.s Degree in Early Childhood at Curry College, she worked in a few other child care centers, including a Montessori School before joining us here. Her playful attitude adds many moments of joy to the children.s day. You will often find her dancing as if she was auditioning for a Broadway musical while encouraging you to join in. Her favorites are varied and include being with her sons, doing crafts, remote in hand she can relax in bed wearing something navy or pink watching American Idol and singing along, enjoying a childhood favorite, Mickey Mouse or the famous New England Sports Teams - Red Sox and Patriots. This is especially fun if she is having her favorite snack food: pizza.
Miss Sherri (Sherri Davis)
Teacher Assistant
Miss Sherri, Miss Sherri, a fun and familiar sound heard by all as Miss Sherri enters the classroom after doing her other job as a crossing guard for the middle school here in Easton. The children ask for her everyday before she arrives at 8:45 or so. At circle time you will often find Miss Sherri whispering gentle reminders to the children to .Let.s listen to the story. or .Come sit on your cushion. at which point put she opens her arms and invites them to join her for a .sit close time. The kindness in her voice is very comforting to the children and they hear her with their .listening. ears and soon are intent on the story once again. Miss Sherri is our Teacher Assistant. Her tasks include many of the everyday needs of young children.assisting with snack, helping a child conquer a puzzle, building a tower in the block area, helping with jackets as they prepare to go out to play, being a spotter around the outside climbing structure. Miss Sherri is qualified as a Preschool Teacher by the state.s child care licensing agency, EEC. She is originally from West Bridgewater and now lives with her husband in Taunton. She loves purple and pistachios, tuning into country music, the Red Sox and the Wheel of Fortune. She loves cats and things with a Chili Pepper theme. Here.s to a much loved addition to our staff.