 | CLC Curriculum Preschool Program The preschool curriculum provides the children with various learning activities in clearly defined areas throughout the classroom. Each area combines play with learning. For example, when the children play with blocks they are having fun at the same time that they are learning about sizes and shapes, spatial relationships, math concepts, and problem solving. Other areas in the classroom include dramatic play, table toys, art, texture table, reading, music and movement, woodworking, and cooking. The CLC teaching team integrates learning concepts with play so the children learn in developmentally appropriate ways in a safe, secure, and fun environment.
Often, a more specific project will take place in one of the permanent play areas, or an area may be transformed for a particular learning experience. One week the dramatic play area may become a rain forest complete with forest canopy and understory with snakes, poison tree frogs, and armadillos (plastic, of course!). The next week, it may be a medical office, post office, or restaurant serving luscious pizza (plastic, of course!). The work tables in the center of the classroom provide an area for projects like painting, cutting out gingerbread cookies, or planting seeds.
The preschool children often take field trips to museums, farms, and other interesting sites in the area. Regularly scheduled activities may include swim lessons at the YMCA, free skating at the St. Paul's School rink, and music and movement classes. The St. Paul's grounds and surrounding area provide an outdoor classroom for environmental learning and appreciation of nature. |
MEET THE PRESCHOOL TEACHING TEAM  Gail GettensDirector, Children's Learning Center (603) 229-5576 Gail was hired by St. Paul's School in July 1991 to coordinate the start-up of the Children's Learning Center. Since then, she has designed and overseen two expansions: in 1995 the center added space for a school-age program, and in 2000 an addition provided increased capacity for infant and toddler care.
Gail holds a master of science degree in early childhood education and child development from Wheelock College and earned her bachelor of arts degree in 1985 from Dartmouth College. While at Dartmouth, she received an academic citation for her independent research on parent-child communication in the child care center setting. She was also awarded an early childhood education studies certificate. Gail completed her student teaching practicum at the Dartmouth College Child Care Center and was an intern in the Upper Valley Child Care Resource and Referral Office.
Gail is a lifelong learner and a major participant in the early childhood education field. She is a member of the New Hampshire Infant/Toddler Task Force. As a member of the Early Childhood Senior Mentor Corp, Gail provides support and assistance to directors and programs throughout the state. She is past president of NHAEYC, the New Hampshire affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. In 1999 Gail received a human resources management certificate from the UNH Division of Continuing Education, and in 1992 Gail participated in the first Child Care Design Institute, a week-long seminar sponsored by the Harvard Graduate School of Design and Tufts University. Gail lectures frequently at colleges and universities throughout New England on early childhood education, child development, program administration, and facility design.
In 1998 NHAEYC awarded Gail the Administrator Award in recognition of her outstanding center managerial skills and her contribution to early care and education in the state through her leadership and community involvement.
In 2003, as a member of the NH Infant/Toddler Task Force, Gail was a recipient of the Mary Stuart Gile Award. The mission of the Task Force is to improve the quality and capacity of infant and toddler care for all families in New Hampshire.
Before coming to St. Paul's School, Gail taught at the Wang Laboratories Child Care Center and was the director and head teacher of the Children’s Meetinghouse, Inc., the child care center on the campus of Middlesex School in Concord, Mass. She was project manager for SAU #24’s (Henniker, Hopkinton, Weare) federally-funded Chapter 1 programs, including the Early Childhood Home Visiting Program.
Gail is a teaching director. She is an active member of the Children's Learning Center's teaching team, teaching in the classrooms a minimum of 10 hours each week.
Gail has state credentials in the following categories/levels: Director, level 4; Faculty, Trainer, Mentor, level 3.
Gail lives in Concord with her husband, John, and their three daughters. |
 Carol J. MontambeaultPreschool Head Teacher (603) 229-5572
Carol Montambeault joined the Children's Learning Center teaching team in November 2004 as the preschool head teacher. Before coming to the CLC, Carol was the preschool head teacher and site director at the Head Start program of Franklin and Tilton for seven years. Carol has also worked for the US Department of Defense for two years as a pre-school teacher at the US Army Child Development Center in Schweinfurt, Germany. There she collaborated with many of the local Kindergartens through a German-American exchange program.
Carol has a bachelor of science degree in early childhood education from the University of New Hampshire’s College for Life Long Learning. Carol is also a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. She has facilitated many successful parent and staff workshops with the Head Start agencies and is a frequent guest speaker in early childhood education classes at NH Technical Institute in Laconia.
Carol has state credentials in the following categories/levels: Lead Teacher, level 4; Director, level 3; Trainer, Mentor, Faculty, level 2.
Carol lives in Tilton with her husband, Ramon. She has a son, Joshua, and a daughter-in-law, Amanda. |
 Judy GreenPreschool Teacher (603) 229-5572 Prior to joining the Children's Learning Center's teaching team, Judy was the lead preschool teacher at Crayon College, the preschool program at White Birch Community Center in Henniker for two years and at the Hopkinton Community Center's preschool program for 15 years.
While at Hopkinton, Judy collaborated with the Hopkinton School District on the conception, development, and implementation of an inclusive special needs preschool program.
Judy holds an associate's degree in early childhood education from New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord and is pursuing N.H. Early Childhood Professional Development System credentials at Lead Teacher: level 3.
Judy is the mother of two grown daughters. She lives in Hopkinton. |
 Jane OwenPreschool Classroom Assistant (603) 229-5572 Prior to joining the Children's Learning Center teaching team in August 2007, Jane was a speech and language pathology assistant at Andover Elementary/Middle School for four years.
Jane also worked at Concord's St. John's Regional School for thirteen years in many capacities - volunteer, classroom aide, substitute teacher, and school librarian. During her tenure as school librarian from 1995 to 2001, Jane was the recipient of the 1998 Elizabeth Yates Award, which honors individuals who are strong advocates of reading and children's literature, and who have supported library programs in the Concord community. Jane has also been a preschool teacher at Pine Valley Preschool in Manchester.
Jane received an RN diploma from Boston City Hospital School of Nursing. She has worked as a surgical intensive care nurse and a pediatric nurse. She has also completed the Speech/Language Assistant Training Program at Granite State College. |
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