Sycamore School
Jennifer Williams, Sycamore's longtime Kindergarten teacher, was named the head of Early Childhood earlier this year, replacing Francine Clayton. We caught up with Jennifer this summer to aske her a few questions as we head into the new school year. She talks about student-first teaching, what she will miss, and what she is excited about.
First, let's talk about how your background as a longtime kindergarten teacher at Sycamore may impact your decision-making and planning?
First and foremost, I believe that the students always come first. Thinking about what is best for the children should be at the foundation of everything we do. This was my philosophy when I was in the classroom and it will continue through my role as Division Head.
What do you see as the strengths of the Early Childhood division?
We are a unique division within a unique school. We strive to combine the best practices of both Early Childhood and Gifted education. There are only a handful of schools around the country who even attempt this mission. There are some schools that only focus on young gifted children and do not serve children over the age of six. Other schools with a mission to serve gifted children often do not offer programs younger than kindergarten. At Sycamore we have the benefit of being able to deliver a top-notch gifted program that is developmentally appropriate and capitalizes on what is best about early childhood learning. At the same time we are a part of a broader, intentional school-wide curriculum. Our youngest students have access to educators in specialized fields such as Spanish, music, art, physical education, and technology. Most early childhood educators can only dream of this.
What do you think you will miss about the classroom and day-to-day teaching?
I am sure there will be many things that I will miss about being in the classroom every day - brainstorming about numbers with my math students, watching an emergent reader become fluent and confident, hearing the cheers when I told my class we were going to spend the whole morning in the science lab doing experiments, not to mention reading to them during rest time.... but then again, who says a guest reader can't come back to kindergarten once in awhile...
So, what are a couple of your first-year Head of EC goals?
To make all Sycamore families feel welcome. I want to reinforce their decision to send their children to us and let them know that they have chosen the best educational experience for their young learners. I also want to be as active as I can within the Early Childhood classes, learn about their day-to-day happenings and even go on some field trips!
Jennifer Williams is the Head of Early Childhood at Sycamore. She earned her BA.A and Kindergarten Endorsement from Ball State University, Gifted and Talented Endorsement from Indiana University, and taught kindergarten in Plainfield Community Schools before coming to teach kindergarten at Sycamore in 1993. In addition to teaching at Sycamore, Jennifer has been an active participant in curriculum development as well as the early childhood admissions and screening processes for many years. She is married and has two children who attend Sycamore.