Early Education Center
4 Year Olds Pre-Kindergarten
Mrs. Von Minden
Phone: (302)479-2600
Degrees and Certifications
-
Teaching has been my passion since high school (we don’t need to discuss the year :-) .I love watching my students explore the world around them and being part of their victories! This is my 21st year teaching and my 5th year at BSD!
Favorite Food: Party Mix
Favorite Color(s): Light blue
Favorite Season: Fall
Favorite Quote: “Be yourself, everyone else is taken.” - Oscar Wilde
Ms. Powers
Email: melissa.powers@bsd.k12.de.us
Phone: (302)479-2600
Degrees and Certifications
-
This is my 2nd year as a teaching in BSD and my 5th year teaching Early Childhood in DE. I love being a teacher because I love to spread joy and excitement while making a difference in the lives of our students.
Favorite Food: Pizza
Favorite Color(s): Pink
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Quote: “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” -Benjamin Franklin
Mrs. Chrissy
Email: christina.shaw@bsd.k12.de.us
Phone: (302)761-7420
Degrees and Certifications
-
Hello! I am Mrs. Chrissy. I have been a preschool teacher for 7 years. I love being a teacher because I enjoy making connections with my students and their families. I love watching them grow and progress throughout the year. Teaching is such a passion of mine and I love supporting my students and meeting their individual needs.
Favorite Food: Mexican
Favorite Color(s): Pink and Gray
Favorite Season: Spring
Favorite Quote: “If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn.” -Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Estrada. “Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.” -Bob Talbert.
Ms. Roper
Email: laura.a.roper@bsd.k12.de.us
Phone: (302)479-2600
Degrees and Certifications
-
Hello! My name is Laura Roper. I am starting my 31st year as a Teacher in BSD and my 25th year at Bush EEC! I love being a teacher because I love to see the wonder on a child’s face when he or she develops a new skill. I also love all the family connections I have made over the years.
Favorite Food: Italian / Cheez-Its
Favorite Color(s): Green
Favorite Season: Fall
Favorite Quote: "Don’t cry because it is over. Smile because it happened!" -Dr. Suess
Ms. Patnaude
Phone: (302)792-3920
Degrees and Certifications
University of Delaware B.A. -Early Childhood Education
Hello, My name is Ms. Patnaude! This year is my 10th year teaching but my first year teaching preschool. I love being a teacher because I love working with young children and seeing them grow!
Favorite Food: Pepperoni Pizza
Favorite Color(s): Pink
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Quote: “Step with great care and great tact and remember that life is a great balancing act” -Dr. Suess
Ms. Judi
Email: judith.lennon@bsd.k12.de.us
Phone: (302)479-2600
Degrees and Certifications
University of Delaware B.A. - Early Childhood/Early Childhood Special Education, Elementary Education/Special Education
Wilmington University - Masters in Special Education
Hello! I am Ms. Judi. This is my 22nd year of teaching. I have loved teaching my whole life. The best part of being a teacher is the relationship you build with each student and family. One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching is watching children grow and make a difference in their lives. I have had the honor to watch many children and share in their educational journey from K-12. Seeing them graduate each year has been so magical.
Favorite Food: Pizza and Italian food
Favorite Color(s): Blue
Favorite Season: Fall
Favorite Quote: “The best way to teach a child is to let them learn by doing.” - Maria Montessori
Ms. Smith
Email: nitasha.smith@bsd.k12.de.us
Phone: (302)479-2600
Degrees and Certifications
University of Delaware BS - Early Childhood Education and Special Education
Wilmington University M. Ed - School Leadership
Hi! Welcome to preschool! My name is Nitasha Smith. This is my 14th year teaching and my 7th year teaching preschool. I love teaching and watching my students grow throughout the school year! Creating a classroom family is so important to me and I love watching our students build supportive, strong and loving relationships with each other. I value the relationships we build with families and truly appreciate you sharing and trusting us with your child each day!
Favorite Food: Grilled cheese and tomato soup!
Favorite Color(s): Yellow
Favorite Season: Summer and Fall
Favorite Quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” -Maya Angelou. “Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning- but for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” -Mr. Fred Rogers
Ms. Connell
Email: ashley.connell@bsd.k12.de.us
Phone: (302)792-3920
Degrees and Certifications
University of Delaware BA- Human Services, Education and Public Policy
Wilmington University M. ED- Instructional
Hello! My name is Ashley Connell. I have been teaching for 16 years, for the past 6 years I have been an early childhood educator. My favorite things about teaching are being able to spend my days with students, encouraging them to try new things, and seeing the look of accomplishment on their faces when they master a skill they have been working on.
Favorite Food: Donuts
Favorite Color(s): Purple
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Quote: "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world". -Nelson Mandela
Ms. Lewis
Email: ahren.lewis@bsd.k12.de.us
Phone: (302)479-2600
Degrees and Certifications
-
Hey, my name is Ahren Lewis. This is my 11th year teaching and my 1st year in BSD. I was previously a special education preschool teacher in Christina School District. I am so excited to have the opportunity to intertwine the creativity of Art, the coordinated chaos of Gross Motor, the concentration of Fine Motor, the messiness of Sensory Exploration and the delightful melodies of Music into one space. I love watching children develop new skills and work hard each day to accomplish their goals despite their abilities/disabilities. I love coming up with creative ways to adapt and differentiate learning for each individual child.
Favorite Food: Peanut Butter with banana and roasted brussel sprouts
Favorite Color(s): Orange
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Quote: "Whoever says sunshine is happiness has never danced in the rain".
Mrs. Paige
Email: paige.bennett@bsd.k12.de.us
Phone: (302)761-7420
Degrees and Certifications
-
Hello! I am Mrs. Paige. I have been a preschool teacher for 8 years. I love being a pre-k teacher because I love to see the light in students eyes when they make connections and learn new skills. I also enjoy making friendships with families that last for years!
Favorite Food: Mexican
Favorite Color(s): Yellow
Favorite Season: Summer
Favorite Quote: “Never stop learning because life never stops teaching.” “Educating the mind without educating the heart is like no education at all.”