I am Sharee Marymee and am thrilled to be teaching the 2 to 3-year-old toddlers in Butterfly Group. Working with pre-school age children is something that came about in the last decade. I fell in love with working with children on the spectrum through training with West Orange County Consortium for Special Education in the Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and Discrete Trial Training (DTT) programs. As a result of my training, I was able to work one on one, with 3-year-olds, to help them with a variety of techniques to learn various self-help, academic and social skills. I absolutely loved my job! At this stage in my life my five children were no longer toddlers, but tweens, teens and adults, and I realized how much I loved and missed this age group. When my husband’s work brought us to Santa Barbara County, I sadly had to leave the young children I had come to cherish and looked for similar opportunities in the Santa Ynez Valley. As soon as I came upon Zaca Center working on occasion as a substitute, I knew this was the job for me. I returned to school and took early childhood education courses to become certificated as a preschool teacher. Fortunately, I was eventually hired on and have spent the last several years living the dream! I am a mother of five, now all adults, the youngest graduating from SYHS and ready to attend UCR in the Fall. I consider my girls to be the bookends, keeping their brothers in line, setting the pace, holding the family together. Although they are the furthest apart in years, are the most similar of all of my children. My oldest daughter was married in March, and who knows, maybe I will have Wee Ones of my own soon! I’m a very proud mother and could go on and on about them, and often do. I love all children, just seeing their smiles literally makes my day! My hobbies include hiking, exploring, crafts, gardening and spending time with my immediate and extended family. I am one of ten children. Raised in a time when children came home when the streetlights came on, I was able to explore the many canyons and the coast of San Pedro. Our world is beautiful and vast. When I learned of the Outdoor Classroom Project at Zaca Center I immediately understood the concept, as I had always longed for real hands-on learning in a school setting. At Zaca Center I am able to help facilitate learning through the child’s natural desire to explore their world, and I get to enjoy it with them! |