Maryellen Waters
Director / Owner
Sugar Plum Tree Preschool, Inc.
|
"The [IDC] program has given me an opportunity to review what I
have done with my life in this field. My mentor [Professional Growth Advisor]
was helpful and encouraging . . ."
|
Maryellen was awarded the Level II Illinois Director Credential in November
2002. She has been the Director / Owner of Sugar Plum Tree Preschool, Inc. for
26 years.
It was out of necessity that Maryellen first entered the early childhood field.
After trying to find a preschool program for her youngest son to attend and
learning that either she was in the wrong park district or all of the programs
were full, she began to take neighborhood children in to her home to play.
After petitioning her park district board, she was granted the chance to begin
a pilot preschool program in February 1969 with 30 children. That program grew
to three locations and 250 students. She left in 1976 for a new location and
has been at Sugar Plum Tree Preschool, Inc. ever since.
Maryellen continued her professional development when National Louis University
started an Early Childhood Masters Degree. After five years of enrolling in
night classes, she completed her degree. She also began to pursue NAEYC
accreditation and has been accredited since June 1989. Wanting to help others
achieve this goal, Maryellen also decided to become a NAEYC accreditation
validator.
Among her goals is to be the best director that she can be and to be there for
the children, their parents and her own staff. She continues to grow
professionally by attending workshops and seminars and also shares the
knowledge she has acquired with others. As Maryellen writes, "I am a continual
learner and I would take classes all the time if I could because there is so
much I want to learn about . . ."
When asked about receiving the Illinois Director Credential, Maryellen reflects
that the program has given her the opportunity to review what she has done in
the field. It is a goal she wanted to achieve because it validates the
contributions she has made to the Early Childhood field and because she strives
to be an example for younger teachers to show them another way of being
recognized for their efforts to make children's lives better.
Maryellen's family is very proud of her accomplishments. She and her husband
Jerry have three children. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, sports and
going to the heath club.
|