Westbrook, Maine

Donna Cote

Education/Experience:
Thornton Academy Graduate, Biddeford Vocational Center for Early Childhood
2009 CDA child care Experience- 30 years

Current age group/classroom:
18 months to 24 months

Years of Seniority at Toddle Inn:
Since 2008

Why did you choose a career in ECE?
I’ve always been around a big family, my mom used to have a lot of foster children in our home,
I also have 3 brothers, 2 step brothers, 1 half brother, and a twin sister.

What are your must have children’s books in your classroom?
Pete the Cat books
Goodnight Gorilla
Gossie
Pouch
The Giving Tree
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
Llama Llama books

What is your favorite age group to teach and why?
18 months to 24 months- I love how they absorb everything. They love to repeat, listening to
them sing their ABC’s, count, say my name over and over again

What is the best learning moment you have witnessed in your classroom?
When I see some children do there own circle time

Funniest quote from a child in your classroom?
“Ewwwwww Donn-a”

Outside of teaching what is your personal passion and/or hidden talent?
Collecting hummingbirds, walking the beach, riding bicycles, snowshoeing, and quilting

What have you enjoyed most during your time working at Toddle Inn?
Creating bonds with the children, families, and other staff.

Ashley Shevenell

Education/Experience:
B.A. in history; over 200 hours of ECE trainings; CDA (preschool)

Current Age Group/Classroom:
Preschool (3-4 years old)

Years of Seniority at Toddle Inn:
I’ve been working in education for 10 years, and at Toddle Inn for 7 years

Why did you choose a career in Early Childhood Education?
I’ve always wanted to be a teacher and I have fallen in love with this career

What are your must have children’s books in your classroom?
Pigeon books, Pete the Cat, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Dr Suess

What is your favorite age group to teach and why?
3 and 4 year olds, because they’ve learned so much and they are still so open-minded and
Enthusiastic

What is the best learning moment you’ve witnessed in your classroom?
Seeing the children show empathy for others

What is a valuable lesson you have learned in your teaching career?
To breathe and live in the moment

Funniest quote from a child in your classroom?
“I’m the screw-driving man?”

Outside of teaching what is your personal passion and/or hidden talent?
Singing

What have you enjoyed most during your time working at Toddle Inn?
Getting to know and enjoy the children, and forming teacher friendships.

Krystina T.

Education/Experience:
Child Development Associate / 3 years ECE

Current Age Group/Classroom:
Older Toddlers

Years of Seniority at Toddle Inn: Since 2017

Why did you choose a career in Early Childhood Education?
I love the moment when I teach my personal children something new and I can see them making connections. Their faces light up with happiness. I wanted to share that moment with other children because it is so special.

What are your must have children’s books in your classroom?

• Safe in a Storm
• Giraffes Can’t Dance

What is your favorite age group to teach and why?
I love working with 2 year olds and aiding their transition to relying more on their words as a mode of communication. I also love watching toddlers as they discover new things with a heightened level of concentration.

What is the best learning moment you’ve witnessed in your classroom?
I brought dirt and worms into my classroom as science/sensory exploration. One child in particular was so engaged in the activity that he continued to watch the worms and ask questions well after the rest of the class had lost interest.

What is a valuable lesson you have learned in your teaching career?
I have learned to go slow and observe everything happening in the classroom because that helps me understand what is important in the minds of the children, and what is not.

Funniest quote from a child in your classroom?
I asked a child if they wanted to play with sand and water in the sensory table and she said, “Oh no! That’s too messy for me.”

Outside of teaching what is your personal passion and/or hidden talent?
I play a couple of instruments, so I love introducing my children to the world of music.

What have you enjoyed most during your time working at Toddle Inn?
I love all the connections I have made with families. I enjoy seeing children excited to arrive at school and start the day or when I see a family outside of school and my students are happy to see me.