By: Elise Weller, Director of Childcare Services
Early Childhood programs are about providing foundations for our children, then growing, building, and supporting them as they develop. We first met Tyeesha when she enrolled her daughter in our infant program at Redfield in 2016. We saw this young woman was filled with compassion, dedication, and an innate understanding of child development. We asked her to join our Agency as an Assistant Teacher. Her child is now a third-grader, and Tyeesha has found her passion in early childhood education. She has continued her professional development over the years and achieved her Teacher Certification for Infants Toddlers and Preschool, then her Lead Teacher Certification, along with Director Level 1 and 2. She is currently finishing her degree in Early Childhood. Her dedication to Early Childhood is inspirational.
When you enter her classroom, you’ll find imaginations growing, experiences and opportunities a plenty. Tyeesha’s welcoming smile will greet you. Her voice can be heard full of encouragement, enthusiasm, and emotion. You’ll find her moving about the classroom, acknowledging the accomplishments of each, supporting those who need some comforting words, responding to questions with questions to spark imaginations, and using play to build relationships. Look around more, and you will find children engrossed in a variety of activities, eyes locked on Ms. Tyeesha as she flips pages in a book and leads them on an adventure. She keeps them moving, dancing, playing, and involved to maximize their learning, shaking and moving with the music, playing along in their makeshift band, creating their own tune with instruments they built together. All these students are growing under the curriculum, love, enthusiasm, and guidance provided by Ms. Tyeesha. Just wait until Dr. Suess week… Oh, The Places You’ll Go! One of her favorite times to be creative!
Tyeesha does not limit her role within the four walls of her classroom. She enjoys connecting with caregivers to celebrate the accomplishments of their children. She makes phone calls, sends emails, writes daily take-home sheets, creates take away packets for family engagement, sets up monthly family activities, and always thanks families for sharing their children with her! During the past year, COVID found many families and children unable to leave their homes. Tyeesha sent curriculum, created Zoom Classrooms, delivered packets, and kept in touch with her families.
Tyeesha LOVES being a mom and celebrates her life with her family outside of work. She states: Smile because life is too short to be unhappy.
We celebrate Tyeesha! Leadership, passion, empathy, guidance, and vision speak volumes yet are shallow when used to describe this women’s dedication to the children and families of the 18 Degrees community. We thank her for all she has shared with us and continues to provide as she helps shape the future!