Hi, I’m Katheryn Miller, formerly, Kate Longacre. I’m an Early Childhood professional, and the founder and director of Champion’s Choice preschool.
I earned my AAS degree in Early Childhood Education in May of 2012 and a Para-professional Educator’s Certificate in 1999. I’m also a graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature and I hold an Associate of Arts Degree with an emphasis in Journalism and English. With that I have two years experience in publishing and editing a community magazine, which has nothing to do with taking good care of kids, but explains my ability to write children’s stories, develop curriculum and research topics of interest to the families.
I’ve been around kids and have loved working with kids my whole life. Way back when my kids were about three and four-years-old, (I have two daughters that are now in their early 40’s), they were dancing and twirling in the kitchen and I thought,
“I can’t imagine my life without being surrounded by kids.”
I’m a people person and motivated to see others reach their full potential whether they are kids or adults. But what keeps me going and really motivates me as a childhood professional is knowing the benefits of preschool will last a lifetime.
Besides, I just want to give kids the best start in life, and I know the families who invest in preschool will have no regrets.
This is why I want to help train and educate your children, and give you some tips as well to understand the needs of your child and how to meet those needs in age appropriate ways with fewer tears and frustrations. Not that there won’t be challenges and challenging behaviors to address, but together, we can create a warm, safe and fun environment that fosters a lifetime of love for learning.
Now, when I’m not at the preschool, I love to be creative and make all kinds of things, like dolls and old fashioned dresses to wear at Rendezvous. I also like to crochet, knit, bead and weave. But, my secret passion is dancing and ice skating, along with horse back riding. I learned to square dance when I was 16, and really enjoyed it. I also like country two-step, waltz, ballroom dancing, and swing. There aren’t many places around here to go dancing, but if you were a fly on the wall, you might catch me singing, dancing and twirling to music by myself at my place. (You know, the kind of thing you do when no one is watching.)
So, back to the kids. I have a lot of experience working with kids and teaching. I’ve taught in both public and private schools. In addition to teaching Sunday School for over 30 years, I’ve also assisted in head start classes and several other preschool settings.
While raising my two girls, I worked as a volunteer in the schools they attended. Part of the time I homeschooled and my girls will tell you they never got away with anything, even so, they are thankful and glad I was their mom. I love my girls and wouldn’t trade them for the world. They are beautiful women, despite the mistakes I made along the way, and I made plenty. I wish I had known then what I know now.
After all, there are no do-overs, no rewind buttons. You get one chance at it, and none of us wants to mess it up.
The Rest of the Staff:
We do not have an assistant teacher at this time, but from time to time we have a parent volunteer. As our enrollment increases, we increase with it. We are interested in having qualified substitutes. Contact the school if you are interested in applying.
We have a board of directors that oversees policy. Board meetings are held every quarter, September, December, March and June. Contact the director if you are interested in attending a board meeting for the exact date. All Board positions are currently filled. If you are interested in serving on the Board in the future, you may pick up an application at the school office. All applicants are screened and interviewed before being placed on the ballot.
Current Board Members are: Kerry Hubbard, Olivia Lanphar, Naomi Resh, Kate Longacre, and Courtney Hubbard.
Click here to see a copy of the Board member requirements and responsibilities