Brady, Char

Joined St. Anne's in: 2008

Degrees & Certifications: I am Colorado State Early Childhood Director Certified and have an Early Childhood Education, A.A.S. Degree

Years in education: 20

Favorite thing about St. Anne's: There are so many things that are my favorite thing about St. Anne’s. From the first moment I walked onto campus, the magic took my breath away, and continues to do so to this day. I feel very honored and blessed to work in a community of support with doing what’s best for each child. St. Anne's is a strong community. I am in awe of the fact that my passion for teaching preschool is not only supported, but encouraged as well. The reason I teach, to value, honor, respect and encourage each child, is what St. Anne's is all about.

Why did you choose to teach? I believe that each child is a unique individual and that uniqueness should be valued, honored, respected and encouraged. Children should be given the opportunity to reach their full potential. I believe that a child’s early experience is the foundation for adult potential, that parents are key to a child’s unique development and that play is essential in the learning process. My fundamental educational philosophy is that learning should be curiosity driven, active, enjoyable and emphasize student self-expression. The guiding principle in my teaching encompasses the idea that teachers should seek to empower students with the necessary skills needed to take control of their own learning. More important than what is actually learned are the skills needed to acquire that knowledge. Young children learn best when they are allowed to actively explore their environment, using materials in a hands-on fashion to learn specific concepts and building on their natural curiosity and having the appropriate materials for them to accomplish these goals in a nurturing atmosphere, where they feel secure, valued, capable and important. I believe that children thrive in an atmosphere of trust, where they are provided with support, in a safe and gentle environment. I believe that a child’s self-esteem and ability to learn are interdependent. That is, children succeed when they have a strong sense of self; therefore I believe it is important to foster a sense of competency and independence in all aspects of the child’s being. Children are our future and deserve our very best efforts in maximizing all aspects of their growth physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively. I believe from the time of birth, all children are ready to learn. Encouraging that eagerness is my passion in life. The task is challenging, but very rewarding. By providing a child early in his/her life a nurturing environment to grow and explore, I can help strengthen the foundation of learning that will endure a lifetime.

Hobbies or interests outside of school: Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our 4 daughters, and 6 grandchildren. When I’m not spending time with our girls and our grandchildren, I enjoy reading, gardening, and hiking. Through the varied interests of our daughters I’m consistently presented with new opportunities to expand my world while continuing to learn, grow and be inspired.

Stuck on an island, what book do you bring with you?/Favorite book: This is Water by David Foster Wallace. Every time I re-read this book, I journey down the road of purpose, what I do, how I do it and more importantly why I do it.