Director – Eileen Twiddy joined the Bright Start team on March 1, 2008. She has a BA in Elementary Education, a MSED in Education and a Child Development Associate Credential. She has over 25 years experiences in Early Childhood Education. For the past 20 years Eileen worked as Director of a Head Start program in upstate New York. She has also done adult education through Empire state college and The State University of New York. She is CPR and First Aid Certified.
Head Teacher -- Collette Desjardins comes to us with experience as an Educational Technician specializing in behavioral issues and children with special needs. While studying Special Education/Early Childhood Education, Collette worked as an In-Service Coordinator in the Windsor Elementary School, Windsor, Maine. Collette has also worked as a respite clerk and teacher assistant in a child care center and CDS (Child Development Services) located in Augusta, Maine. While there she was responsible for developing care plans for children with special needs, and assisting teachers, therapists, and parents with implementing those care plans. Collette is a Level 4 Direct Care Provider on the Maine Roads to Quality Registry. She is CPR and First Aid Certified.
Louise Keane came to us in August 2005 as an Educational Technician. She has been enrolled at KVCC (Kennebec Valley Community College) majoring in Special Education/Early childhood Education, specializing in Autism. She worked at the Windsor Elementary School for 8 years. Louise was also a substitute teacher for all of School Union 133. Louise is a Level 3 Direct Care Provider on the Maine Roads to Quality Registry. She is CPR and First Aid Certified.
Evelyn Lee joined our teaching team in February of 2007. She comes to us from Singapore, having moved to Bowdoinham in June of 2006. She has been trained in early childhood education in Singapore and in Australia. She worked in child care centers for 16 years in Singapore. Eve is a Level 7 Direct Care Provider on the Maine Roads to Quality Registry. She is CPR and First Aid Certified.
Rebekah Ackerman-Cross is the newest member of our teaching team. Rebekah started in Sept. 2008. She has a BA degree in Art and experience working with young children as a volunteer in a pre-K classroom as well as having two children of her own. Rebekah adds a wealth of knowledge about creative arts and is working with our Butterfly/K-ready group. She is First Aid and CPR Certified.
Stephanie Harris joined the staff in May 2008 as a one-on-one aide and assistant teacher. She is now working with the older group of Butterflies/K-ready children. She has experience in early childhood in Washington State and has worked with various schools here as an aide and a sub. Stephanie's background has been in language and literacy. Stephanie is First Aid and CPR certified.
VOLUNTEERS
Shirley Reese volunteered her time in 2000-2004 to Bright Start to develop and teach our K-Ready program and in 2004-2005 as Bright Start Director. Shirley is a “retired” elementary school teacher. She has a Master’s Degree in Education with a concentration in reading. Her experience in the classroom is in early elementary education. She has taught grades 1-3 in both traditional and non-traditional settings. She moved to Maine in 1999 with her husband Dick.
Vida Mitchell comes in once a week to read to our children all of the books she has come to love in her 20 years of teaching experience. She also was a substitute teacher for 6 years, and has 5 grandchildren.
Judy Diemer comes to us twice a week from the Independence Association. She helps with snack, does baking and helps out with other chores that need to be done.
Krista Bishop comes in to read to our children once a week. The Success by Six program offered to provide a reader, and we were fortunate enough to have Krista assigned to us.
