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Our Teachers
CLNS Teacher/Director Bernadine (Bernie) Occhiuzzo:
(Teaching 2010-2011 4s/5s Class)
Education: Bernie received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the
University of Guahati, India in 1980 and a two year Certification course in
Education from the state of Assam, India. Bernie continued her work in early
childhood education after she moved to the United States and received a Child
Development Associate Certification from the District of Columbia in 1998.
In 2003, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from
Central Pacific University in Honolulu, Hawaii. She also has Creative Curriculum
Certification. She serves on the “Commission on Child care” for the county.
Experience: Bernie taught pre-school and kindergarten in India for fifteen years
prior to moving to the United States. Upon arriving in the District of Columbia,
Bernie substituted in a pre-school in DC for three years. From 1993-2003,
Bernie taught three and four year olds at a DC pre-school. In 2003, Bernie
became the Teacher/Director for Cedar Lane Nursery School. She is now in
her seventh year as Teacher/Director of Cedar Lane. She has led the school
through Maryland State Accreditation twice and in 2010 obtained National
Accreditation for the school.
CLNS 2010-2011 3s Teacher, Ellie Griffin:
Education: Ellie Griffin graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with
a B.A. degree in Early Childhood Education. Additionally, she attained a M.Ed.
Degree in Human Development from the University of Maryland. She also has
Creative Curriculum Certification.
Experience: Ellie has more than thirteen years experience teaching young
children. After completing her undergraduate degree, Ellie took a full-time
teaching position at Goddard Child Development Center in Greenbelt where
she taught children of Goddard employees. Ellie taught mixed-age classes of
3- and 4-year-olds and one year she also taught Kindergarteners. In addition
to teaching, Ellie was the assistant director at Goddard for six years. She left
Goddard in September 1997 when her daughter was born. Ellie spent four years
as a co-oping parent at CLNS and has substituted for Bernie in her absence.
She has taught the three-year-olds at CLNS for the past two years.
Personal: Ellie has a twelve-year-old daughter and a seven-year-old son.
Ellie enjoys attending sporting events, especially her children’s swim meets,
lacrosse and baseball games. She also enjoys reading, baking and traveling to
Pennsylvania to visit her family and to attend Penn State games.
CLNS 2010-2011 2s Teacher, Wendy Spellman:
Education: Wendy received her Bachelors degree from the University of
Maryland in 2000. She is currently completing work on her Masters degree
in Education in Guidance and Counseling at Bowie State University. Wendy
completed her 90 hour course in 1998 and her CDA in 2001. She also has
Creative Curriculum Certification.
Experience: Wendy began her teaching career by working with children through
high school and junior college (volunteering in various day care settings and
special needs programs). From 1997 through 2002, Wendy taught two year old,
three year old, four year old and kindergarten classes. She elected to put her
career on hold following the birth of her son. She has taught the two-year-olds at
CLNS for the past two years.
Personal: Wendy lives in Silver Spring with her husband and two children. Her son attended CLNS for three years. Her daughter is finishing her third year at CLNS in 2010-2011.
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