Teresa L. Ashford, M.S.– Owner, Director, &
Head Teacher -
I am a native
Oregonian; my childhood was spent growing up in Bend. After spending time living in Corvallis
and Portland, I am excited to have returned to Bend to open a progressive
preschool. I have been teaching (and learning from) children and adults for the
past 13 years.
In addition to having a Masters degree in Human Development and Family Sciences, I have
spent over nine years working with children and families; in a Montessori
setting, in a laboratory school setting at Oregon State University’s (OSU) Child
Development Center (CDC), as a Parent and Family Educator, as a trainer to
in-home family child care providers, and as the lead teacher at a
parent-cooperative preschool. Over
the past six years, I have also made multiple presentations at early childhood
conferences throughout Washington on topics related to curriculum and
communication with preschoolers. I am currently teaching continuing education workshops for child care providers in Central Oregon through NeighborImpact's Child Care Resources. Topics have included kindergarten readiness, communication with children and families, and the importance of "process over product."
In
addition to my direct work with children and families, I have spent the
previous six years as an instructor at Washington State University Vancouver
teaching for their Human Development and Education departments. I have taught
classes such as: infant and child development, advanced adolescent development,
seminar in early childhood education, families in poverty, and child abuse and
neglect. In addition, I teach a class on-line through WSU’s Online Degree Program.
I
strive to make it a personal mission to foster awareness and respect for the
environment in the children and families who attend Aspen Academy. A favorite activity of many children is
“junk art.” Junk art consists of the types of materials one would put out for
recycling and multi-colored masking tape. Children construct elaborate
creations with wrapping paper tubes, empty yogurt tubs, cardboard, and anything
else one can think of. While working on fine motor, cognitive, and social skills,
children are learning the values of reducing, reusing, and recycling.
Another
example stems from hand-washing time. Children often want to take upwards of 10
paper towels to dry their hands! At the beginning of the school year we have a
circle time that focuses on how to wash one’s hands, but we also spend time
discussing how paper towels are made from trees. It is always rewarding to see
children in the bathroom reminding their friends, “Hey! Only take one or two
towels! They are made from trees!”
In
addition to feeling passionately about conservation, I also strongly adhere to
an anti-bias multicultural curriculum approach. For example, children learn
that men and women can both be firefighters
(rather than just firemen), through our use of language awareness in the
classroom. Children can look around at the classroom décor and see not only
themselves and their families, but a multitude of people representing diverse
abilities, ethnicities, races, genders, and family types.
Aside
from my work with children and families, I do manage to have a life outside of
the preschool setting! I strive to spend most of my free time outdoors engaging in
activities like gardening, bike riding, camping, hiking, and photography.
Aspen Academy is
my vision of a school community where all children and families feel included,
connected, and celebrated. I am looking forward to a wonderful school year with your family!
Kathy Gebauer, B.S. - Assistant eacher
I’ve worked in the field of early childhood education as a teacher for the LA Unified School District Child Care Centers, in a Parent Co-op, and with 4-and-5-year-olds in a federally funded program for children who were Native American. In Wisconsin, I was the Program Coordinator in a center for children birth to three-years-old with developmental disabilities; we offered classroom and home training services.
Most recently I have been the director of an NAEYC accredited preschool program in Camarillo, CA, serving 150-200 children. My bachelor’s degree is in Child Development from California State University, Los Angeles. My husband and I relocated to Bend to be near our family, especially our grandchildren, Jaedyn (2 ½ years) and Grant (9 months). My favorite pastimes include hiking, mountain biking, and sewing.
Penni Kravitz, M.A.T. - Assistant Teacher
I am a native Californian, growing up in Newport Beach. I
have also resided in the Bay Area and Princeton, New Jersey, but I am happy to
call Oregon home for the past 17 years. All of these opportunities to experience
the diverse parts of the US were due to corporate moves with my husband’s career.
I have worked as an educator for many years with a wide
range of age groups.For eight years I enjoyed
partnering with families as an Early Childhood Educator, where I worked with
infants through Pre-Kindergarteners in both private and corporate child
development centers. Also, I have taught
kindergarten and second and fourth grades as a public Elementary Educator.
In addition to having a Master
of Arts in Teaching and a Bachelor of Arts in Art, I have an Oregon Teaching
License.
My interests and passions beyond
education are hiking, painting (watercolors and acrylics), sailing, fly-fishing,
and being a grandma to 2-year-old Nora.
Peggy Ashford, B.S.
- Volunteer -
I’m a third generation Oregonian living in Central Oregon
for the last 35 years. I live with my
husband of 40 years and have two grown daughters who live in Bend as well. I have a Bachelors of Science in Child
Development/Family Life from Oregon State University (OSU). In the past, I have worked with Department of
Children Services, providing Early Childhood Development workshops to
caseworkers in the Willamette Valley. I
was also employed with a Certified Public Accounting firm in Hood River, to
document and evaluate child care programs in Central Oregon.
Living in Central Oregon, I have volunteered with numerous
youth development programs, which include but are not limited to 4-H and J Bar J
Youth Services. I have served twelve
years on the Pacific Northwest 4-H Horse Management team, which oversees program
curriculum and publications. In addition,
I have worked with 4-Hers in horse project areas, and youth leadership at the
local and state level for the last 27 years.
I served on the J Bar J Youth services board for six years, three of
which I was Board Chair.
Central Oregon brings many opportunities for fishing,
hiking, golfing and my newest adventure, kayaking. At home on the farm, I’m busy caretaking my
three horses, two dogs, one cat, and of course, I have 4 chickens and 1
rooster. In the fall, our family can be
found enjoying OSU football games. I can
proudly say I have either ridden or hiked most of the trails in the Central
Cascades.
I have always and will continue to have a passion for
children, teaching them through practical learning to become self-directing,
contributing members of their local and global communities.
