“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Confucius

Our Teachers

	Elaine McCarthy I began at the Children’s House Preschool as the Assistant Director in 1992, and became the Teaching Director in 1994. My educational background is a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Early Childhood Education from Salem State College, Salem Massachusetts. I completed my degree in England where I taught kindergarten and studied the British Infant Methodology system. I have been working with twelve preschool directors once a month since 1994 for professional development and collaboration of early childhood techniques and resources. I have written grants each year since 1994 for the purpose of expanding the opportunity for all children to attend a quality early childhood program. I have completed my course work for a Master’s Degree in Multicultural Education at the University of Colorado. Teaching is an honor and a passion.
	Michael Knuckey Michael Knuckey came to America from Australia in 1994 where he was completing Bachelors Degree in Hotel/Restaurant Business Management. He started working as a volunteer teacher in preschools in 1999, when his son, Alex, was 3 years old. Before starting at Children’s House, Michael had worked as a chef for 17 years and had been employed both teaching cooking, and as a private caterer. He is an accomplished artist who has had work on show in museums in Aspen and Santa Barbara . He loves to paint, and has decorated many a child’s bedroom with murals. Michael has taken classes in art, sculpture, painting, psychology and children’s literature.Ā  He is Group Leader Qualified to run a preschool room, and is currently obtaining his Director Qualifications. Michael has been with Children’s House since 2005 and works in all aspects of the school. He lends his art expertise to the class in both the projects and the decoration of the room, he uses his computer and business knowledge to run the office and administration side of the school, and draws upon his talents to work with the children as a teacher. Alex now 12 years old, works as a volunteer at Children’s House, reading to the children on mornings when he has a later start at school.
	Matuka Matuka is the eldest daughter in a family of seven. She is a Michigan native, and was born with the water in her heart and the mountains on her mind. In her community, she became a certified peer mediator, and worked toward non-violent conflict resolution. In the Oakland County Diversity Committee, she was a spokes person on the effects of economic diversity on K-12 education and socialization. In college Matuka studied sociology, multiculturalism and women’s studies. She has tutored children in reading for the past ten years, and tutored math in the Los Angeles school system. Matuka has released art and music in Detroit MI , Austin TX, Phoenix AZ and Los Angeles CA . She has traveled to 36 of the 50 U.S. states and will one day explore nations.Ā  She is currentlstudying classes in Early Childhood Education to comply with increased training standards set forth by the state, which are being required by May 2010.
	Jen Swezey Jen Swezey is 39 years old, and was born and raised in Weston, Connecticut. She attended the University of Tampa, AZ, for 2 years then transferred to the University of Colorado in 1988 where she studied studio arts and political science. She has lived in Boulder for 18years, and is the mother of 2 children; Edie 12 and Gabe 7. Jen has volunteered in both of her children’s classrooms from pre-school to the present. Before having children, Jen was a nanny for 4 years, a professional chef, a daycare provider in her home for elementary aged children. For the past 4 years, Jen has worked as a Case Manager at Imagine. There she helped children with special needs and their families, navigate the Medicaid and healthcare systems and access resources and supports in the community. Jen continues to take classes in oil and watercolor painting and Spanish. Jen loves children, painting, running, cooking, gardening, travel and reading. She is very grateful to be part of Children’s House Preschool and the children who share their gifts of wonder and joy with her.
Amy Haywood-Music Teacher Ms. Amy, singer, storyteller, writer, and mother of two in Winston-Salem, grew up in Asia and sang in bands throughout high school. She worked summers in an orphanage in Viet Nam which sparked a lifelong devotion to young children. Amy obtained a BA in education and a second BA in English Literature at Guilford College with a minor in Music. She has been teaching Musicare since 1987. In 1999, Amy and four other Musicare instructors created, Camp Oonie Koonie Cha, an early childhood music camp in Winston-Salem. Musicare and Camp OKC, nourish Amy’s profound interest in children. In addition to educating children, Amy conducted workshops for teachers through Smart Start in North Carolina, and she was a key note presenter at the South Carolina early childhood educators conference. Amy and her music partner, Claire Valine have won two Parents’ Choice Awards for children’s music recordings. They have five works. Amy resides and teaches in Boulder, Colorado. She is working on publishing “Miss Ellie”, the story from her “Rockin in the Rabbit Hole” cd”. Amy is available for, assemblies, special occasions and classroom enrichment. Email her at: missamyh@gmail.com.