A Little About Ms. Welch
My Education Background:
I have had the pleasure of being an early childhood teacher for almost 30 years now. After graduating from Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois, I began my career as an infant and toddler teacher in the suburbs of Chicago. A few years later, I was called to teach my first kindergarten class. I taught kindergarten for 8 years along with a few two year old preschool classes and some coaching thrown in the mix before God called me to serve in Southwest Florida as the director of a new early childhood center. In 2010, just three short years later, God called me back north to teach kindergarten again here in Grand Rapids. Shortly after arriving here, I completed my Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Cornerstone University.
In addition to my teaching duties, I currently serve as the interim director for ISJ's Early Childhood Center. I also serve on the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod's Michigan District Early Childhood Cabinet for the district. In past years, I served as a member of the Early Childhood Educators Network Leadership Team for the Lutheran Education Association (LEA) and on the steering committee for the 2016 LEA Convocation.
My Philosophy of Education:
Our Heavenly Father created each of His children in His image and for a unique purpose (Ephesians 2:10). He has equipped each child with special gifts and talents according to that purpose. My objective is to work with parents to cultivate these unique gifts and equip the child to share his or her gifts with the body of Christ to build God's Kingdom (Mark 16:15).
For this reason, I take a Christ-centered, Biblically directed approach to education (Proverbs 22:6). Structuring my classroom and program to foster your child’s spiritual, social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. This is achieved in part through a developmentally appropriate, play-based curriculum. I strive to create a loving and nurturing environment where children can feel safe to express themselves and learn at their own pace. My goal is to develop an atmosphere that encourages a love for Jesus Christ and a love for learning.
I have had the pleasure of being an early childhood teacher for almost 30 years now. After graduating from Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois, I began my career as an infant and toddler teacher in the suburbs of Chicago. A few years later, I was called to teach my first kindergarten class. I taught kindergarten for 8 years along with a few two year old preschool classes and some coaching thrown in the mix before God called me to serve in Southwest Florida as the director of a new early childhood center. In 2010, just three short years later, God called me back north to teach kindergarten again here in Grand Rapids. Shortly after arriving here, I completed my Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction at Cornerstone University.
In addition to my teaching duties, I currently serve as the interim director for ISJ's Early Childhood Center. I also serve on the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod's Michigan District Early Childhood Cabinet for the district. In past years, I served as a member of the Early Childhood Educators Network Leadership Team for the Lutheran Education Association (LEA) and on the steering committee for the 2016 LEA Convocation.
My Philosophy of Education:
Our Heavenly Father created each of His children in His image and for a unique purpose (Ephesians 2:10). He has equipped each child with special gifts and talents according to that purpose. My objective is to work with parents to cultivate these unique gifts and equip the child to share his or her gifts with the body of Christ to build God's Kingdom (Mark 16:15).
For this reason, I take a Christ-centered, Biblically directed approach to education (Proverbs 22:6). Structuring my classroom and program to foster your child’s spiritual, social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. This is achieved in part through a developmentally appropriate, play-based curriculum. I strive to create a loving and nurturing environment where children can feel safe to express themselves and learn at their own pace. My goal is to develop an atmosphere that encourages a love for Jesus Christ and a love for learning.