William WardLove of Learning
About the Director/Owner
Carolyn Waller
I feel teaching is a unique profession where teachers are continuously discovering, incorporating and applying new skills and knowledge. I find teaching very satisfying and challenging. I bring the love of learning and the love of teaching to my students, teachers, and clients every day. I've been working with children for 18 years and I love it just as much today as I did 18 years ago.
- I graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.
- I attended the University of Hawaii where I accumulated 9 Graduate Hours towards a Masters in Educational Administration.
My first teaching experience was right out of college at Chisholm Elementary in Edmond, Oklahoma from 1991 - 1994. I taught second grade in a wonderful open school, team teaching concept.
*Rookie of the Year 1991
Next, I taught at Charles Ellis Public Montessori Academy in Savannah Georgia from 1994 - 1997. This is where I received my Lower Elementary Montessori Training and Certification. I taught a multi-age group of children ages 6,7,8, and 9. I attended the National Public Montessori School Conference, and received Total Quality Management Training, which I brought back to my school and trained the entire staff.
- Teacher of the Year 1996
- Finalist for Speaking at New Teacher Orientations, Chatham County 1995
After leaving Savannah, Georgia, I moved to Monterey, California where I got a job as the Reading Specialist and the Language Development Teacher for children in Kindergarten through Fifth grade. I was at Spreckels Elementary in Spreckels, California from 1998 - 1999. While at Spreckels, I received extensive training in a Reading Mastery Program, and was a member of the IEP Team (Individual Education Plan) for the students and families at Spreckels.
Next, I moved to Honolulu, Hawaii where I taught at a small/exclusive private school called Holy Nativity in 1999 - 2000. I was in a team teaching situation in a first grade classroom. I helped to develop the first grade web page, planned and implemented Fall and Winter Intercessions, and helped to lay groundwork for the school to begin first Multi-age Classroom at the one/two grade level. I also attended a conference on Leadership through Technology at Stanford University in California. I brought back information and held workshops for my staff at Holy Nativity.
From 2000 - 2001 I taught in Douglas County at Mountain View Elementary in Parker, Colorado. I taught a one/two multi-age classroom.
I hold teaching certifications and licensing in Oklahoma, Georgia, California, and Colorado, as well as a Director's License in Colorado. I have traveled to many places in the U.S. and have accumulated 17 years of diverse classroom experiences.
How did Cozy Pine come about? In the beginning it was a simple decision to stay home and be a mom while running a small in-home Preschool. I started 8 years ago in an 800 square foot basement and only had 4 to 5 children per day. I out grew this space quickly and bought a new home which allowed me to have a 1500 square foot classroom and a half acre for my little ones to run and play. Things were moving along nicely until I found a beautiful 6.5 acre piece of property in the heart of Downtown Core Parker (with a little country house on it).This is where the name Cozy Pine came in because my property is located off of Pine Drive and is covered with over 100 pine trees. I immediately bought it and turned the farm house and grounds into my Montessori dream school. It was amazing until Douglas County gave me a list a mile long and a very large price tag of changes that I would need to make to be considered a commercial Early Childhood School. Half way through the school year I had to move back to my large space in my home. I was so depressed about my idea getting shot down that I decided to retire. I gave my last few clients to my sister and was prepared to play tennis, train for marathons, and get into really great shape. That lasted about five weeks.
I caught wind of a great commercial space for lease that would allow me to have three classrooms and an outdoor play area. The location was perfect!!! I took it and opened my new location in September of 07. I was very small when I started but continued to add families each week and finished my first year with 58 families. I now have an additional space that holds my Junior-K and Kinder Program. I have four classrooms, 16 teachers, and a beautiful outdoor play area. We continue to grow every month and I am looking at expanding into two more spaces for a total of 7 classrooms.
I have been fortunate enough to have a wonderful core of ladies that have followed me wherever I needed to move. They are all with me today and make up the foundation of my success. I would not be where I am today without these 4 ladies.
We all know that at the heart of every great school, the teachers, assistants, owner, and director must have a passion for teaching children. The daily contact that my staff has with your child is most important to me and to the future success of Cozy Pine Montessori. We promise that we will make a difference.
Carolyn Waller
Director/Owner Cozy Pine Montessori