Teachers
Sheila Applegate
Today's Children are touching a place deep in my heart and before I present my official bio, I would like to take the opportunity to Introduce two very special children who have been instrumental in my own growth and insistent in my involvement with CELEBRATE TODAYS CHILDREN
My Baby Bear: The Indigo Goddess: a beautiful Old soul who never forgot who she was. At two as she sat in her car seat she used her tiny little voice to claim her truth when she said " You weren't always the mommy. I used to be the mommy and the mommy I had most is still in heaven!" I took a deep breath and answered "Yes honey but this time you chose ME to be the mommy!" At that moment I vowed to love, guide and support her as well as respect, honor and learn from her.
My Shining Sun: The beautiful Crystal Star Child who came to this world so pure and enlightened without any baggage. As a toddler he taught me that "God is everywhere even in the darkness" and He taught me to feel passionately in the moment and then let it go. With "time" he finally helped me understand how to step out of the illusion of time and space to access all knowledge.
I am honored that these beautiful souls chose me to be their mother.
Jennifer Lynn Johnston
Reviewing my life, I have always been the one who the children would go to. I am the one holding the babies. This is an innate way of being for me. I remember being able to know when women were pregnant before they knew that they were. At ten I was the neighborhood sitter. Parents just felt safe leaving their children in my hands. Empathic towards the needs of children, I gave up my diapers to my baby brother when I was 2 year old.
My parents’ life work is also with children; supporting them, guiding them, and educating them. It is no surprise that I would have this innate ability to calm children, entertain them, and know what to do with them, listen to them, and relate to them. I once told my mother that I didn’t like a certain teacher, due to the fact that he didn’t treat a fellow classmate with respect. He was always mean to her and hurt her feelings. I think I spent most of my grade school years helping all the children around deal with their problems. I belonged to no single group, but instead was a friend to all. In my teen years I found it easier to befriend adults. Many of the actives I did were grown up ones. I was an elder of my church in my youth. Not, really knowing or understanding any of my gifts to take on other peoples feeling I had no way of releasing these.
I am the oldest of four children, and was a great helper to my parents. I was born and raised in Minnesota, and I moved to Syracuse in January, 2005. I have a degree in Liberal Arts from the University of Minnesota, and have received a Child Care certificate. I am a member of the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce where I serve as a board member. I am also a member of the Greater Manlius Chamber of Commerce. I am the current President of the Fayetteville Toastmaster International chapter “Talk the Talk.”
Liala Strotman
It is often said that what happens to us in childhood can shape our destiny. I had a very difficult time learning to read in first grade. I was still not a fluent reader at the end of second grade so the choice was retention or attended summer school. The extra attention, the smaller group size and just growing up and becoming less shy really seemed to help. Even back in third grade I was saying I would become a teacher because I didn't want anyone to feel as confused or embarrassed as I had. I guess I was always trying to help the other children feel comfortable in school. Some decades have passed and I recently received "Woman of the Year" in Education from the local Rotary and Lions' Clubs for creating the Early Start Program for at-risk entering kindergarten children as well as being "the glue that holds Briarcliff Elementary School together".
Over the past 38 years, I was privileged to engage students from preschool through middle school, as well as those in pre-service and graduate education programs at Dowling, Southampton and Stony Brook University. I have been a consultant and traveled to China and Australia to work with other educators. My educational philosophy has been rooted in a developmental, constructivist, and heart centered approach. This type of education respects student abilities, skills, interests, potential, dreams, and free will. I am a board member of the Association for Constructivist Teaching and was the editor of ACT journal.