Ralph Waldo Emerson School for Preschoolers, Concord NH

DIRECTOR___________________________________________________

SUSAN COONEY HAGNER

Susan received her M.Ed. degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of New Hampshire in May of 1999. Her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education is from Syracuse University. In 1991 and again in 1992 she was one of three teachers selected statewide to receive the New Hampshire Early Childhood Educator award. Her work at Emerson School has been featured in the books, The Passionate Learner (2002) by Robert Fried, The Unscripted Classroom: Emergent Curriculum in Action (2011) and Emergent Curriculum In Early Childhood Settings (2009) by Sue Stacey. Susan's experience also includes eleven years in the Finger Lakes area of central New York State with the Skaneateles Early Childhood Center and the Skaneateles Nursery School where over the years she served as head teacher, assistant director, and program director.

Susan became Director of Emerson School in 1990. During her tenure, she developed and implemented improvements for our school, creating a responsive curriculum that values teachers, children, and families. Susan is especially inspired by the Reggio Emilia Approach to early education. In addition to her work as the executive director of the school, Susan teaches the MWF classes as part of the teaching team.

Susan and her husband David live in Concord. They have two adult daughters. Susan enjoys listening to classical and jazz music and painting with watercolors.

TEACHERS__________________________________________________

FAITH BARRY

Faith earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Child and Family Studies from the University of New Hampshire where her concentration was in Early Childhood Education. She began teaching on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at Emerson in 1998.

Previously, Faith taught for six years at Mt. Delight Child Care in Deerfield in both the kindergarten and preschool programs. Faith has also worked with young children with special needs and their families in Manchester. We lovingly call Faith our administrative goddess because she maintains the responsibilities of office administrator and registrar.

Faith lives in Deerfield with her husband Kevin. They have three adult children. Faith loves to garden and cares for many animals: including a horse, sheep, chickens, cats, and Abby, a rescued black lab mix.

JANICE FARENWALD

Janice received her Associate of Arts degree in Early Childhood Education from New Hampshire Technical Institute. While at NHTI she was awarded a Certificate of Commendation for her commitment, scholarship, and special contributions to the program. She also was the recipient of the J. G. Stone Award, in honor of Jeannette Stone, author and educator, who guided Emerson as consultant and Board member for ten years.

Janice teaches in both MWF and T-TH classes and has been at Emerson since 1998. Janice began her preschool teaching experience at the Village Preschool of Contoocook. Before Emerson Janice taught at the Hopkinton Independent School and at the ODD Fellows Home Children's Center.

Janice lives in Hopkinton with her husband Bruce, they have two adult children. Janice enjoys the outdoors, bicycling, and listening to the birds in the morning from her log cabin.

KRISTEN SKAFIDAS

Kristen earned her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Granite State College in 2007. In 2003, she was a practicum student at Emerson and came back to us in 2011 to teach both MWF and T-TH classes. She is so excited to be back teaching where it all began for her.

Kristen lives in Concord with her husband Nick and their two children -- Julie, attending her third year at UNH, and Tommy, a junior at Concord High. Kristen enjoys spending time with her family, especially visiting her parent's condo on Newfound Lake where she likes boating around in her father's boat. She also loves to play tennis, ride her bike, and take walks, especially around White Park.