Nicole Whelan’s Bio

I graduated from SUNY Cobleskill in 2007 with a Bachelor’s of Science

Degree in Early Childhood Education. Shortly after graduating, I discovered
Bright Horizons Family Solutions and became a Toddler Teacher, overseeing ten
children from the ages of eighteen months old to three years. Over the course of
seven years, my roles expanded in the company to Kindergarten Prep Teacher,
Assistant Director, and finally, Director. I am proud that I started at a beginner’s
level position and moved up to an administrative role, but I am also grateful that I
have acquired a deeper understanding of education and child development. I have
experienced what it is like to be a lead teacher, and I also understand the
challenges outside of the classroom as an administrator. There are many
similarities and differences between those roles, but I am adamant in saying that
high expectations are required in both.
While in my role as a Director, managing 30 teachers and 135 students, I
noticed a need for special education teachers. Students were receiving services
more than ever, but often, it seemed as though the related services providers were
stretched thin and had heavy caseloads. My experiences as Director gave me a
well-rounded perspective of early childhood education; however, I missed
working with students, and ultimately decided to obtain my master’s degree in
special education.
Through my educational experiences, I have observed how
encouragement and direct feedback impacts student learning. Through
challenging and differentiated lessons, students have the opportunity to
experience adversity, and will develop skills to advocate for themselves and be
intrinsically-motivated. I believe that children learn best when they build on their
individual strengths and they are guided through their challenges. Teaching gives
you the opportunity to nurture children’s curiosity, support them in developing
their problem-solving and decision-making skills, and build an academic
foundation to achieve success in school and in life.
As a teacher I am prepared to engage children with intentional teaching
practices that guide their social, physical, emotional and cognitive growth. I am
steadfast in creating a classroom environment that fosters cooperation and a sense
of community. Through teacher-directed, small group, and independent
instruction, children will experience a curriculum that is individualized to their
needs, and encourages skills in literacy, math, science, STEM and positive self-
image. I believe these are some of the factors that will contribute to students’
success and lifelong learning.