Teacher and Staff Appreciation Spotlight | Anne, Regan, Jackie, Cindy and Nichole Extended Program Team

Parents' Association interview with The Orchard School’s Extended Program Team. Get to know more about Cindy Larsen, Extended Program Manager; Regan Reams, Summer Camp Manager and Kids Connect (KC) Administration Assistant; Nichole Cazares, 1st - 4th KC Coordinator and Orchard Substitute Teacher; Anne Westphal, Teen Connect (TC) Coordinator; and Jackie Smith, Preschool (multiage) & Kindergarten KC Coordinator. 

Could you tell us a little about your roles at the Orchard School?
Cindy: The coordinators put together the programs for After School and they have college-age supervisors that help them carry out that program.
Regan: During the year, I split my time between Summer Camp and KC. I plan, schedule, and coordinator items for Summer Camp. On the KC side, I assist the KC team with whatever they may need.
Cindy: We do a lot of joint work.
Jackie: She’s mom! [To Cindy] She takes care of our social and emotional wellbeing!
Cindy: I do the hiring, oversee payroll, answer parent queries, put together correspondence over the web and email to parents. We work together with other departments to promote KC and other Orchard Programs.
Regan:  Basically, we take care of anything that needs to be done after school.
Cindy:  We are in charge from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. We manage all the kids in the building after school.

How long have each of you been at the Orchard School?
Cindy: This is my eighteenth year!
Regan: My fifth year.
Nichole: Just three…
Jackie: Three for me, too.
Anne: I’m the baby - just two years.

Cindy, what has made you stay at the Orchard School for eighteen years?
Cindy: I love kids, so for me it’s the best job in the world because I get to be with kids. My past projects and talents are all rolled into one. When I first started, I was the Administrative Assistant for Admissions and KC for about four years and then I had to choose between the two. I chose KC because I have time with the kids. It incorporates all aspects of the Orchard community which is wonderful. I came from the corporate world and I never want to go back!

Can each of you share a little about yourselves with the Orchard community?
Jackie: I’m a grandma. I have five grandkids with ages ranging from 2 to 13.  I have a degree in Education and I’ve worked at many schools in Washington Township, at the Jewish Community Center and was an active volunteer and board member at Holliday Park. I started my own preschool and daycare, called Learning Through Play, Inc., and had it for about for twenty-three years. I was looking for a change and I always admired Orchard’s teaching philosophies and its nature based curriculum, so when I saw the opening for KC coordinator, I jumped at the chance to join the Orchard community!

Regan: I went to Jackie’s preschool!

All: Many Orchard families did!

Anne: My degree is in Early Childhood Education. I’m an Orchard alumnus. I started with Linda Appel [current Second Grade Learning Support] as my kindergarten teacher and ended with Jamie Napier [current Director of Middle School] as my eighth grade Advisor. I have a second grader Lexi, here at Orchard. I too opened my own daycare for five years and closed it as I missed working with older kids and wanted more adult interaction.

Nichole: I’m a jack of all trades. My undergraduate degree is in Soils, Resource Management and Cartography and I have a Masters in Nonprofit Management and Public Policy.  I have two children at Orchard, Penelope in Kindergarten and Emma in second grade. I was in the Peace Corps, so I have lived in many places. Lesotho was one. I did HIV and Aids education and training. When I came back to the United States, I worked in Orthopedics for five years. I decided I wanted to be with children again and so I get to use…

Anne:...everything she’s passionate about she gets to do here!

Regan: I went to Indiana University and pursued a degree in Human Biology. I was thinking of going to nursing school. I came back to Orchard and worked summers working as part of the grounds crew. So after leaving IU, it seemed only natural that I thought about pursuing other opportunities here. I started here as a KC supervisor. I’m an Orchard alumnus. My mom has worked here for thirty years!  I enjoy planning the fun things kids get to do at KC and Summer Camp. I live with my boyfriend and two cats.

Cindy: I started my career in title insurance and decided after many mergers to come to Orchard. I’m friends with Deb Mattingly [retired Orchard Special Events and Technology Coordinator] and she told me about an open position. I came and interviewed and got the job! [Over the years] I worked directly with Linda Prell [retired Director of Extended day Programs] on KC and Summer Camps.  She was a great mentor. When she retired, I became the Extended Program Manager. Life is very full - Craig and I are very blessed, I have a daughter, two step sons and four grandchildren - 6 month old twins (girls), a twenty-three month old granddaughter and a sixteen year old grandson, so family gatherings are fun!

Jackie: Mine live with me, so I have fun every day!

What is the most difficult part of the job?
Cindy: I think the hardest thing for us is that we never know how many kids we are going to have.
Regan: To add - we never know what kind of kids we are going to have - hungry, tired, happy…
Cindy: So planning is difficult - but we do it!
Anne: The importance of flexibility is key...
Regan: … and extra supplies!

What is the easiest part of the job?
Jackie: Playing! Interacting…
Cindy: Yes, playing and interacting with the kids. I love the fact that we have multiple ages together...siblings can play together.

What is your superpower?
Jackie: I just got a whole bunch of letters from the kids [second grade post office] and they all say I’m funny. I guess I’m funny...and fun!
Anne: Working with the teenagers, finding different ways to work with them. Talking to them about different projects.
Nichole:....[thinks about it]
Anne: She’s flexible!
Regan: Nichole does everything!
Anne: Miss Elastic Girl!
Cindy: [to Nichole] You’re also a Child Advocate.
Nichole: [agrees with the group’s consensus].
Cindy: I’m between two. I’m a nurturer and an organizer. Hmm….I don’t know…so a mixture of those two!
Regan: I’m a multitasker. I have to constantly switch between KC and Summer Camp projects.
Cindy: You switch gears easily…

What does The Orchard School mean to you?
Cindy: Family.
Regan: Yes, family!
Anne: Inclusiveness.
Jackie: Friendship.
Nichole: My home away from home.
Regan: I agree with all of those.
Cindy: I think that’s the beauty of seeing kids go from preschool to eighth grade. You get to see them grow.

Letter Boxes are located in the Center; next to the Elementary School Art Room; in the Early Childhood hallway; and near the Middle School Administrative Office. Now you can drop off your letters of appreciation to all of your favorite SUPERHEROES disguised as teachers, administration, maintenance, cafeteria staff, and Kids Connect staff. Letters will be delivered during Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week, March 12-16.

Click here to read the previous Teacher and Staff Appreciation spotlight.
 
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    • "Superhero Pose" ;)