LOS - Teachers Bio

Maggie Lewis - "Teacher Maggie"

LOS Yahoo Group

We are very proud of our wonderful teacher here at Lee Owen Stone.

Maggie

Lewis,

who our kids all call "Teacher Maggie", brings to our

classroom an

imaginative teaching

style, an expansive heart and a

remarkable array of

experience, both educational and

from her life

journey, which she shares a bit

of on this page...

PCPO Link

I was born in the small town of Soap Lake, Washington. I am the

youngest

of five kids. We lived on a farm. My dad was the town

doctor, and

my mom

was the community activist and social worker.

My dad would barter

for

tonsillectomies and baby deliveries. My

first pets were some bum lambs

from

such a transaction. They would

take walks with me and the dog,

Freckles, all

over the farm and up in

the sage lands. My childhood was very

free, full of the

outdoors,

secret hiding places, imaginary playmates, moonlit

swims in the pond

and conversations with the critters on the farm. When I

think of the

difference

between that little person and the urban person that I am

now, it is hard to

believe that we are one in the same.

I began teaching at Lee Owen Stone Preschool at the beginning of

the

2000/2001 school year. How I came here has been a long road,

and I think I

am only in the middle of my journey. I completed my

Bachelor’s degree at Evergreen State College with an emphasis on

cultural anthropology. I have two

Master’s Degrees, one from

niversity

of O

regon

in Educational Media and Curriculum

design,

and the other from

ortland State University

in Special Education.

I have taught in the private sector as well as in the public school

system

for

several years. I have had students that were 60 years old

and some that

were

24 months old. My work in early intervention was

very rewarding and

exciting.

I worked in preschool classrooms and as

an Early Childhood

Education liaison.

I worked with professionals

and parents to get their infants

walking, talking,

eating, socializing

and ready for preschool.

Then I had my own family to take care of. I am married to Reed.

He is

architect that

designs wineries

among other things. We have

a daughter,

Marie,

who is now 1

and in high

school. She loves music.

She plays piano

and

electric bass. She wants to some day learn to

play the sitar. Her favorite

band

is The Beatles. We also have a son,

Evan. He is now 10 year old. He will

going to Middle school next

year. He has a lot of interest in building,

construction and mechanical

engineering. He is a happy boy with lots of

friends. I work as a

volunteer in the schools that my children attend. I have

always done

that. I was the volunteer coordinator for one year at my children’

grade school.

I got back into teaching

after having been out of the loop when I

had

babies

at home. I no longer have an Oregon

eaching certificate,

but wanted to

get

back into a classroom

;

be able to work with

families

;

work with young or

very

young children

;

and

still have the

time to spend with my own kids and

their

schools. This job fits that

bill. It is the easiest teaching job I have ever

encountered.

The degree of family support that I get in the classroom is

phenomenal. I

depend on the talents and interests of parents to

augment the curriculum. I

believe that preschool should be an

extension of the young child’s home and

neighborhood.

Since preschool is a place

transition, I try to get

children ready

for

Kindergarten. That means

feeling

secure about being

with their

peers

;

being able

to self direct

;

being able to

play cooperatively

with a

group

;

take

turns

;

take

directions from an adult

other than

their parent

;

and

being able

communicate

what they know in a

variety

of ways. I hope that I offer

many opportunities for kids

experience all of these in

classroom.

I hope you come and visit us soon.
Our address is 2728 NE 34th
Ave (at Knott St) or call at:
503.735.4755.